Certified Data Management Professional credential artwork

Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP) Exam Guide

Validates knowledge of data management, including governance, modeling, quality, metadata, architecture, integration and security, based on the DAMA-DMBOK.

Every CDMP level starts with the Data Management Fundamentals exam: 100 multiple-choice questions on the DAMA-DMBOK2 in 90 minutes. It is open book, but the clock leaves little time to look things up. Read the DMBOK chapters you know least, take the official practice exam and question banks, and do a timed full run.

Understand the exam

Syllabus

The rows are the Fundamentals exam, and Practitioner and Master add two specialist exams.

Data Governance11%
  • Organization: Governance bodies, roles and data stewardship.
  • Policy: Policies, standards and issue management.

Example scenario: Two departments define "active customer" differently in their reports. Who should resolve this, and through what process?

Data Modelling and Design11%
  • Models: Conceptual, logical and physical models.
  • Notation: Modelling standards and notations.
Data Quality11%
  • Assessment: Quality dimensions, profiling and assessment.
  • Improvement: Cleansing and ongoing monitoring.

Example scenario: Customer addresses fail validation in 15% of new records. How would you find the root cause rather than just clean the data?

Metadata Management11%
  • Types: Business, technical and operational metadata.
  • Architecture: Metadata repositories and architecture.
Master and Reference Data Management10%
  • Master data: Master data domains, matching and golden records.
  • Reference data: Code sets and hierarchy management.
Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence10%
  • Architecture: Warehouse and data mart designs.
  • Delivery: BI tools and reporting.
Data Architecture6%
  • Enterprise view: Enterprise data models and architecture standards.
  • Alignment: Connecting data architecture with technology architecture.
Data Integration and Interoperability6%
  • Movement: ETL, ELT and data exchange patterns.
  • Interoperability: Designing for consistent exchange between systems.
Data Security6%
  • Policy and classification: Security policy and data classification.
  • Controls: Access controls and protection measures.
Document and Content Management6%
  • Content: Unstructured and semi-structured content.
  • Lifecycle: Storage, retention and disposal.
Data Storage and Operations6%
  • Technology: Database types and technology choices.
  • Operations: Database operations and support.
Data Management Process2%
  • Program: Organizing and managing the data management function.
Data Ethics2%
  • Ethics: Ethical handling, bias and responsible data practices.
Big Data2%
  • Concepts: Big data and data science in a data management program.

CDMP exam topics and weights · DAMA-DMBOK2 Revised Edition

Format

Questions
100 per exam
Duration
90 min
Passing score
60–80% by level
Delivery
Online
Languages
English

Question types

Multiple choice. Choose the single best answer from the options given.

CertUp example

A bank finds that two systems store the same customer under different IDs. Which data management area addresses keeping one agreed version of core entities like customers?

  1. Document and content management
  2. Master and reference data management
  3. Data storage and operations
  4. Data security
Show answer

B. Master data management keeps shared core entities, such as customers, consistent across systems.

Eligibility and booking

Requirements by level

Master only: 10+ years of data management experience

Required

Submit your CV for review after passing the exams at 80%. The review costs $50.

Practitioner: 2 to 10 years of experience

Recommended

DAMA's guideline for the Practitioner level. It is not checked.

Associate: 6 months to 5 years of experience

Recommended

DAMA's guideline for the Associate level. It is not checked.

Your exam scores decide your level. Each exam result counts for 3 years from its badge date, so finish the exams for your target level within that time.

Buy exams at cdmp.info and take each within 12 months. Your result sets your level, so you can aim for Practitioner or Master on the same Fundamentals exam.

Buy CDMP exams

Make a study plan

Take the official 40-question practice exam first to see which DMBOK areas you need.

Most candidates spend 30–70 hours. Hours are for the Fundamentals exam. Plan for the low end if you already work across most DMBOK areas; plan for the high end if data management is new to you. Add time for each specialist exam.

4 weeksto be ready
  1. 1Understand the examRead the syllabus and format, check you’re eligible and pick a target date.2 h
  2. 3Learn the core conceptsWork through one main course or book, topic by topic.24 h
  3. 4Practice with mock examsTake timed practice tests and review every mistake.12 h
  4. 5Prepare for exam dayBook the exam and check the ID and delivery rules.2 h

Learn the core concepts

The DMBOK2 Revised Edition is the source for every exam. Read the chapters you need most and keep the same copy for the exam.

Best bookDAMA-DMBOK2 Revised EditionDAMA International · $80 PDF · $100 printBest structured courseCDMP Certification and the DMBOK Learning PlanDATAVERSITY · $1,599 · or $109 per course
See all 2 CDMP courses →

Choose your one book You can bring one book or your notes, not both. Practise with the same copy you will use in the exam.

Practice with mock exams

Start with DAMA's own practice exam, the most reliable guide to real exam difficulty, then add a larger question bank.

Data Management Fundamentals Practice ExamDAMA International · Free with any exam purchase · $40 alone · unlimited attemptsCertified Data Management Professional (CDMP) Practice TestsGeorgi Smarts · $69.99 · lifetime accessCDMP Data Management Exam Prep: 800 Practice QuestionsVeronica Diesel · $29.99 · lifetime access
See all 4 CDMP practice tests →

Are you ready?

  • You score well above your target pass mark on the official practice exam
  • You can finish 100 questions in 90 minutes with time to look up a few
  • You know where each DMBOK area sits in your book

Prepare for exam day

Exams run online through Honorlock unless you attend a DAMA chapter event.

  • Have your one book or your notes ready; a digital copy must be on a separate device with no internet
  • Complete Honorlock's ID check and room scan before the timer starts
  • You have 90 minutes, or 110 with the ESL version
  • Your badge arrives within 10 days of your exam being validated

CDMP FAQ

Advice from exam takers

Third-party questions vary a lot

A DAMA trainer called non-official practice questions extremely inconsistent with the real exam, and several candidates found Udemy tests easier than the exam. Use the official practice exam to judge readiness.

r/datamgmtr/datamgmt: CDMP practice test vs exam