CDMP® Frequently Asked Questions
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Need to renew your certification?
CDMP® renewals are managed by DAMA International.
The Basics
1. Purchase the DMBoK 2 Revised Edition and either study independently or enrol in a training course.
2. Register on the CDMP website and select the exam you wish to take.
3. Attempt the practice exam
4. When confident, take the exam.
If you are aiming for a higher certification and you have not achieved the pass level required then you can retake the exam at the discounted fee of USD$200+ USD$11 proctor fee.
Initial CDMP® certification is for three years, after which all certification holders must meet certain requirements to renew their certification.
Learn more about CDMP maintenance from Dama International
Each exam is valid for 3 years from the date your badge for that exam is issued. If you are working towards Practitioner or Master certification you need to be aware that after 3 years you can no longer use that pass mark towards your certification.
All exams regardless of where they are taken (conference, training or online) cost USD$300. Online proctored exams incur an additional USD$11 proctor fee.
For Associate level – you need to pass 1 exam at USD$311
For Practitioner level – you need to pass 3 exams with 70% at USD$311 each
For Master Level you need to pass 3 exams with 80% at USD$311 each and have a master experience assessment at USD$50
The certification levels start from an Associate Level and progress towards a Masters level. If you sit the Data Management Fundamentals exam and achieve a 60% or more pass mark, you automatically achieve an Associate certification.
If you achieve a pass mark of 70% or more then you achieve an Associate certification, plus it will also count towards Practitioner certification, and so on.
All exams are 100 questions. You will have 90 minutes to complete the exam once you start. If English is not your main language you will get an additional 20 minutes to complete the exam. Purchase the ESL version only if English is not your first language.
No – there are no prerequisites for any of the CDMP® exams.
After your initial three year certification expires you will need to complete two requirements annually to maintain your certification.
1. Submit an activity attestation
2. Sign the Code of Ethics
You can find out more details at the DAMA-I website
Currently all exams are only available in English. If English is not your first language you can enrol in the English as a Second Language (ESL) version where you are given an additional 20 mins to complete the exam. During the exam you are able to use browser translation software or access English to your native language dictionaries.
Yes.
Review the requirements for each certification level here
Decide which specialist exams you wish to take, and begin your studies.
The Data Management Fundamentals exam is the foundational exam and required for all levels of certification. You should, but do not have to, take this exam first.
Once you have completed that exam, with a pass mark of 60% or more, then you are automatically awarded the Associate certification.
You can choose any two of the specialist exams. CDMP® does not tell you which exams to choose.
The experience listed under the requirements for Associate and Practitioner certification is intended as a guide only. This is not assessed.
For Master certification, your experience in the field of Data Management is assessed by DAMA International.
No – there are no prerequisites for any of the CDMP® exams.
All Master Evidence reviews are sent to DAMA International for assessment. DAMA international is run by volunteers, all with jobs, families and other commitments. Sometimes these assessments can take some time.
Please do not repeatedly email CDMP® Support, wanting to know where your assessment is. This will not speed up the process. Once an assessment has been made you will be sent an approval email to the address you used to submit your assessment.
If your assessment has been approved the approval email will also contain instructions to pay for your assessment. If it has not been approved no payment is required.
Common Issues and Questions
All exams are open book exams. The open book policy allows only one ‘book’.
Students are permitted to have a text book or notes, but not both. The ‘one book’ may be in hardcopy or digital form, but not both.
You may use your DMBoK2 Rev. Ed. as your ‘one book’. If you decide to use the digital version it must be on a separate device, such as a tablet or a separate laptop. It must not be connected to the computer you are using for the exam. You cannot use a second monitor on the same computer.
This second device should not be connected to the internet while you are using it during the exam.
You should make sure that the only tab you have open during your exam is your exam. All other tabs and applications should be closed during your exam.
Badges are issued within 10 days after exam validation is concluded.
CDMP® Support is not staffed full time but we endeavor to respond to all emails within 48 hours. If your query has been sent more than 48 hours ago, you may need to email us again. If it is less than 48 hours then please be patient. All incoming emails are responded to in order of urgency, and as resources permit.
If you have sent your email from a work email address, and you have not had a reply in 48 hours, then you should try emailing from a personal email address. Some organizations filter out our replies as spam. It can be frustrating for everyone if we are not able to reach you!
If your query is about badges and certificates, or about an invoice you require, then please use the relevant forms on this page. You will get a much quicker response.
We have changed systems. Please contact CDMP® Support for further assistance.
The only way to achieve CDMP® certification is by taking the CDMP® exams. There are no substitutions available.
Study and Training
This is not included in your exam purchase. You will find information about purchasing that text here
No – only if you wish to. Many people take our exams and achieve a good pass mark by studying on their own. Others decide that they need to undertake a training course in order to feel well prepared. It depends on your ability to study effectively on your own and your experience in the field of data management.
CDMP® is an exam platform, rather than a training platform.
Purchase and Enroll in Exams
Important Notice: New Exam Enrollment Policy
With effect from August 1, 2024, any exam purchased on or after this date must be taken within twelve (12) months from the date of enrollment. Please read the Exam Enrollment Policy for more details.
All exams are Open Book.
All exams are available to purchase here
Make sure you select the correct exam for you, as all exam purchases are non-refundable
The Standard exam is 90 minutes long. The ESL version is 110 minutes long. It has an extra 20 minutes added, so that those people who do not have English as a first language have some extra reading time.
If English is your first language you should always take the Standard exam.
If English is your first language you should always take the Standard exam.
If English is not your first language you are permitted to choose the ESL exam if you wish.
Your login address must be changed by CDMP® Support.
Please contact CDMP® Support.
Please contact CDMP® Support, stating your order number and date and the exam you meant to purchase.
No – there are no prerequisites for any of the CDMP® exams.
After your initial three year certification expires you will need to complete two requirements annually to maintain your certification.
1. Submit an activity attestation
2. Sign the Code of Ethics
You can find out more details at the DAMA-I website
Access and Take an Exam
Once you have purchased an exam you will be emailed a confirmation with login instructions.
You do not need to book a time as the CDMP online exams are available 24/7.
Exams are proctored by our online proctor, Honorlock. This enables the exam to be ready for you when you are ready for it!
The exam system is designed so you can sit the exam at anytime that is convenient for you. You do not need to book an exam time. Online exams are proctored using Honorlock, which is available 24/7 without any booking requirements.
It is recommended you take your exam in a quiet private location to limit potential flags and distractions.
You have 12 months from date of enrolment to sit your exam.
Once you enrol in the exam you will be able to access the exam, whenever you are ready.
There are exam conditions listed at the start of your exam. You must agree to these before you can take your exam. CDMP Support and DAMA International take academic integrity very seriously. See the Academic Integrity statement at the bottom of each webpage for possible consequences if you breach the exam conditions.
If you are not attending a DAMA event or training event to sit the exam, your exam will be proctored by Honorlock. You will need access to a laptop or desktop computer with Chrome, a working webcam, and microphone. Integrated or external USB will both work. Check your system here. Scroll down until you see the run system check button.
Hold the webcam (or laptop if the webcam is part of your laptop) so that the camera shows the room and not you. The CDMP exam reviewer does need to see you in the room scan.
Slowly move the webcam to show the entire room. It should show 360 degrees.
Move the camera slowly. If you move it too quickly the images will be blurry and the room scan will be invalid.
Use the webcam to show ALL of your desk or table that you are taking the exam on. This should also be done very slowly so the CDMP exam reviewer can identify items on your desk. Make sure you show all materials you will use in your exam.
You can use a mirror to show your desk if you are not able to do this with a fixed webcam.
Show the webcam that you are turning your mobile phone off . Then place your phone in the exam room some distance away from the exam area. This will ensure that the Honorlock proctors and the CDMP exam reviewer can see that you do not have access to your mobile phone. If the exam review shows that your phone is in the exam area, your exam may be declared an invalid exam.
Ensure that you review the room scan video to check that you have met all the room scan conditions. If your room scan video does not show a valid room and desk scan then your exam mark may be removed.
You can see an example of a great room scan here https://youtu.be/WBeh3ZSQptw
If you attending an DAMA event or training event in person you will need a computer or tablet to take the exam, as these are generally proctored live. However if a proctor is not available your event coordinator will advise you. An online proctor will be used.
If you are taking an online exam and are being prompted for an access code you are most likely not in Google Chrome or you do not have the Honorlock Chrome Extension.
If you are at an event, your event coordinator will provide you with the Access code when you are ready to start the exam.
Yes. The timer for the exam is at the top of the exam page. It is visible when you begin the exam.
You can scroll to the top of the page to check the timer. You may decide to monitor the time yourself, so that you do not need to take time to scroll up and down unnecessarily, during your exam.
You have 12 months from date of enrolment to sit your exam.
Using the Online Proctor
All CDMP® exams taken online use Honorlock proctoring. You can find out more about how Honorlock works and how it manages privacy here.
The Honorlock proctor system has a 2 minute verification system prior to your commencing the exam. This will include showing a form of photo ID. You can use any government issued ID (such as drivers license, passport) or a student ID that has your photo.
If you are using a Chinese government ID that does not have your name in Pinyin then you may have difficulties with the Honorlock verification process. If this happens you will need to speak to an Honorlock Chat person as part of the verification procedure.
The Honorlock proctor is a combination of video monitoring, audio monitoring and live chat. The online system will step you through the process. If an Honorlock live proctor needs intervene for any reason, your exam time is paused.
Don’t worry, Honorlock offers technical support 24/7 to assist students before, during, and after their proctored tests. If you need any assistance there is a chat button on the screen for instant support.
Honorlock is FERPA compliant and uses securely encrypted protocols to save and view all test taker assets. Honorlock’s certified proctors and CDMP® staff are able to review test session videos until deleted, based on Honorlock’s retention policy. You can find out more about student privacy here.
No, they will not usually notify you – it is your responsibility to ensure that you comply with ALL Exam Conditions.
It is not the job of the online proctor to notify you if you breach the Exam Conditions. It is the job of the online proctor to notify CDMP Support if you breach the Exam Conditions.
How the verification process works
Certificates and Badges
After passing an exam you will receive a Badge. Badges are issued automatically by the system within 10 days.
Badges are based on the date of the certificate. Your badge will be issued within 7-10 days after your certificate has been issued.
Missing badges and certificates are not investigated unless submitted on this form. Forms will only be considered if submitted more than 10 days after taking your exam.
CDMP Support uses the ‘Display name’ in your exam account to generate your certificate.
Retakes
Yes. A re-take will allow access to another exam attempt, and will cost USD$200 + Proctor fee.
The highest pass mark is always the mark that is retained.
Contact CDMP® Support.
You can retake an exam as many times as you wish. Each retake must be purchased separately.
Your retake is added to the version of the exam that you originally purchased. If you originally purchased the Standard version, then the retake will be the Standard version also.
If you made a mistake with your original purchase and need to change to a different version, please contact CDMP Support staff.