CDMP Certification Program

Introduction

The Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP) credential is awarded to those who qualify based on a combination of criteria including education, experience and test-based examination of professional level knowledge. This credential is offered at the Mastery or Practitioner level. To maintain certified status and continued use of the credential, an annual recertification fee along with a 3-year cycle of continuing education and professional activity is required.

The Data Management Association International (DAMA) authorizes the Certified Data Management Professional certification program and granting of the CDMP designation in partnership with the Institute for Certification of Computing Professionals (ICCP), which administers testing and recertification. This document outlines the requirements for obtaining the CDMP.

CDMP Application Form (Download PDF Document)

CDMP FAQ

CDMP Examination Criteria

Three ICCP exams must be passed with the following scores:

Score

Credential Earned

Pass all exams at 50% or higher

CDMP Practitioner Certificate

Pass all exams at 70% or higher

CDMP Mastery Certificate

The CDMP Practitioner certification is awarded to professionals who scored above 50% on all three exams. These individuals can contribute as a team member on assigned tasks for they have a working knowledge of concepts, skills and techniques in a particular data specialization.

The CDMP Mastery certification is awarded to professionals who scored 70% or higher on all three exams. These individuals have the ability to lead and mentor a team of professionals as they have mastered the concepts, skills and practices of their data specialization.

Exams may be retaken to improve your score and go from the Practitioner to the Mastery certificate level. You may be able to substitute select vendor certifications for up to one specialty exam.

Additional CDMP Certification Criteria

The following criteria must also be met in order to qualify for the CDMP:

 

CDMP Practitioner Certificate

CDMP Mastery Certificate

# Years Data Professional Work Experience

2

4+

Substitute Up to 2 Years –Bachelor or Master Degree in an appropriate discipline for Work Experience

2

2

Recertification Required

Yes

Yes

Continuing Professional Education/Activity Required

120 hours every 3-year cycle

120 hours every 3-year cycle

ICCP Code of Ethics

Yes

Yes

Example Qualifications - CDMP

Other qualifications may be accepted. Check with the DAMA contacts or ICCP office.

Education

Sample degree types are listed below. Other degrees and majors may be accepted.

Bachelor of Science Degree
Major In

 

Computer Science

 

Information Systems

 

Management Information Systems

 

Information and Communications Technology

 

Major in another discipline with minor in any of the above

Masters Degree

 

Computer Science

 

Information Systems

 

Information Resource Management

 

Information and Communications Technology

 

MBA with concentration in one of the above

Work Experience

Sample qualifying position/role titles:

 

VP, Director, or Manager of Data Management

 

Data Architect, Data Administrator, Data Analyst, Data Modeler

 

Data Specialist, Database Administrator, Data Warehousing Analyst

 

Systems Architect, Systems Analyst, Project Manager, Project Leader

 

Business Analyst, Repository Analyst, Repository Architect

Professional Examinations

The CDMP requires three ICCP exams: IS Core exam, Data Management Core exam, and one other exam of your choice. Both the IS Core and Data Management Core exams are mandatory for the CDMP.

 

The third exam is one of your choosing, depending on your work experience. The choices are:
 
Data Warehousing
Business Intelligence and Analytics
Data & Information Quality
Data Development
Data Operations (DBA)
Zachman Enterprise Architecture Framework2
Integrated IT Project Management

Institute for the Certification of Computing Professionals (ICCP)

If you already passed one or more ICCP exams or already have another ICCP certificate, these exams or certificates can be used toward a CDMP if considered current by ICCP standards, and the exams are listed within your CDMP area of specialization. For information on your status, contact the ICCP (click here).

If you wish to demonstrate expertise in exam specialty areas specifically, the ICCP will issue Expert (Proficiency) Certificates for each specialty exam passed at 70% or higher.

Suggested Exams Based on Candidate’s Work Experience

The following table shows data work experiences organized by the DAMA - DMBOK (Data Management Body of Knowledge) framework, and possible exams to take within that framework. A suggested (S) exam is best to take for a particular data management function to fulfill the data exam requirement. An exam denoted by (C) is the candidate’s choice for that function. A total of three exams are to be taken. The IS Core exam is mandatory for all data management functions. Your work experience in the field will let you determine what exams you are best suited to pass.

View Sample Exam Combinations by DAMA – DMBOK Functions (pdf format) to relate your work experience. UPDATED AUGUST 2010

View CDMP Specialty Exams Mapping to DAMA-DMBOK graphic (pdf format).

Approved Substitute Exams / Certifications for ICCP Exams

 View Approved Substitute exams (pdf format). 

Preparation for Taking Exams

There are various ways of learning the process of taking ICCP exams:

The ICCP exams are also offered at the DAMA International Symposiums and periodically at some DAMA chapter meetings.

 

Taking CDMP Exams

ICCP Testing can be done anywhere in the world, with an approved ICCP Proctor to verify physical identity and supervise/invigilate the delivery of the examination.

A DAMA chapter can set up exam sessions during their chapter meetings. What is needed is a volunteer proctor from the chapter. A proctor is an individual authorized by ICCP to oversee the writing of an exam by an ICCP exam taker. This person must meet specific guidelines (http://www.iccp.org/iccpnew/testing.html) and be willing to supervise the exam taker. The ICCP reserves the right to reject proposed proctors. Contact ICCP (click here) or phone 847.299.4227 or 800.843.8227 if you require assistance in determining an appropriate proctor. Taking exams via the Internet is also available.

The exams run off the USB drive of an individual’s laptop. There are 110 questions with 100 being scored and reported to the exam taker and 10 are beta questions to complete in 90 minutes. You will not know which type of question you are answering. Questions and possible distracters (answers) are randomly listed in a different order for each exam taker. Therefore, although this guide contains sample questions that allow for “all or none of the above” type answers meant for study purposes, you will not find this type of answer to choose from on the actual exam.

Computer based testing allows for the immediate scoring after the exam is taken. An ICCP Performance Profile is then available for downloading, and one will be sent later to the individual by the ICCP. This Profile shows your exam strengths and weaknesses.

CDMP Certificate Conversion & Fees

View CDMP Certificate Conversion and Fees (pdf format)

Professional Development / Recertification

To keep your CDMP current, you must earn 120 approved contact hours of continuing education over a 3-year period. Many educational activities count including DAMA Symposiums and chapter meetings. View the Sample Ways to Earn CDMP Professional Development /Recertification Credit in pdf format. 

For further information, contact the ICCP (click here) for an ICCP Recertification Guidelines Booklet or go to http://www.iccp.org/iccpnew/recertification.html.

Recertification credits can be entered online through the Professional Development Transmittal Form, http://www.iccp.org/cgi-bin/pdform.php. Your DAMA chapter can also keep track of meeting attendance for the purpose of recertification and submit on a timely basis. There is an annual maintenance fee to ICCP for keeping track of your recertification credits. You will receive an annual transcript from the ICCP.

Program Contact information:

DAMA International:

Patricia Cupoli, ICCP_Liaison@dama.org

Eva Smith, ICCP_Liaison@dama.org

ICCP Office:

847-299-4227 or 800-843-8227 (phone)

847-299-4280 (fax), or

Click here to contact the ICCP.

The ICCP website is www.iccp.org.

The CDMP program was approved and came into existence at the January 2004 Meeting of the DAMA International Board of Directors.