CDMP ®
(Certified Data Management Professional)
DAMA International offers the CDMP ® Certification programme to enable international recognition of a data professional's knowledge, skills and experience in the data field. This recognition can be utilised to open doors to other career opportunities.
Examination and training are based on the DMBOK version 2.
What is the DMBOK? (Data Management Body of Knowledge)
The DMBOK is the comprehensive Data Management Body of Knowledge compiled by the thought leaders in all the Knowledge Areas of Data Management. The DMBOK ensures that data professionals worldwide have a shared understanding and speak a common "data language".
The sheer breadth of the DMBOK can become overwhelming, but it takes little time to realise that the focus of the DMBOK is the WHATs and WHYs of Data Management and not the HOW.
A BOK ("Body of Knowledge") defines the complete set of concepts, terms and activities that make up a professional domain defined by the relevant learned society or professional association (See Wikipedia).
The HOW will be missing in all BOKs. It is up to the community to provide practices to deliver the required outputs. The practice definitions range between best, good, and emerging practices depending on the maturity and uncertainty level. (Take a look at our How-To courses built on the theory for practical guidance)
The appropriate BOK Certifications will test your UNDERSTANDING of the concepts and NOT your ability to deliver the work required by a project.
What is the value of CDMP ® certification to my career?
The most apparent reason to certify is that it makes you more employable worldwide.
It demonstrates that you understand your work and are committed to professional development. You understand how all the aspects of Data Management work together. It is, therefore, less risky for employers to employ certified people.
A hard-working data professional, growing their skills, is an asset to any organisation.
Your CDMP® Certification helps to open doors for employment and consultancy opportunities.
How to acquire CDMP ® Certification?
All the CDMP ® exams may be taken online (www.cdmp.info).
Payment of USD 311 (fee inclusive of online proctoring) by credit card is required upon registration.
Modelware can assist with purchasing the exams.
What are the different levels of CDMP ® certification?
(and which one is right for me?)
Individuals are welcome to remain at any level without pressure to advance. You can decide what certification level you want and if you wish to proceed.
Experience is provided as a guideline only, except for the Master level. To obtain a Master Level, a minimum level of experience is required, and an assessment is to be completed by DAMA International.
It is important to note that Practitioner and Master levels require three exams.
After three years, you must renew your DAMA International membership and certification. If you have not written the two specialist exams during these three years, you will forfeit your Practitioner or Master pass and revert to an associate pass.
The available exams are:
The Core exam:
Data Management Fundamentals covers chapters 1 to 14 of the DMBOK V2 as above.
Specialist exams:
Data Governance: Chapters 1,2,3,15,16,17, and Section 6 of all the other chapters
Data Quality: Chapter 13
Data Modelling & Design: Chapter 5
Metadata: Chapter 12
Master & Reference Data: Chapter 10
Data Warehousing & Business Intelligence: Chapters 11 & 14
Data Integration & Interoperability: Chapter 8
The exams are 90 minutes long. All candidates whose first language is not English are entitled to write the ESL (English Second Language) version of each exam, which will give an additional 20 minutes totalling 110 minutes.
How is the exam Structured?
The exams all have one hundred multiple-choice questions, each with five options. The test platform automatically generates each exam from a large pool of questions. Each instance of an exam is different.
Half the questions are relatively straightforward, with one correct answer and four distractors. 25% are more challenging, with some alternatives rather than all distractors. In other words, there is more than one possible answer, and you need to be able to pick the best one.
The Data Management Fundamentals exam covers 14 topics. There are 11 Knowledge areas, plus Data Management Process, Ethics, and Big Data.
The exam question coverage by each of the 14 topics is below.
Anyone studying for the exam should keep the weighting of the chapters in mind and spend more time on those with 10 or 11 questions.
How can I prepare for CDMP ® certification?
The exams are all based on the DMBOK Version 2. You need your own copy to study and to refer to during the exam. You may get a pdf copy from https://technicspub.com/dmbok/ for USD 59. Hard copies may be purchased online on Amazon, www.loot.co.za or www.takealot.co.za.
Modelware Systems has developed two exam preparation courses,
1. Data Management Fundamentals for Certification,
4-day in-person training for those without DMBOK experience
This course will take you through the entire DMBOK.
Access to the over 700 practice questions, DMBOK v2 summary, Mind maps and refresher videos
2. CDMP® DIY
For those with DMBOK experience and almost ready to write the exam
Online, self-study format
5-week access to over 700 practice questions, DMBOK v2 summary, Mind maps and refresher videos.
Our resources are managed on the same platform and in the same format as the exam.
You will get unlimited tries to complete the practice questions, which you can access once you have paid.
How can I take the CDMP ® exam?
All the exams are available online at https://cdmp.info/. They are hosted on the Canvas Learning Management System and are proctored online by the Honorlock system. They are available anywhere, anytime. You need a quiet place where you won't be disturbed.
Honorlock monitors your camera and microphone; if something suspicious is detected, it pauses your exam. There is continuous support to resolve problems and a facility to test Honorlock with your system.
Once you enrol for an exam, you will get unlimited access to the 40-question practice test, which comprises actual exam questions. Your enrolment never expires, so there is no pressure to write the main exam before you are ready.
What resources will I need to take the exam?
All the exams are open-book, so you need your copy of the DMBOK. It can be a hard copy or a pdf. The pdf must be on another device, as Honorlock does not allow you to have an extra screen or navigate the exam site. You are entitled to other books, study notes and rough paper.
The computer you use must run Google Chrome, as Honorlock requires a Chrome add-in. Your computer must also have a camera and microphone.
How much will it cost?
Each exam costs USD 311. If you fail (under 60%), there is no minimum waiting period, but the retake costs USD 200, plus USD 11 for Honorlock.
The verification of your Master's experience costs USD 50.
DAMA International only accepts credit card payments, but we have access to a bulk pay facility to purchase exams on behalf of organisations and individuals.
Recommended extra study material for the specialist exams
We maintain a spreadsheet of the two or three most helpful books to read in each Knowledge Area. It is updated regularly, so please email Debbie at social@modelwaresystems.com for a copy.
Most books are available in an e-book format.
You can get a 20% discount for some of these books at https://technicspub.com/ if you use the coupon code: Modelware
(This does not include the DMBOK products).
| Knowledge Area | Title | Author | URL | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data Governance | Non-Invasive Data Governance: The Path of Least Resistance and Greatest Success | Robert S. Seiner | https://technicspub.com/non-invasive-data-governance/ | 978-1935504870 |
| Data Diplomacy: Keeping Peace and Avoiding Data Governance Bureaucracy | Håkan Edvinsson | https://technicspub.com/diplomacy/ | 978-1634626767 | |
| Disrupting Data Governance | Laura B. Madsen | https://technicspub.com/disrupting-dg/ | 978-1634626552 | |
| Data Governance: How to Design, Deploy, and Sustain an Effective Data Governance Program 2nd Edition | John Ladley | https://www.amazon.com/Data-Governance-Sustain-Effective-Program-ebook-dp-B081DV94YQ/dp/B081DV94YQ/ | 978-0128158326 | |
| Data Modelling & Design | Data Modeling Made Simple: A Practical Guide for Business and IT Professionals | Steve Hoberman | https://technicspub.com/data-modeling-made-simple/ | 978-1634620161 |
| The Nimble Elephant: Agile Delivery of Data Models using a Pattern-based Approach | John Giles | https://technicspub.com/the-nimble-elephant/ | 978-1634620253 | |
| Data Warehousing & Business Intelligence | The Unified Star Schema: An Agile and Resilient Approach to Data Warehouse and Analytics Design | Bill Inmon and Francesco Puppini | https://technicspub.com/uss/ | 978-1634628891 |
| Business unIntelligence: Insight and Innovation beyond Analytics and Big Data | Dr Barry Devlin | https://technicspub.com/business-unintelligence/ | 978-1935504566 | |
| Data Integration & Interoperability | Controlling the Chaos: A Functional Framework for Enterprise Architecture and Governance | Robert Fox | https://technicspub.com/controlling-the-chaos/ | 978-1634623438 |
| Connecting the Data: Data Integration Techniques for Building an Operational Data Store (ODS) | Angelo R. Bobak | https://technicspub.com/connecting-the-data/ | 978-1935504924 | |
| Data Quality | Getting in Front on Data | Thomas C. Redman, PhD | https://technicspub.com/getting-in-front-on-data/ | 978-1634621267, 978-1634621274, 978-1634621281, 978-1634621298 |
| Data for Business Performance: The Goal-Question-Metric (GQM) Model to Transform Business Data into an Enterprise Asset | Prashanth H Southekal, PhD: | https://technicspub.com/data-for-business-performance/ | 978-1634621847, 978-1634621854, 978-1634621861, 978-1634621878 | |
| Information Quality Applied: Best Practices for Improving Business Information, Processes and Systems | Larry P. English | https://www.amazon.com/s?k=9780470134474&i=stripbooks&linkCode=qs | 978-0470134474 | |
| Writing Effective Business Rules (Academic Press Advanced Finance) 3rd Edition, Kindle Edition | Graham Witt | https://www.amazon.com/Writing-Effective-Business-Rules-Graham-ebook-dp-B007ZC9FPM/dp/B007ZC9FPM/ref=mt_other?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid= | 978-0123850515 | |
| Metadata | The Data Catalog | Bonnie K. O'Neil and Lowell Fryman | https://technicspub.com/thedatacatalog/ | 978-1634627870, 978-1634627887, 978-1634627894, 978-1634627900 |
| Data Architecture | Principle Based Enterprise Architecture: A Systematic Approach to Enterprise Architecture and Governance | Ian Koenig | https://technicspub.com/pbea/ | 978-1634624947, 978-1634624954, 978-1634624961, 978-1634624978 |
| Enterprise Architecture Made Simple | Håkan Edvinsson and Lottie Aderinne | https://technicspub.com/ea-made-simple/ | 978-1935504634, 978-1935504641, 978-1935504658 | |
| Capturing the Organization Organism: An Outside-In Approach to Enterprise Architecture | John Alexander | https://technicspub.com/capturing-the-org/ | 978-1634624138, 978-1634624145, 978-1634624152, 978-1634624169 |