Data Governance
Data Governance by DAMA is defined and standardized through the DAMA-DMBOK® (Data Management Body of Knowledge), the most widely accepted vendor-neutral framework for enterprise data governance. DAMA positions Data Governance as the central authority function that coordinates people, processes, and technology to manage data as a strategic asset.
- Exam Breakdown
- Domain Breakdown
- Access Breakdown
Exam Format
- Exam Title: Specialist – Data Governance
- Certification Program: Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP®)
- Exam Duration: 90 minutes per specialist exam
- Passing Score: Typically ≥70% (for Specialist used toward Practitioner) and ≥80% for Master level*
- Exam Type: Multiple choice questions
- Scored Content: All questions count toward certification requirements
- Unscored Content: Not publicly specified by DAMA
Exam Details
- Question Types: Multiple choice
- Number of Questions: 100 (specialist exams are generally 100-question format)
Exam Policies
- Proctoring: Online proctored via DAMA’s platform (Honorlock) – taken remotely
- Retake Policy: If not passed, each exam may be retaken (retake fee applies)
- Language: English (with ESL support options)
Certification Validity and Renewal
- Validity: Registered CDMP certification (Associate/Practitioner/Master) is valid for 3 years. Renewal requires participation in continuing education and professional activities.
- Renewal Options: Earn CDMP maintenance points through education, activities and/or re-examination.
Exam Fee
- Base Fee: USD $311 per Specialist exam (Data Governance)
- Taxes: Country-specific VAT/GST may apply
- Example (India): Tax/GST extra as per regulations (typically not included in DAMA base fee).
Prerequisites
There are no formal prerequisites for registering the Data Governance specialist exam itself; however:
- For CDMP Associate – you must pass Data Management Fundamentals.
- For CDMP Practitioner/Master – you must pass Data Management Fundamentals plus two specialist exams (one may be Data Governance).
- Recommended:
- Foundational knowledge in data management and governance principles (per DAMA DMBOK® guidance).
Exam Topics
- The specialist Data Governance exam focuses on areas drawn from the DAMA Data Management Body of Knowledge (DMBOK®) including:
- Fundamentals of data governance frameworks and structures
- Roles and responsibilities (e.g., data owners, stewards)
- Governance policies, standards, and procedures
- Decision rights and accountability models
- Data lifecycle governance
- Compliance, risk and ethics in governance
(Content specifics align with DAMA DMBOK guidance)
Intended Audience
- The Data Governance exam is ideal for professionals seeking to validate expertise in establishing and managing data governance frameworks, including roles such as:
- Data Governance Analyst/Lead
- Data Steward/Data Manager
- Data Architect
- Data Quality or Compliance Specialist
- Information Governance Professional
Career Impact
Jobs You Can Get:
- Data Governance Specialist/Manager
- Data Steward
- Data Governance Consultant
- Data Management Professional
Average Salary:
- Varies by country — U.S.: $80,000–$130,000 USD,
- India: ₹7,00,000–₹22,00,000 INR,
- United Kingdom: £45,000–£80,000 GBP,
- UAE: 160,000–300,000 AED per year.
Value:
- The CDMP certification (including specialist exams like Data Governance) is globally recognized and demonstrates expertise in data governance and broader data management disciplines — helping with career mobility, credibility, and leadership roles.
- (Salary varies greatly by country, role and experience — typical data governance specialist roles command competitive market rates globally.)
Exam Mode
- Online Proctoring: Available 24/7 through DAMA’s exam platform (remote)
- Exam Booking: Register and schedule via DAMA/CDMP certification portal
Exam Booking Link
- You can book DAMA CDMP exams (including Data Governance) through the official CDMP portal:
https://cdmp.info/
(Registration and scheduling flows are provided on the DAMA website.)
Certificate Access After Passing:
- Access your CDMP certification via the CDMP portal once results are confirmed.
- Certificates are typically issued electronically after successful completion.
Offers
Prepare with actual exam questions
To strengthen your knowledge and approach exam day with confidence. We provide practice questions to help you understand the exam format and question patterns.
Access the Real Exam QuestionsContact our consultant today for personalized guidance.
Why Atmic networks?
- Atmic Networks is a trusted global provider of professional IT training and certification mentorship.
- We deliver regularly updated, industry-relevant content tailored to real-world demands.
- Our expert mentors bring hands-on experience to guide your learning journey.
- Our clients consistently achieve high success rates in their certification exams.
- Enjoy instant access to high-quality digital learning materials.
- We offer dedicated 24/7 customer support to assist you whenever you need it.
Top Reasons to Choose
Data Governance
Strengthens Data Governance Expertise
This exam helps professionals validate practical knowledge of governance models, stewardship, policies, accountability, data standards, compliance alignment, and enterprise data management practices based on DAMA-DMBOK.
Supports CDMP Career Progression
The Data Governance exam is a recognized CDMP specialist exam and can be used toward Practitioner or Master certification when combined with required CDMP exams.
Valuable Across Data Roles
Data governance skills are essential for organizations managing data quality, privacy, compliance, ownership, metadata, risk, and trusted data-driven decision-making across business and technology teams.
Top Certifications
Fortinet Certified Solution Specialist – Secure Networking
Fortinet Certified Fundamentals – Cybersecurity
Fortinet Certified Associate – Cybersecurity
Fortinet Certified Professional – Security Operations
Fortinet Certified Professional – Cloud Security
Fortinet Certified Professional-SASE
Fortinet Certified Professional – Secure Networking
Fortinet Certified Solution Specialist – Security Operations
Fortinet Certified Solution Specialist – Cloud Security
Fortinet Certified Solution Specialist – SASE
Fortinet Certified Expert Cybersecurity
Microsoft Office Specialist: Word Expert (Office 2019)
Microsoft Office Specialist: Word Expert (Office 2016)
Microsoft Office Specialist: Word Expert (Microsoft 365 Apps)
Microsoft Office Specialist: Word Associate (Office 2019)
Microsoft Office Specialist: Word Associate (Microsoft 365 Apps)
Microsoft Office Specialist: Word (Office 2016)
Microsoft Office Specialist: PowerPoint Associate (Office 2019)
Microsoft Office Specialist: PowerPoint Associate (Microsoft 365 Apps)
Microsoft Office Specialist: PowerPoint (Office 2016)
Microsoft Office Specialist: Outlook Associate (Office 2019)
Microsoft Office Specialist: Outlook (Office 2016)
Microsoft Office Specialist: Expert (Office 2019)
Microsoft Office Specialist: Expert (Microsoft 365 Apps)
Microsoft Office Specialist: Excel for Business Finance Associate
Microsoft Office Specialist: Excel for Accounting Associate
Microsoft Office Specialist: Excel Expert (Office 2019)
Microsoft Office Specialist: Excel Expert (Office 2016)
Microsoft Office Specialist: Excel Expert (Microsoft 365 Apps)
Microsoft Office Specialist: Excel Associate (Office 2019)
Microsoft Office Specialist: Excel Associate (Microsoft 365 Apps)
Microsoft Office Specialist: Excel (Office 2016)
Microsoft Office Specialist: Associate (Office 2019)
Microsoft Office Specialist: Associate (Microsoft 365 Apps)
Microsoft Office Specialist: Access Expert (Office 2019)
Microsoft Office Specialist: Access (Office 2016)
Microsoft Office Specialist: 2016 Master
Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate
Microsoft Certified: SQL AI Developer Associate
Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Solution Architect Expert
Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Functional Consultant Associate
Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Developer Associate
Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate
Microsoft Certified: Power Automate RPA Developer Associate
Microsoft Certified: Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) Engineer Associate
Microsoft Certified: Information Security Administrator Associate
Microsoft Certified: Fabric Data Engineer Associate
Microsoft Certified: Fabric Analytics Engineer Associate
Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365: Finance and Operations Apps Solution Architect Expert
Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365: Finance and Operations Apps Developer Associate
Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management Functional Consultant Associate
Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Finance Functional Consultant Associate
Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Field Service Functional Consultant Associate
Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Customer Service Functional Consultant Associate
Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Customer Experience Analyst Associate
Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Business Central Functional Consultant Associate
Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Business Central Developer Associate
Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert
Microsoft Certified: Cybersecurity Architect Expert
Microsoft Certified: Azure for SAP Workloads Specialty
Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
Microsoft Certified: Azure Databricks Data Engineer Associate
Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Scientist Associate
Microsoft 365 Certified: Teams Administrator Associate
Microsoft 365 Certified: Endpoint Administrator Associate
Microsoft 365 Certified: Copilot and Agent Administration Fundamentals
Microsoft 365 Certified: Collaboration Communications Systems Engineer Associate
Microsoft 365 Certified: Administrator Expert
Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
Cisco Certified Network Professional – Enterprise
Cisco Certified Network Professional – Data Center
Cisco Certified Network Professional – Security
Cisco Certified Network Professional – Collaboration
Cisco Certified Network Professional- DevNet
Cisco Certified Network Professional-CyberOps
Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate
Cisco Certified DevNet Associate (Automation & DevOps focus)
Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert – Enterprise Wireless
Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert – Security
Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert – Data Center
Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert – Service Provider
Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert – Collaboration
Cisco Certified Architect
Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals
Microsoft Certified: Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals
Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Fundamentals
Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals
Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Fundamentals
Microsoft 365 Certified: Fundamentals
Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate
Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate
Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate
Microsoft Certified: Azure Network Engineer Associate
Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Engineer Associate
Microsoft Azure Database Administrator Associate
Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer Associate
Microsoft Certified: Security Operations Analyst Associate
Microsoft Certified: Identity and Access Administrator Associate
Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop Specialty
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) – Enterprise Infrastructure
Microsoft GitHub Actions Certification
Microsoft Certified: AI Business Professional
Microsoft Certified: AI Transformation Leader
Microsoft Certified: Agentic AI Business Solutions Architect
Microsoft Certified: Azure Cosmos DB Developer Specialty
Microsoft GitHub Foundations Certification
Microsoft GitHub Copilot Certification
Microsoft GitHub Advanced Security Certification
Microsoft GitHub Administration Certification
Add Review
Your email address will not be published
Customer review
Be the first to submit a review for this exam.
FAQ
-
Who should take the CDMP Data Governance exam?
The CDMP Data Governance exam is suitable for data governance analysts, data stewards, data managers, compliance professionals, business analysts, metadata specialists, data quality professionals, and data leaders. It is useful for anyone responsible for building, supporting, or improving governance programs, policies, standards, ownership models, and enterprise data management practices.
-
Is the CDMP Data Governance exam available through Pearson VUE?
No. The CDMP Data Governance exam is not listed as a Pearson VUE exam. DAMA directs candidates to the official DAMA-owned CDMP registration portal, where exams are taken online. Candidates should use only the official DAMA/CDMP registration path and avoid unauthorized exam-dump or proxy-testing websites.
-
How difficult is the CDMP Data Governance exam?
The exam is considered moderate to advanced depending on your experience with DAMA-DMBOK, data governance frameworks, stewardship, data quality, metadata, policy development, and compliance. Candidates with practical experience in enterprise data governance will find it easier, while beginners should study the DAMA-DMBOK carefully before attempting the exam.
-
What resources can be used to prepare for the Data Governance exam?
Candidates should use the DAMA-DMBOK guide, DAMA CDMP exam information, official CDMP practice resources, DAMA chapter study groups, and training from DAMA-recognized education providers. Practical experience with governance councils, stewardship models, data policies, data quality controls, metadata management, and compliance programs will also help significantly.
-
Is the CDMP Data Governance certification valuable in 2026?
Yes. Data governance remains highly valuable because organizations need trusted, compliant, well-managed data for analytics, AI, reporting, privacy, and regulatory requirements. CDMP is globally recognized in data management, and the Data Governance specialist exam supports career growth in governance, stewardship, compliance, data quality, and leadership roles.
