CDCP study guide
CDCP · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Certified Data Centre Professional (CDCP) is a vendor-neutral credential offered by EPI, part of TÜV NORD GROUP, a global certification body for data centre facilities, operations, and professionals. It is designed for individuals who need a broad, practical understanding of data centre design, power, cooling, and operations, such as facilities managers, IT and network engineers, project managers, and consultants. The exam assesses knowledge across four domains: data centre design and standards, power infrastructure, cooling and environmental control, and operations and maintenance. Preparation typically involves studying these domains through EPI-accredited training or self-study, focusing on standards such as ANSI/TIA-942, ISO/IEC 22237, EN 50600, and EPI's own DCOS and MDCS frameworks. The CDCP study guide has 4 sections and about 1,643 words.
01Data Centre Design and Standards
This domain tests whether you can turn a business availability requirement into a standards-based physical design: tier/rated topology, site and space planning, security layers, cabling, and fire/life-safety. Expect scenario questions where a design looks redundant on paper but fails a tier definition.
439 words, about 2 min02Data Centre Power Infrastructure
This domain tests the electrical path from utility to rack: redundancy topologies, UPS and generator sizing, battery behaviour, switching, grounding, and failure modes. Questions often hinge on unit conversions, load growth, or whether a redundancy label actually removes a single point of failure.
418 words, about 2 min03Data Centre Cooling and Environmental Control
This domain tests heat removal and air management: sensible and latent loads, ASHRAE environmental envelopes, CRAC versus CRAH systems, containment, economisers, and PUE. Scenario questions often give a rack load and ask for unit count, airflow, or the likely cause of hot spots.
400 words, about 2 min04Data Centre Operations and Maintenance
This domain tests how design availability is preserved in service: procedures, change control, maintenance, monitoring, capacity management, and incident response. Questions often present an operational task and ask whether it needs a routine procedure, a planned change, or an emergency response.
386 words, about 2 min