ICCP CDP study guide
ICCP CDP · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Certified Data Professional (CDP) is one of the certifications listed by the ICCP (the Institute for Certification of Computer Professionals), a non-profit organization founded in 1973 that describes itself as advancing the computer science, information systems, and information technology professions. The CDP sits within a portfolio that also includes data-adjacent credentials such as the Business Data Management Professional, Certified Big Data Professional, Certified Business Intelligence Professional, Certified Data Scientist, and Data Governance & Stewardship Professional. The CDP is aimed at experienced data practitioners - the ICCP publishes a certification levels and requirements table that places its senior credentials at five or more years of technical experience with a BA/BSc or higher and a current position at senior manager, CDO, CIO, CTO, or VP level; candidates should confirm the exact level that applies to the CDP before registering. The exam is delivered as a written examination of 90 minutes, and the ICCP's published qualifying grade for its exam-based certifications is 70%. The ICCP CDP study guide has 4 sections and about 1,462 words.
01Data Management
This domain covers the disciplines used to acquire, store, move, and maintain data as an asset. The CDP exam tests whether you can distinguish modeling levels, apply integrity rules, choose integration patterns, and connect data quality and metadata to operational outcomes.
375 words, about 2 min02Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence
This domain tests warehouse architecture, dimensional design, and BI delivery. CDP candidates should be able to declare grain, distinguish fact and dimension tables, manage history, and explain how semantic layers produce consistent metrics.
380 words, about 2 min03Data Governance and Stewardship
This domain tests the operating model that decides how data is defined, protected, and improved. CDP questions focus on accountability, policy artifacts, stewardship, metadata, quality remediation, and regulatory controls.
371 words, about 2 min04Data Science and Analytics
This domain tests the analytics lifecycle from problem framing through deployment. CDP candidates should know how to prepare data without leakage, select methods, evaluate models with appropriate metrics, and monitor results after release.
336 words, about 2 min