Domain 1 · Configuration
15% of the exam- Identify how and when to use CI Class Manager (table, class attributes, hierarchy)
- Identify when and how to use IRE
- Identify when and how to configure CMDB 360/multisource CMDB
CIS-DF exam blueprint, explained
Certified Implementation Specialist - Data Foundations
ServiceNow's blueprint lists what the exam tests and how much each area counts. This page restates it in plain language, with the domains ordered as published and every objective as a checklist.
Official source: KB0012913, updated November 2025. Open the official CIS-DF blueprint
The original is a ServiceNow University knowledge article and may ask you to sign in to Now Learning. If anything here disagrees with it, the official blueprint wins.
At a glance
- Domains
- 5
- Heaviest domain
- Govern (35%)
- Top two domains
- 55% of the exam
- Objectives listed
- 18+
Where the marks are
Each domain's share of the exam, and what that means for every 10 hours you study.
| Domain | Weight | Of every 10 study hours |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Configuration | 15% | 1 h 30 min |
| 2. Ingest | 19% | 2 h |
| 3. Govern | 35% | 3 h 30 min |
| 4. Insight | 20% | 2 h |
| 5. CSDM Fundamentals | 11% | 1 h |
Weights as published in KB0012913. The study-time column only applies the weight; spend more on domains you're weaker in.
What each domain covers
The blueprint's objectives for each domain. Tick them off as you can explain and do each one in a Personal Developer Instance.
Domain 2 · Ingest
19% of the exam- Identify how relationships are auto or manually populated
- Identify the automation opportunities that are available to automate CMDB integration
- Identify which data ingestion method to use
- Identify how to minimize the risk of technical debt and ensure upgradeability
The official blueprint lists more objectives for this domain than we transcribed. See the full list
Domain 3 · Govern
35% of the exam- Identify the characteristics of the six metrics that make up the CMDB health score
- Identify the purpose and/or requirements of Data Manager
- Identify the goals of good CMDB governance
- Identify what is needed to govern the CMDB
The official blueprint lists more objectives for this domain than we transcribed. See the full list
Domain 4 · Insight
20% of the exam- Identify the business value of CMDB
- Identify how to use Natural Language Query
- Identify how to build custom reports using CMDB 360 data (CMDB Saved Queries)
- Identify how to build out complex relationships within a query and get a full set of results
The official blueprint lists more objectives for this domain than we transcribed. See the full list
Domain 5 · CSDM Fundamentals
11% of the exam- Identify how to work with different stakeholders across industries to correctly map CIs with the correct CSDM domain
- Identify the approach to abide by CSDM
- Identify the benefits of implementing CSDM
Before you book
- Prerequisites: Our transcription of the blueprint lists no mandatory prerequisite certification. Check the exam registration page to confirm.
- Exam fee: $450.
- Passing score: ServiceNow does not publish the cut score, and the official exam blueprint says it is not always 70%.
- Booking, retake waits and exam format are covered on the CIS-DF page.
Courses the blueprint points to
Recommended on the blueprint
The blueprint lists these as recommended preparation.
- Welcome to ServiceNow
- ServiceNow Administration Fundamentals
- Get Started with Now Create
- ServiceNow Platform Implementation
- CMDB Fundamentals
- CMDB Health Micro-Certification Simulator
- Configure the CMDB Micro-Certification Simulator
- Common Service Data Model (CSDM Fundamentals)
- CMDB Health Deep Dive · 1h 50m
Additional resources on the blueprint
Listed as further reading, not core preparation.
- Introduction to CMDB Workspace
- Design a Successful Configuration Management Database (CMDB)
- Discovery Fundamentals
- Service Mapping (SM) Fundamentals On Demand
- Agent Client Collector Essentials
- Service Graph Connector Essentials
- MID Server Fundamentals
- Now Create CMDB and CSDM Data Foundations
Courses without a link are named in the blueprint but we haven't recorded a course URL for them; search for them in Now Learning.
How to use this blueprint
- Go through the objectives above and mark each one: done for real, only read about, or new.
- Start where heavy weight meets the most “new” marks. Govern alone is 35% of the exam.
- Build each objective in a Personal Developer Instance rather than only reading about it.
- Use practice questions to find weak domains, then go back to those objectives and their documentation.