Domain 1 · Initial Domain Setup and Service Provider Architecture
9% of the exam- System Properties
- Domain Map / Company relationships
- Architecture and non-domain scenarios – multi-instance
- Integrations
CIS-SP exam blueprint, explained
Certified Implementation Specialist - Service Provider
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: KB0011569, version 11.0, updated January 2026. Open the official CIS-SP 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.
This exam is being retired. Exam retires 12/31/26 (last day to test); the certification itself retires 3/31/27; no maintenance exam or CMP fee needed until then.
At a glance
- Domains
- 5
- Heaviest domain
- Process Separation (36%)
- Top two domains
- 60% of the exam
- Objectives listed
- 21
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. Initial Domain Setup and Service Provider Architecture | 9% | 1 h |
| 2. Data Separation/Visibility | 24% | 2 h 30 min |
| 3. Process Separation | 36% | 3 h 30 min |
| 4. Foundational Data Management | 20% | 2 h |
| 5. Domain Support in Applications | 11% | 1 h |
Weights as published in KB0011569. 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 · Data Separation/Visibility
24% of the exam- Given a scenario sys_domain field
- Data flow/ direction
- Contains relationship
- Visibility groups
- Special Considerations
Domain 3 · Process Separation
36% of the exam- Given a scenario sys_overrides field
- Process/Automation
- UI Configuration
- Choice Lists
- Data-Driven Process
Domain 4 · Foundational Data Management
20% of the exam- Imports & Transforms
Domain 5 · Domain Support in Applications
11% of the exam- Domain Support Levels
- Service Catalog
- Knowledge Management
- Mobile
- Service Portal
- Emerging applications/Other (CSM, ITOM)
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-SP 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 · 48m
- ServiceNow Platform Implementation
- Scripting in ServiceNow Fundamentals
- Domain Separation Basics
- Domain Separation Implementation
- Service Provider Architecture · 1h
Additional resources on the blueprint
Listed as further reading, not core preparation.
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. Process Separation alone is 36% 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.