CDMP Growth: Why Most Professionals Stop at Associate

The number of Certified Data Management Professionals (CDMPs) is growing rapidly, but are professionals going far enough to stand out in an increasingly competitive field?

Between July 2025 and July 2026, the total number of CDMP-certified professionals grew by nearly 60%. Yet, the distribution across certification levels reveals a striking gap between foundational knowledge and advanced expertise. With 20,793 Associates compared to just 1,564 Practitioners and 427 Masters as of July 2026, the question is no longer simply whether you should pursue certification, but how far you should take it.

Join this DAMA South Africa webinar to explore the trends behind CDMP growth, why so many professionals stop at the Associate level, and what progressing to Practitioner and Master can mean for your professional development.

Discover how applied expertise in data governance, architecture, modelling, metadata, lineage and semantics can help bridge the gap between knowing the DAMA-DMBOK and putting its principles into practice.

As AI and GenAI increase the demand for trusted, well-governed data, the ability to move beyond theory and deliver real organisational value is becoming increasingly important.

Find out how to approach your CDMP journey as a pathway to professional mastery rather than simply another certification badge, and consider where your next step should take you.