SCDM’s new Certified Clinical Data Scientist (CCDS)
program is our most advanced certification program for
CDM professionals.
CCDS CERTIFICATION
Prove your expertise of Clinical Data Science with the CCDS certification
CCDS CERTIFICATION
Who is the CCDS Certification for?
Our most advanced certification, the Certified Clinical Data Scientist (CCDS), is currently in beta stage.
This program is designed for experienced CDM professionals who demonstrate advanced capabilities—from developing simulations and predictive models to applying regulatory knowledge and clinical research methodologies in complex data environments.
Do you want to be among the first participants? Read on about applying for CCDS Beta Exam.
We are now accepting applications for the CCDS Beta Exam! To be eligible, you must meet the following criteria:
- Bachelor’s degree or higher and minimum six (6) years full-time CDM experience
- Associate’s degree and minimum nine (9) years full-time CDM experience
- Ten (10) or more years’ full-time CDM experience
EXAM PREPARATION
Prepare with confidence for the CCDS Certification
To support your preparation for the CCDS exam, we provide a selection of structured learning resources designed to guide you through the process and help you build the knowledge and confidence needed to succeed.
Available resources include:
- CCDS Certification Handbook
- CCDS Study Guide
- CDS 101 webinar – already available on SCDM Learning Hub
- Supporting CCDS resources – available below
All material will be available soon.
Frequently Asked Questions
The certification beta exam is a preliminary version of the final exam that will be used to assess the knowledge and skills of Clinical Data Scientist candidates. The beta exam is designed to evaluate the validity, reliability, and difficulty of the exam questions, as well as to gather feedback from the test takers.
SCDM’s newly launched Clinical Data Scientist certification program is for those who wish to set themselves apart as a leading professional in this specialized field and meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Bachelor’s degree or higher and minimum six (6) years full-time CDM experience
- Associate’s degree and minimum nine (9) years full-time CDM experience
- Ten (10) or more years’ full-time CDM experience
Refer to the CCDS Study Guide for current information about the exam including tested competencies.
You become a Certified Clinical Data Scientist (CCDS).
Your CCDS status expires in five years.
You will be welcome to retest again once the exam is finalized and out of the beta period.
Yes, however you will need to take the finalized exam, not the beta.
Approximately four months after the close of the Beta Exam Period. The Psychometrician must review/analyse all the results from the exams and determine the cutoff score.
The Psychometrician must provide a statistical analysis of the results from the exams. This requires that 200 people take the Beta Exam, followed by the analysis of those results which includes discarding questions that performed poorly and setting the cutoff score.
A Cutoff score is the score that a test-taker must achieve to pass the exam. It is determined based on expert data managers analysis of what a CCDS needs to know.
If you believe your Beta Exam was scored incorrectly, you may appeal to SCDM. To initiate this process, you must submit in writing within 14 days of receiving your results.
The most effective way to prepare for the Beta Exam is to reference the CCDS Study Guide. This guide is specifically designed to support test takers by outlining key resources that align with the core CCDS domains and the associated tasks. It serves as a roadmap to help you focus your study efforts on the most relevant
content areas.
The CCDS Study Guide is a supplemental study aid—it’s not a replacement for professional experience or other recommended preparation methods, but it’s a valuable tool to help you get exam-ready with confidence.
You will be notified within 14 days of receipt via email.
You will have 90 days from the acceptance of your application to take the exam.
Applications must be completed and submitted via the online portal.
80 multiple choice items, covering all tested competencies.
Yes, this is condition of the SCDM Certifications.
Yes, the confidentiality agreement is part of the Certification Exam application.
Be the first to know
Sign up to get our latest news and industry updates.