If you are planning the ServiceNow CIS-ITSM exam, check one thing before you book: ServiceNow will not let you sit it until you hold the CIS-Data Foundations (CMDB and CSDM) certification.
The rule
ServiceNow’s exam listing states that candidates must hold the Certified Implementation Specialist – Data Foundations (CMDB and CSDM) certification before attempting the Certified Implementation Specialist – IT Service Management exam. It is the only prerequisite listed. The Certified System Administrator (CSA) is not on the prerequisite list for CIS-ITSM, although some older guides say it is.
The two exams side by side
| CIS-Data Foundations (CMDB and CSDM) | CIS-ITSM | |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisite | None listed | CIS-Data Foundations |
| Duration | 1 hour 30 minutes | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Delivery | Pearson VUE, booked through ServiceNow University | Pearson VUE, booked through ServiceNow University |
| Price | 450 learning credits | 450 learning credits |
| Blueprint | Updated November 2025 | Updated January 2026 |
What CIS-Data Foundations covers
| Domain | Weight |
|---|---|
| Govern | 35% |
| Insight | 20% |
| Ingest | 19% |
| Configuration | 15% |
| CSDM Fundamentals | 11% |
What CIS-ITSM covers
| Domain | Weight |
|---|---|
| Incident Management | 25% |
| Change Management | 25% |
| Service Catalog and Request Management | 25% |
| Problem Management | 15% |
| Service Portfolio Management | 5% |
| Configuration Management Database | 5% |
How to plan both
- Book CIS-Data Foundations first. If you are aiming for CIS-ITSM by a fixed date, work backwards and leave time to pass Data Foundations before it.
- Expect Govern to dominate Data Foundations. At 35%, governance is the largest domain on that exam.
- Then focus on the big three for CIS-ITSM. Incident, Change, and Service Catalog and Request Management carry three-quarters of the marks.
- Practise in a Personal Developer Instance. ServiceNow’s free developer instance lets you try the configuration you are studying for both exams.
Confirm the current details on ServiceNow University before you book: requirements and blueprints change.
I run ExamCrest, where this post first appeared. If you're preparing for CIS-ITSM, there are 10 free CIS-ITSM practice questions, each with the answer and a full explanation.
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