Build Your Career as a Certified Data Governance Professional: Best Training and Certification

Why Data Governance Certification Sets You Apart

Organizations are increasingly desiring proven data governance expertise to navigate today’s complex data-driven landscape. Getting certified shows employers that you can deliver results.

Mark Horseman, data evangelist at DATAVERSITY, notes:

“A certification just isn’t about putting letters behind your name. It’s about showing that you can apply knowledge, and the organization is dedicated to professionals who can execute efficiently for the business.”

Feeling overwhelmed by the competition? Uncertain how to go about getting certified and advancing your career? Never fear. We’ve got you covered with actionable steps and resources in your certification journey as a data governance professional.

How to Prepare for Data Governance Certification

Getting certified as a data governance professional can be daunting. Luckily, we can help make certification preparation easier, more flexible, and more effective than studying on your own. Here’s how to get started.

Understand Your Professional Goals

“Hiring managers face a barrage of resumes to sift through,” says Horseman. For those just entering the data field, certification provides crucial differentiation from other applicants. For more experienced professionals, it provides the opportunity to validate skills in data governance. 

Becoming a certified data governance professional “shows that you have a broad background,” says John Ladley, a data consultant and principal of Sonrai. “It demonstrates standard understanding of concepts and skills, artifacts, techniques, and gives you a verifiable anchor.” 

You’ll want to choose a certification that is relevant to your job role and aligns with your professional goals. For example, if you want to become a data governance lead, your training and certification should demonstrate advanced knowledge of data governance best practices and strategies.

Research the Certifier

Beware: Not all governance certification programs are created equal. Brand recognition and reputation are crucial, says Horseman:

“Consider the organizational body behind the certification. Ultimately, a certification is most valuable when the granting organization is highly reputable.”

Some organizations partner with an educational provider to offer training. For example, Beck’s Hybrids implemented an educational platform to effectively communicate and deliver data literacy classes to their workers. Horseman says that this type of organization “shows leadership and dedication to the development of its staff.”

Do your research to ensure the certifier has proper accreditation and is highly respected in the data industry.

Bridge Knowledge Gaps

Accomplished data governance professionals must keep up with new industry developments and address skill gaps. Those who have done governance for many years may assume that they can get certified without studying. To avoid this pitfall, Horseman recommends carefully examining the material for each certification: “Get a sense of what you already know, and how it applies to governance versus the gaps you have. Maybe you need to understand connecting data governance to the business. Maybe you need to understand how to engage with stakeholders differently than you have in the past.”

Need a data governance refresher? Consider upskilling with DATAVERSITY’s comprehensive on-demand courses such as the Data Governance Learning Plan or Next-Generation Data Governance Learning Plan. 

Worried about exam readiness? Look for certification training with plenty of practice tests to increase your confidence. The Applied Data Governance Certification training, for example, includes three micro-credentials, and each course finishes with an assessment to test your understanding and help you prepare for the exam.

4 Data Governance Certifications You Should Know

Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP)

The Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP) is your foundation for a data management career. You can choose from several certification levels and focus areas – including a data governance specialist designation – depending on your knowledge and experience. Our DAMA-endorsed CDMP preparation training offers a solid understanding of key data management disciplines and taxonomy to help you ace the exam.

Applied Data Governance Practitioner (ADGP) 

The Applied Data Governance Practitioner (ADGP) Certification is ideal if you want to move beyond theory into practical data governance implementation. DATAVERSITY’s certification stands out for its focus on real-world application and business alignment rather than just technical knowledge. If you’re looking to lead data governance initiatives or advance to an executive management role, this certification provides the skills and credibility you need. 

Certified Data Governance Professional (CDGP)

The Certified Data Governance Professional (CDGP) designation is best suited for IT professionals who want to specialize in the technical aspects of data governance. It takes a risk-management approach, making it particularly valuable in regulated industries or compliance-focused roles. While it requires some work experience, it’s an excellent choice if you want to bridge the gap between IT and governance.

Data Governance & Stewardship Professional (DGSP)

ICCP’s Data Governance & Stewardship Professional (DGSP) certification is available at five levels: assistant, professional, master, principal, and executive. Ideal for data governance professionals and data stewards, it focuses on the latest data governance best practices and concepts and fundamental knowledge areas for stewardship roles and activities. 

Core Skills Every Data Governance Leader Needs (Beyond Passing the Exam)

Certification is the first step in addressing common data governance challenges, such as maintaining dynamic databases with surging data volumes and speed. But even after getting certified, a data governance lead must master core skills and continuously apply them to manage a successful data governance program. DATAVERSITY covers you throughout your journey, on the job, through core skill developments, including:

Strategic Leadership

One of the key elements of data governance involves aligning data strategy with business needs. Data governance leaders that master this skill successfully position data governance as a service through established data governance metrics.

Recommended Training: Data Leadership Learning Plan

Framework Development

Data governance frameworks require foundational capabilities – starting with a data governance maturity model and implementing an effective data governance policy. As these governance principles evolve, they can incorporate emerging needs like data governance and generative AI. 

Recommended Training: Getting Started Governing Data – The Data Governance Framework

Change Management

Change management capabilities require understanding why change is difficult and how to handle resistance. Learning how to identify and engage executive sponsors and stakeholders is an essential skill for getting buy-in for data governance.

Recommended Training: Organizational Change Management to Ensure Governance Adoption

Benefits for Certified Data Governance Professionals

Data governance certification delivers specific, measurable career rewards that extend beyond the certification itself. Professionals who master the complete skillset – from analytical capabilities to organizational development – are increasingly valued in today’s data-driven workplace. Benefits include:

• Higher salary potential: Data governance professionals with prestigious certification have more opportunities to obtain higher compensation. For example, certification opens doors to becoming a data governance manager, a position with a median salary of $162,117 per year in 2025.
• Career prospects: Certification benefits include more exciting, intellectually stimulating, and challenging projects. For example, when Horseman got his CDMP Master designation, he became eligible to teach courses on the Data Management Body of Knowledge (DMBoK), the gold standard of reference guides for data professionals.
• Visible impact: Certification equips you to deliver organizational goals that benefit an organization. For example, a major healthcare provider invested in a certified governance team, which led to measurable improvements in patient care and operational costs.
• Risk reduction: With expanding U.S. data privacy and AI governance legislation, data mishandling can result in serious consequences, including criminal penalties. Certification provides the specific knowledge needed to ensure compliance with regulations. 
• Professional credibility: A respected certification serves as third-party validation of your expertise. Organizations actively seek certified professionals because they demonstrate both individual competence and institutional commitment to effective data management, often making certification a key differentiator in hiring decisions.

As companies increasingly recognize the value of certified professionals, these benefits continue to advance a variety of industries.

How Data Governance Certification Makes an Impact Across Industries

Data governance certification has become mission-critical for industries to standardize quicker to meet regulatory requirements and innovate more efficiently.

Banking and Finance

Banking and finance industries must answer to strict legal requirements across the U.S. and beyond. Through transparency with immediate data reporting and analysis, these institutions can manage risks and gain customer credibility. At Mastercard, a small, highly skilled team of five specialists with few resources successfully operationalized AI governance.

Energy and Utilities

Energy and utilities companies must ensure regulatory compliance and trustworthy data quality for operational decision-making. At CPS Energy, a municipally owned utility in San Antonio, Texas, certified data professional Marty Nash used his advanced governance skills to build and implement a strong foundation for data stewardship engagement.

Insurance

In an age of increasing cyber threats and privacy regulations, insurance companies must treat consumer data protection as essential for efficiently handling life insurance and retirement plans. A top-50 property and casualty insurance carrier tapped into the expertise of certified data governance professionals and accelerated revenue growth while strengthening regulatory compliance.

Government

Certified data governance professionals are essential in government because they ensure that data is handled transparently and efficiently to serve the public good. In Arizona, data leaders collaborated with the state government to implement a data governance maturity model and successfully launch a state-wide data governance program, improving data sharing and reporting. 

Data Governance Certification Is Just the Beginning of Your Growth

Obtaining a certification in data governance prepares you to apply the latest technical knowledge and best practices to meet data needs across the business. Continuing to learn and grow your mastery of data governance – through ongoing education and data governance certification – will ensure you remain confident, competitive, and ahead of the curve.