- The Short Answer: No Published DGSP Pass Rate
- Passing Score vs. Pass Rate: Two Different Numbers
- What ICCP Actually Publishes About the Exam
- Sample Exam vs. Live Exam: Don't Mix the Numbers
- Where Candidates Realistically Lose Points
- Domain-by-Domain Readiness Check
- Passing the Exam Is Not the Last Step
- Retakes, Cost and Remote Testing Mechanics
- A DGSP-Specific Preparation Sequence
- Frequently Asked Questions
- ICCP does not publish a candidate pass rate for the DGSP; any specific percentage you see is unverified.
- The Practitioner passing requirement is 50% or higher on 110 scenario-based questions.
- Standard testing time is 90 minutes; English-as-a-second-language candidates receive 120 minutes.
- The sample exam (100 questions from a 115-question pool) is not the live exam count.
The Short Answer: No Published DGSP Pass Rate
If you searched for the DGSP pass rate hoping to find a tidy percentage, here is the honest finding: the Institute for the Certification of Computing Professionals (ICCP) does not publish a candidate pass rate for the Data Governance and Stewardship Professional - Associate/Practitioner credential. The public materials reviewed for this article, including the credential page, the examinations and outlines page, the FAQ, and the renewal page, state a passing requirement but no share of candidates who pass.
That matters because pass-rate figures circulate widely online for certifications of all kinds, and many are guesses, recycled forum posts, or numbers borrowed from a different credential. Several well-known certifications share the DGSP acronym, which makes this especially risky: a pass rate quoted for some other "DGSP" says nothing about the ICCP Practitioner exam. This site covers only the ICCP Data Governance and Stewardship Professional credential, and we will not invent a number to fill the gap.
Passing Score vs. Pass Rate: Two Different Numbers
Candidates often conflate these terms, so it is worth separating them cleanly.
| Concept | What it means | Is it published for the DGSP? |
|---|---|---|
| Passing score (cut score) | The minimum result you need on your own attempt to pass | Yes: 50% or higher for the Practitioner level |
| Pass rate | The share of all candidates who pass | No published figure |
| Question count (live exam) | How many items you answer | Yes: 110 scenario-based questions |
| Standard time allowance | How long you have | Yes: 90 minutes (120 for ESL testing) |
The passing score is a property of the exam; the pass rate is a property of the candidate population. A 50% threshold does not mean "half of candidates pass," and it does not mean the exam is easy. It simply defines the line you must clear. Our DGSP passing score article goes deeper on how to interpret that threshold in practice.
What ICCP Actually Publishes About the Exam
Here is the verified, citable set of facts about the professional Data Governance and Stewardship exam, drawn from ICCP's public pages (reviewed October 5, 2026):
- Format: 110 scenario-based questions, computer-based, delivered over the internet.
- Time: 90 minutes standard; 120 minutes for English-as-a-second-language testing.
- Passing requirement: 50% or higher at the Practitioner level.
- Eligibility to sit the exam: ICCP's FAQ does not require a college degree.
- Proctoring: ICCP-arranged remote proctoring or an ICCP-approved in-person proctor.
- Scope: Five content areas published as outline headings, with no official percentage weights.
Notice what is absent: no candidate volume, no first-attempt success figure, no year-over-year trend. The outline page itself is undated, and no separately numbered current exam version is identified. If you are building a study plan, the most reliable move is to work from the published outline headings and the scenario-based format rather than from rumor.
Sample Exam vs. Live Exam: Don't Mix the Numbers
One of the most common sources of confusion is the difference between ICCP's public sample-exam listing and the live professional exam. The sample listing describes a 100-question attempt drawn from a 115-question practice pool. The live professional exam, by contrast, is 110 scenario-based questions. These are different instruments, and the figures should never be swapped.
If you want realistic practice without confusing it for the real thing, our DGSP practice test platform is built around original governance scenarios aligned to the five published outline headings.
Where Candidates Realistically Lose Points
Without a published pass rate, the next best evidence is the structure of the exam itself. Because the questions are scenario-based, the typical failure modes are predictable from the format rather than from any statistic.
Memorizing definitions instead of applying them
A scenario question rarely asks "what is a data steward?" It describes a business situation, such as a disputed customer definition across two departments, and asks what the governance response should be. Candidates who studied glossaries without practicing application tend to struggle here.
Confusing roles that sound alike
Governance programs involve sponsors, councils, owners, stewards, and custodians, and the exam probes where decision rights actually sit. Mixing up who approves a policy versus who executes it is a classic trap.
Pacing the 110-question format
At 90 minutes for 110 questions, the standard allowance works out to well under one minute per question on average. Candidates who linger on a single long scenario can run short. English-as-a-second-language candidates have 120 minutes, which eases but does not remove the pressure.
Treating the passing threshold as a target
A 50% requirement can create false comfort. Because individual question difficulty and domain coverage are not published, aiming just above the line leaves no margin for an unlucky draw of topics in your weakest area.
Domain-by-Domain Readiness Check
ICCP publishes five outline headings without percentage weights. That means you should not assume any domain is "worth more" than another; prepare all five. Below is what each heading asks of a practitioner. For a fuller treatment, see our complete guide to all five DGSP content areas.
Domain 1: Data Governance Concepts, Business Drivers and Roles
The foundation: why organizations govern data and who is involved.
- Business drivers such as regulatory pressure, data quality pain, and decision-making needs
- Core governance concepts and how they differ from data management
- Introductory role concepts that set up Domain 2
Domain 2: Data Governance and Stewardship Roles
Who does what, and who decides.
- Differences between sponsorship, ownership, stewardship, and custodianship
- Decision rights and escalation paths in governance structures
- How stewards operate day to day versus at council level
Domain 3: Data Governance Inputs and Deliverables
What feeds a governance program and what it produces.
- Inputs such as business requirements, regulations, and existing standards
- Deliverables such as policies, standards, glossaries, and issue-resolution outputs
- How artifacts connect to accountability
Domain 4: Data Governance Function
How governance operates as an ongoing capability.
- Operating the function: processes, forums, and oversight activities
- Measuring and communicating governance effectiveness
- Handling conflicts, exceptions, and change
Domain 5: Fundamental Knowledge Areas for Data Stewardship Activities
The working knowledge stewards need to do the job.
- Core data concepts a steward must understand to evaluate issues
- Stewardship activities applied to realistic business situations
- Connecting stewardship decisions back to governance policy
Key Takeaway
Because no percentage weights are published, do not skip a "light" domain. Run a self-check across all five and invest your extra hours wherever your practice scenarios expose the most misses.
Passing the Exam Is Not the Last Step
A subtle point that pass-rate conversations often miss: passing the exam and being awarded the credential are separate milestones. ICCP's award requirements after passing include adherence to the ICCP Code of Ethics, at least two years of experience including 1,400 hours directly in data governance or stewardship, and the certification fee. So a "pass" on test day does not by itself finalize the credential.
This also means that even if a pass rate were published, it would describe exam performance rather than how many candidates ultimately hold the credential. Review the full eligibility picture in our DGSP requirements guide.
Renewal and maintenance
ICCP describes the awarded credential as lifelong, while current certified-member status requires professional development and paid membership. Maintenance involves 120 acceptable professional-development hours per three-year cycle and USD $75 in annual membership dues. If you plan for the long term, factor this into your decision alongside the exam itself.
Retakes, Cost and Remote Testing Mechanics
If you do not pass
ICCP's FAQ says candidates should wait 30 days after an unsuccessful attempt, while noting that custom workplace training may allow a retake during the course. Treat the 30-day figure as general guidance rather than an exceptionless rule, and confirm your situation with ICCP before booking a second attempt.
What it costs
| Option | Price | What is included |
|---|---|---|
| DGSP Basic Exam Bundle (Professional) | USD $475 | One professional Data Governance & Stewardship exam, the proctor fee, and the certification fee |
| Individual exam | USD $350 | Professional examination including proctoring |
| Certification fee (separate when buying individually) | USD $125 | Listed separately from the individual exam |
The bundle already includes the certification fee, so do not add another $125 on top of it. Our DGSP certification cost breakdown walks through the arithmetic and what to budget for maintenance.
Remote testing basics
Testing is computer-based over the internet. Remote testing requires identification verification, a webcam, and reliable internet access. Do a full equipment check ahead of exam day; technical friction is an avoidable source of stress when you are working against a 90-minute clock.
A DGSP-Specific Preparation Sequence
Since no pass-rate benchmark exists, the most defensible plan is one that covers every published heading and rehearses the scenario format. The sequence below ties each week to a specific domain. For a complete walkthrough, see our DGSP study guide.
Concepts, Drivers and Roles
- Work through Domain 1 and Domain 2 together, since role questions build on business-driver context
- Draw your own responsibility map separating sponsor, owner, steward, and custodian
Inputs, Deliverables and the Function
- Cover Domain 3 and Domain 4 as a pair: what goes in, what comes out, and how it runs
- Practice classifying artifacts as inputs versus deliverables
Stewardship Knowledge and Timed Scenarios
- Study Domain 5 and apply it to original governance scenarios
- Take timed sets mimicking 110 questions in 90 minutes, then review misses by domain
Reserve your final days for weak-domain repair rather than new material. Our DGSP cheat sheet is a handy last-pass review, and our practice question bank lets you drill scenarios by topic.
Frequently Asked Questions
ICCP does not publish a candidate pass rate for the Data Governance and Stewardship Professional - Associate/Practitioner exam. The only published performance figure is the Practitioner passing requirement of 50% or higher. Be cautious of any specific pass-rate percentage that does not cite ICCP directly.
The Practitioner passing requirement is 50% or higher. The live exam has 110 scenario-based questions with a 90-minute standard duration, or 120 minutes for English-as-a-second-language testing.
No. ICCP's public sample listing describes a 100-question attempt drawn from a 115-question practice pool, while the live professional exam has 110 scenario-based questions. Treat the sample as a practice tool, not a preview of exact live conditions.
ICCP's FAQ says candidates should wait 30 days after an unsuccessful attempt, though custom workplace training may allow a retake during the course. Confirm your specific situation with ICCP rather than treating 30 days as an absolute rule.
Not by itself. After passing, ICCP's award requirements include adherence to the Code of Ethics, at least two years of experience with 1,400 hours directly in data governance or stewardship, and the certification fee. See our overview of the DGSP certification for the full picture.