Certified Diversity Professional (CDP)® Exam

Nikeya Diversity Consulting offers the world renowned Certified Diversity Professional (CDP)® diversity credentials.

The CDP® credential indicates that a practitioner has the knowledge, skill, and ability to successfully execute day-to-day diversity and inclusion tasks. It is a professional qualification credential that is designed to enhance cultural competency and help an organization enrich its approach to inclusion.

The CDP® credential builds confidence and inspires inclusive excellence. The CDP® track is a great program for practitioners seeking to demonstrate competence and increase their credibility in the field of equity, diversity, and inclusion.

The (CDP)®credential is designed for individuals who are working with an organization in the beginning stages of their DEI journey. It is designed to expand the concept of DEI beyond political correctness or affirmative action, as well as apply best practices for creating the business case, engaging in strategic diversity planning, training, recruiting, resource groups, measuring outcomes, and more. It requires at least two (2) years of experience, which can be demonstrated in a variety of different ways.

Definition of Experience

“Experience” can be defined as work in the field of diversity, Affirmative Action/EEO, multicultural affairs, human resources, organizational development, management, legal, multi-cultural marketing and communications, sales, recruiting, training, strategic planning, supplier diversity, consulting, or volunteering for a diversity council or resource group.

Eligibility for the CDP® Credential:

• At least 2 years of experience
• A passing score of 80% or better on the knowledge-based exam
• Completion of a Candidate Project

See the Competencies

What Is a Candidate Project?

Completion of a “Candidate Project” meets the additional experience requirements for each credential. Teams/Groups can submit 1 collective group project. Please note, the Candidate Project results are separate and independent of the knowledge-based exam scores (i.e., a passing score in one will not offset the other). Candidates must pass both portions in IDC’s credentialing process.

Your Candidate Project must be submitted online in the Learning Management System (LMS). You will be notified in the LMS as to whether you passed the Candidate Project within one (1) week of submission. You may submit your project as early as you choose, but late projects will not be accepted. Projects will be evaluated for thoroughness, accuracy, and impact.

The project must be the candidate’s own work and have been completed within the last year.

Peer Review of a Professional Work

The Candidate Project is peer-reviewed, which means that a current CDP® or CDE® designee will review the professional work and determine if the project meets the criteria for a certified diversity professional.

The Reviewer will evaluate the project based on four (4) criteria. Is the work:

• Usable?
• Realistic?
• Intentional?
• Meaningful?

Should the Candidate pass the knowledge-based exam but the professional work is not approved, the credentials will not be conferred until the Candidate successfully fulfills all requirements.

The intent of the review process is to ensure that Candidates demonstrate excellence, as well as receive the necessary feedback to make clear progress, or indicate bottom-line impact through DEI. If the project is unsuccessful, the Candidate will receive written qualitative feedback from the Reviewer in the LMS. Candidates must re-submit the project with the recommended changes. Upon re-submission, the Institute for Diversity Certification (IDC)® will send the project to a different peer reviewer. There is no fee to resubmit a Candidate Project.

For the CDP® credential, you may submit as a “Candidate Project” a diversity plan, a cultural climate audit, or any other usable project that is relevant to your professional work.