CDM Study Guide 2026

Everything you need to pass the CDM exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.

CDM exam key facts

The CDM, CFPP credentialing exam has 160 multiple-choice items, of which 140 are scored and 20 are unscored pretest items. Source
Candidates have three hours (180 minutes) to complete the CDM, CFPP credentialing exam. Source
The CDM, CFPP credentialing exam fee is $425, which is non-transferable and non-refundable. Source
CDM, CFPP candidates must wait 90 days between exam attempts, and eligible candidates may retake the exam an unlimited number of times. Source
A candidate who passes the exam must activate the CDM, CFPP credential within one year, and it stays active only while the annual certification fee is paid and recertification requirements are met. Source

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📋 CDM Exam Format at a Glance

160

Questions

180 min

Time Limit

70.00%

Passing Score

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📚 CDM Topics to Study (45)

Equipment and Facility Management · 7 cards Equipment and Facility Management · 7 cards Menu Planning and Development · 7 cards Menu Planning and Development · 7 cards Quality Improvement and Performance Monitoring · 7 cards Quality Improvement and Performance Monitoring · 7 cards Quality Improvement and Performance Monitoring · 7 cards Special Diets and Therapeutic Nutrition · 7 cards Staff Training and Communication · 7 cards Staff Training and Communication · 7 cards General Practice · 7 cards General Practice · 7 cards General Practice · 7 cards Financial Management and Budgeting · 6 cards Financial Management and Budgeting · 6 cards Food Production Systems · 6 cards Food Production Systems · 6 cards Food Safety and HACCP · 6 cards Food Safety and HACCP · 6 cards Human Resources Management · 6 cards Menu Planning and Development · 6 cards Nutrition Screening and Care · 6 cards Nutrition Screening and Care · 6 cards Purchasing and Inventory Control · 6 cards Purchasing and Inventory Control · 6 cards Sanitation and Regulations · 6 cards Staff Training and Communication · 6 cards Financial Management and Budgeting · 6 cards Food Production Systems · 6 cards Food Safety and HACCP · 6 cards

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✍️ Sample CDM Questions & Answers

1. Which factor has the GREATEST impact on batch cooking efficiency?

✓ Accurate forecasting of meal counts

Accurate meal count forecasting is essential for batch cooking efficiency because it determines production quantities, preventing both overproduction waste and underproduction shortages.

2. In long-term care, the Minimum Data Set (MDS) supports dietary quality improvement by:

✓ Assessing residents' nutritional status and identifying care needs

The MDS is a federally mandated comprehensive assessment tool that includes nutritional status data used to guide care planning.

3. For long-term prevention of diverticular disease when there is no active flare, which diet is generally recommended?

✓ High-fiber diet with adequate fluids

Adequate fiber and fluid keep stools soft and lower pressure in the colon, which helps prevent diverticula from forming.

4. Under OSHA regulations, which safety measure is required in a dietary department?

✓ Safety Data Sheets (SDS) available for all hazardous chemicals

OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard requires Safety Data Sheets (formerly MSDS) to be readily accessible for all hazardous chemicals used in the workplace.

5. A dietary manager identifies that 15% of meal trays are delivered late. What is the correct first step in the QI process?

✓ Define and accurately measure the scope of the problem

The first step in QI is to define and accurately measure the problem before developing or implementing any solutions.

6. At what minimum internal temperature must hot foods be held in a steam table during service?

✓ 135°F

Hot foods must be held at 135°F (57°C) or above to remain outside the temperature danger zone during service per the FDA Food Code.

🎯 Free CDM Practice Tests

Menu Planning and Development · 7 questions Special Diets and Therapeutic Nutrition · 7 questions Quality Improvement and Performance Monitoring · 7 questions Menu Planning and Development · 7 questions General Practice · 7 questions General Practice · 7 questions Quality Improvement and Performance Monitoring · 7 questions Quality Improvement and Performance Monitoring · 7 questions General Practice · 7 questions Equipment and Facility Management · 7 questions

📖 CDM Guides & Articles

Your CDM Study Path

1. Learn with Flashcards → 2. Drill Practice Tests → 3. Take the Full Exam Simulation

🃏 CDM Flashcards (283)🏆 CDM Exam Simulation

What Practice Test Geeks adds beyond an AI chat for CDM

An AI chatbot can quiz you, but it can't reproduce the exam conditions or keep your record. Here you get:

A timed, full-length CDM mock exam — 100 questions in 120 minutes with a 70% pass mark, modeled on the official exam's question count and time limit, followed by a score report broken down by exam domain.
A fixed CDM question bank: the same test every attempt, so your score is comparable from one try to the next instead of changing with every regenerated quiz.
Progress saved on your device: completed tests, scores and missed questions stay in My Progress, so you can retake only what you got wrong.
A printable CDM cheat sheet you can print or save as a PDF.
CDM flashcards built from the same question bank.
Free CDM practice tests with the correct answer shown after each question.

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How this page was made: written with AI tools and published by Nathan Beja, founder of Practice Test Geeks, who is responsible for its content. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy

Sources & references

Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy

cbdmonline.org — Renewal, score validity, eligibility, exam format, retake policy, score release, test dates, fees, time limit · verified Oct 2026