CDMS Practice Test

Certified Disability Management Specialist Jobs

Certified Disability Management Specialist jobs can be found in a variety of industries, including human resources, occupational health, and risk management. These professionals help people with disabilities find employment and navigate the process of filing for benefits. They also work with employers to ensure they are meeting their obligations under federal and state law. Practice with the free CDMS - Certified Disability Management Specialist practice test on PracticeTestGeeks (7 questions with answer explanations).

While a CDMS certification is not required for anyone working in this field, it can give you an edge in the job market. It also shows employers that you have taken the time to advance your skills and knowledge in this area. In addition, it can provide you with access to continuing education programs that can keep you up-to-date on the latest trends in the field.

In order to become a Certified Disability Management Specialist, you must have a bachelor’s degree in a related field and two years of full-time experience in case management or disability management. You must also pass the CDMS exam, which consists of 150 multiple-choice questions. The best way to prepare for the exam is by using a study guide like this one.

CDMS Exam at a Glance

What changed for CDMS in 2026

• Oct 26, 2026: Testing window changed to March 13–20 (March cycle) and September 11–18 (September cycle) (previously March 13–20 and September 11–18 testing periods).^[3]
• Oct 26, 2026: Score release changed to Instant on-screen pass/fail; official results about 4–6 weeks after the testing period closes (previously About 4–6 weeks after the testing period closes).^[3]

Free CDMS - Certified Disability Management Specialist Exam Study Tools

Interactive CDMS - Certified Disability Management Specialist Exam resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:

• Free Certified Disability Management Specialist Questions and Answers — 7 questions with answer explanations
• CDMS - Certified Disability Management Specialist Exam flashcards — review key terms and concepts card by card
• CDMS - Certified Disability Management Specialist Exam study guide — topic-by-topic overview of what the exam covers
• CDMS - Certified Disability Management Specialist Exam cheat sheet — one-page printable summary for last-minute review

According to The Commission, “The certification exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions drawn from The Commission’s CDMS item bank.”^[1]

CDMS content outline and where to practise each area

The content areas below are copied from the official CDMS content outline published by The Commission. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.

Worked examples: how to reason through CDMS questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: Under the ADA, a 'qualified individual with a disability' is someone who:

1. Has a disability recognized by the Social Security Administration
2. Can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation
3. Is currently receiving workers' compensation benefits
4. Has been employed for at least one year

Answer: B. Can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation

Explanation:

The correct answer is that a qualified individual can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. The definition looks at ability to do the core job duties, and it expressly allows for accommodation to make that possible.

Recognition by the Social Security Administration is a separate benefits determination with its own test, so it does not define ADA qualification. Receiving workers' compensation benefits describes a claim status, not job ability, and a person can be on those benefits and still be qualified, or not. Length of employment, such as at least one year, is not part of the definition, since applicants are covered too.

Rule to remember: ADA qualification asks whether the person can do the essential functions, with or without accommodation, and ignores benefit status or tenure.

Example 2

Question: Which federal agency enforces Title I (employment) provisions of the ADA?

1. Department of Labor (DOL)
2. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
3. Department of Justice (DOJ)
4. Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP)

Answer: B. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

Explanation:

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is correct. It enforces Title I of the ADA, the part that prohibits disability discrimination in employment, and it is where charges of discrimination are filed and investigated.

The Department of Labor administers many workplace laws, which makes it a tempting answer, but ADA Title I is not among its enforcement duties. The Department of Justice enforces other parts of the ADA, such as the public-entity and public-accommodation provisions, so it is the right agency for a different question. The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs deals with federal contractors under separate authorities, not with Title I.

Rule to remember: match each title of the ADA to its agency, and for employment think EEOC.

Example 3

Question: Includes the procedures to modify the workplace to be compatible with the returning employee's physical, intellectual, and emotional capacities.

1. Job accommodation
2. Return to work accommodation
3. Performance benchmarking
4. Step 4 in the evaluation process

Answer: B. Return to work accommodation

Explanation:

The answer is return to work accommodation. The question describes procedures that modify the workplace to fit the returning employee's physical, intellectual and emotional capacities, and that is exactly what this term covers. It is tied to someone coming back after an absence, whatever the cause.

Job accommodation is a broader term for adjusting a job for any employee and does not carry the focus on a return after absence. Performance benchmarking compares results against a standard, so it measures rather than modifies the workplace. Step 4 in the evaluation process is a position in a sequence and says nothing about workplace changes.

Rule to remember: when a question stresses fitting the environment to a returning worker's capacities, choose the option that names return to work accommodation.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official CDMS Certification Guide and the content areas it lists, so you know what the exam covers before you answer anything. Then take a short mixed set, such as the general questions and answers page, as a diagnostic. Do not worry about the score. Note which areas feel weakest.

Next, work through the topic sets that match those areas: case management and medical aspects, workers' compensation and claims, vocational rehabilitation and return to work, and ergonomics and workplace safety. Add the ADA and behavioral health sets, since accommodation and psychosocial questions can appear inside any case scenario. After each set, read every explanation, including those for questions you got right, and write the general rule in your own words.

Return to your weak areas and repeat the sets until your mistakes are about misreading the scenario rather than missing the concept. Use the trivia and MCQ pages for quick recall near the end.

Plan your timing around the designated testing windows and the application dates. In the last days, stop adding new material, reread your notes, and check your test-center or OnVUE requirements with Pearson VUE.

CDMS Questions and Answers

CDMS stands for Certified Disability Management Specialist

     The Certified Disability Management Specialists (CDMS) certification displays a dedication to ongoing education and skill development, as well as high professional and ethical standards.

     Candidates having a four-year college degree or a registered nurse license are eligible to become a CDMS. Candidates must also demonstrate 12 months of work experience in the disability management field. Disability management specialists who operate as freelance contractors for smaller businesses must fill out a form detailing the type of work they did for three different employers and the amount of hours they worked for each. In addition, you need take the CDMS certification exam.

     Certified Disability Management Specialists can operate either within or externally as a provider. Although they may provide direct services to workers with disabilities, they frequently perform executive functions such as administration of DM services, policy and procedure development, promotion of RTW concepts through education and training, consulting to joint labor-management committees, program evaluation, and so on.

     The CDMS is an integrated disability management specialist who understands the legal and regulatory requirements as well as what it takes to return people to work, their families, and active community participation.

Pros and Cons at a Glance

Sample CDMS - Certified Disability Management Specialist Exam Practice Questions

Try these questions from our free CDMS - Certified Disability Management Specialist Exam practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.

1. Which classification system is used internationally to describe functioning, disability, and health in disability management?

   • A. The AMA Guides to Evaluation of Permanent Impairment
   • B. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)
   • C. The DSM-5 diagnostic criteria
   • D. The Social Security Administration Listing of Impairments

Answer: B. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)

The ICF provides a framework for describing functional states associated with health conditions, covering body functions/structures, activity, and participation.

Answer: C. Implement an integrated care model addressing both conditions simultaneously

An integrated care model that addresses both the physical and mental health conditions concurrently produces better outcomes, as untreated depression significantly impairs physical rehabilitation and return-to-work.

Answer: A. Biological, psychological, and social factors working together

The biopsychosocial model recognizes that biological (medical), psychological (mental health, beliefs, coping), and social (workplace, family, cultural) factors all interact to shape disability and recovery outcomes.

Answer: B. To evaluate the medical appropriateness and necessity of proposed or ongoing treatment

Utilization review assesses whether proposed medical treatment meets established clinical criteria for appropriateness and necessity.

Take the full CDMS - Certified Disability Management Specialist Exam practice test

Sources & last verified

1. The Commission — number of questions, passing score, retake fee, validity (official source). “The certification exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions drawn from The Commission’s CDMS item bank.” Verified Oct 27, 2026 · source checked Oct 27, 2026.
2. pearsonvue.com — delivery (official source). “CCM and CDMS exams are administered at specific times throughout the year in testing centers in the US and worldwide as well as through remote…” Verified Oct 27, 2026 · source checked Oct 27, 2026.
3. The Commission — score release, registration deadline, registration opens, testing window (official source). “Exam result notifications will be available approximately 4 - 6 weeks after the close of the designated testing period.” Verified Oct 31, 2026 · source checked Oct 31, 2026.
4. The Commission — other (official source). “disability and work interruption case management” Verified Oct 31, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.