1.2 Exam Format, Cost & Eligibility
Key Takeaways
- The CDM, CFPP credentialing exam has 160 multiple-choice items - 140 scored plus 20 unscored pretest items - delivered in a 180-minute (3-hour) session.
- The exam fee is $425, and the exam is administered for CBDM by PSI as a computer-based test.
- Passing is criterion-referenced: CBDM sets the cut score with a modified Angoff procedure, and historically about 70% of scored items has been required to pass.
- Eligibility runs through one of five CBDM pathways - the most common being an ANFP-approved foodservice manager training program or a qualifying degree plus management experience.
Exam Format at a Glance
The CDM, CFPP credentialing exam is a job-related, computer-based multiple-choice test. Knowing the structure prevents pacing mistakes on exam day.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total items | 160 multiple-choice questions |
| Scored items | 140 |
| Pretest (unscored) items | 20 |
| Time limit | 180 minutes (3 hours) |
| Exam fee | $425 |
| Delivery | Computer-based, administered by PSI |
| Format | Single-best-answer multiple choice |
The 20 pretest items are unscored questions being trialed for future exams. You cannot tell which 20 they are, so treat every question as if it counts. With 160 items in 180 minutes, you have roughly 67 seconds per question - comfortable enough that most candidates finish with time to review.
How Passing Is Decided
There is no fixed percentage posted as the pass mark. CBDM sets a criterion-referenced cut score using a modified Angoff procedure, in which subject-matter experts judge the difficulty of each item for a minimally competent dietary manager. Historically, answering about 70% of the scored items has been required to pass. Because scoring is criterion-referenced, you are measured against a competency standard, not graded on a curve against other candidates.
Eligibility: The Five Pathways
You must qualify through one of five CBDM eligibility pathways before you can apply and schedule. In summary:
- Pathway I - Graduate of an ANFP-approved foodservice manager training program.
- Pathway II - College degree (associate or higher) in foodservice management, nutrition, culinary arts, hotel-restaurant management, or a related field.
- Pathway III - A 90+ hour foodservice course or ANFP-approved program plus 2 years of full-time non-commercial foodservice management experience.
- Pathway IV - Military training in dietary, foodservice management, or culinary arts of at least 90 hours.
- Pathway V - A different associate degree plus 5 years of full-time non-commercial foodservice management experience.
After CBDM approves your eligibility, you submit the application and the $425 fee, then schedule your computer-based exam with PSI inside your assigned testing window. A new application and fee are required for each retake, and candidates wait 90 days between attempts.
How many of the 160 items on the CDM, CFPP credentialing exam actually count toward your score, and what are the other items?
A candidate asks what percentage they must hit to pass the CDM exam. What is the most accurate answer?
Which eligibility pathway fits a candidate who holds a two-year college degree in nutrition or foodservice management?