CIS-PPM · ● Active · Professional · ServiceNow
Validates implementation and configuration expertise in ServiceNow's Project Portfolio Management (PPM) suite, including demand management, resource planning, financial tracking, and portfolio governance.
Exam facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost | $250 USD |
| Duration | 90 minutes |
| Questions | 60 (all scored) |
| Passing | 70/100 (70%) |
| Format | Multiple choice |
| Delivery | Pearson OnVUE (proctored online) |
| Languages | English |
| Valid | 3 years |
| Renewal | Pass CIS-PPM retake, or higher-level cert |
| Prerequisites | ServiceNow Certified System Administrator (CSA), plus Project Portfolio Management Implementation course |
| Released | Active (no recent launch date; Madrid/Orlando/Rome releases tracked) |
| Retiring | N/A |
Vendor source — ServiceNow Certification Portal ↗
Official exam blueprint — CIS-PPM Mainline Exam Blueprint ↗
About
The ServiceNow Certified Implementation Specialist - Project Portfolio Management (CIS-PPM) validates the ability to configure, implement, and deploy PPM capabilities on the ServiceNow platform. This Professional-level cert is designed for consultants, implementation specialists, and project/portfolio managers responsible for translating business strategy into executable portfolios, managing demand intake, allocating resources, and tracking financial outcomes within ServiceNow. The cert is foundational for PPM practitioners and serves as a stepping stone toward Strategic Portfolio Management (SPM) specialist roles.
Domain context — Project Portfolio Management
Strategic portfolio planning and execution spanning demand intake, project delivery, resource allocation, financial governance, and roadmap management. Cross-cuts IT Operations, IT Project Management, and Enterprise Architecture practice areas.
Read full deep dive — ServiceNow Ecosystem →
Topics covered
Official exam blueprint areas examined:
- Demand Management (weight: ~20%) — Demand intake flows, demand scoring and prioritization, demand-to-project routing, demand prioritization matrix
- Project & Program Management (weight: ~20%) — Project fundamentals, milestone tracking, project workspace configuration, program hierarchy and rollup, project vs. program distinctions
- Resource Management (weight: ~20%) — Resource pools and allocation models, capacity planning, utilization tracking, resource leveling, conflict resolution, time card integration
- Portfolio Governance & Controls (weight: ~15%) — Portfolio health dashboards, strategic alignment, portfolio-level reporting, gate reviews, investment platform integration
- Financial Management (weight: ~10%) — Project budgeting and costing, cost tracking, budget vs. actuals, financial forecasting at portfolio level
- Time Card & Time Management (weight: ~8%) — Time entry workflows, actuals vs. planned, utilization reporting, time tracking integration with projects
- Workspace & Dashboard Configuration (weight: ~7%) — Project workspace layout, custom dashboards, search and visibility, UI customization for PPM roles
Source: Official exam blueprint ↗
Common skills at Project Portfolio Management · Professional
Shared competencies for PPM practitioners at the Implementation Specialist level.
- Portfolio strategy alignment and business case evaluation
- Demand management workflow design and governance model selection
- Resource capacity planning and multi-project allocation
- Project health tracking and variance analysis
- Financial forecasting and budget management
- Stakeholder communication and PMO process documentation
- Platform configuration (forms, workflows, integrations) for PPM use cases
Recommended courses at Project Portfolio Management · Professional
| Provider | Title | Cost | URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| ServiceNow Now Learning | Project Portfolio Management (PPM) Fundamentals | Free | ↗ |
| ServiceNow Now Learning | Strategic Portfolio Management (SPM) Implementer Learning Path | Free | ↗ |
| ServiceNow Now Learning | PPM Implementation Simulator (Rome release) | Free | ↗ |
| Udemy | ServiceNow Project Portfolio Management (CIS-PPM) Exam Prep | $15–$100 | ↗ |
| YouTube | ServiceNow Project Portfolio Management Training | Free | ↗ |
Course-selection rule: ServiceNow's official free PPM fundamentals course is essential foundation. The SPM Implementer learning path includes hands-on labs with a live instance. Third-party courses (Udemy, YouTube) provide supplementary exam-focused drilling.
Practice exams
| Provider | Title | Cost | URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| ExamTopics | ServiceNow CIS-PPM Free Practice Exam | Free (limited) | ↗ |
| SNReady | ServiceNow CIS-PPM & CIS-SPM Practice Tests | $49–$79 | ↗ |
| Whizlabs | ServiceNow CIS-PPM Practice Exams | $49 | ↗ |
Note: ServiceNow does not publish an official practice exam for CIS-PPM; ExamTopics and SNReady community tests are the most widely cited prep tools. Limited vendor-sanctioned practice content available.
Books
| Title | Author | Publisher | Year | ISBN | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ServiceNow Project Portfolio Management Implementation | (No dedicated PPM-specific study guide published by major vendors; refer to official NOW Learning modules and exam blueprint) | N/A | N/A | N/A | ServiceNow Docs ↗ |
Book note: ServiceNow PPM lacks a dedicated exam-focused study guide in the market. Primary learning resources are vendor-provided free modules, hands-on simulations, and community forums. Refer to the NOW Learning platform and official documentation.
Typical job titles at Project Portfolio Management · Professional
ServiceNow PPM Consultant · ServiceNow Project Portfolio Manager · Strategic Portfolio Management Implementer · PPM Business Analyst · ServiceNow Solutions Consultant (PPM Practice) · Demand Management Specialist
(Job titles drawn from LinkedIn, ServiceNow community posts, and job boards listing CIS-PPM as required or preferred.)
Salary
| Region | Range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| USD | $120,000 – $180,000 | Glassdoor — ServiceNow Consultant ↗ · Levels.fyi — ServiceNow IC roles ↗ |
| ZAR | R585,000 – R675,000 | PayScale ZA — ServiceNow System Administrator ↗ · Implementation Specialist (ZA) ↗ |
| GBP | £85,000 – £130,000 | No region-specific ServiceNow PPM data available; use IT Project Manager general range. |
| EUR | €95,000 – €145,000 | No region-specific ServiceNow PPM data available; use IT Consultant general range. |
Salary rule: USD and ZAR ranges cite real surveys for ServiceNow roles; GBP and EUR figures are derived from general IT Consultant/PM benchmarks due to lack of cert-specific regional data. PPM specialists command premium within ServiceNow salary bands due to niche expertise.
Skills validated
Cert-specific technical and operational knowledge tested on the CIS-PPM exam.
- Demand intake, scoring, and prioritization workflows
- Project creation and hierarchical rollup to programs
- Resource pool configuration and capacity allocation
- Time tracking integration and actuals vs. planned variance
- Portfolio health dashboards and executive reporting
- Budget tracking and financial forecasting at portfolio scope
- Workspace customization and stakeholder visibility models
- Governance gate review processes and decision workflows
- Integration between PPM, CSM, IT Service Management modules
- Change impact assessment and demand triage
Related certifications
- Prerequisite for: ServiceNow Certified Implementation Specialist - Strategic Portfolio Management (CIS-SPM) ↗ (higher-level, SPM-specific)
- Stacks with: ServiceNow Certified System Administrator (CSA) ↗ (required before CIS-PPM)
- Equivalents at this level: Salesforce Certified Project Portfolio Manager · Oracle Primavera P6 Enterprise Project Portfolio Management
- Vendor overview: ServiceNow Ecosystem Overview ↗
Sources
- ServiceNow Learning (NOW Learning) Certification Portal: https://learning.servicenow.com/lxp/en/credentials/certified-implementation-specialist-project-portfolio
- CIS-PPM Exam Blueprint (Mainline): https://learning.servicenow.com/lxp/en/credentials/certified-implementation-specialist-project-portfolio?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0011561
- ServiceNow Now Learning — Project Portfolio Management Fundamentals: https://www.servicenow.com/community/training-and-certifications/now-learning-blog-project-portfolio-management-ppm-fundamentals/ba-p/2290641
- Udemy CIS-PPM Exam Prep: https://www.udemy.com/course/servicenow-project-portfolio-management-cis-ppm-exam-prep/
- ExamTopics ServiceNow CIS-PPM: https://www.examtopics.com/exams/servicenow/cis-ppm/
- SNReady CIS-SPM/PPM Practice Tests: https://snready.com/cis-spm
- Glassdoor — ServiceNow Consultant Salaries: https://www.glassdoor.com/Salary/ServiceNow-Consultant-Salaries-E403326_D_KO11,21.htm
- Levels.fyi — ServiceNow Salaries: https://www.levels.fyi/companies/servicenow/salaries
- PayScale ZA — ServiceNow System Administrator: https://www.payscale.com/research/ZA/Certification=ServiceNow_System_Administrator/Salary
- PayScale ZA — Implementation Specialist: https://www.payscale.com/research/ZA/Job=Implementation_Specialist/Salary
- SNPro.jobs — ServiceNow Salary Guide: https://snpro.jobs/salary
Last verified: 2026-05-01
Parent ecosystem: ServiceNow Vendor Overview
Parent domain: Project Portfolio Management
Vendor overview: ServiceNow Overview