IMDS Expert (cert.)_new
IMDS Expert (cert.) - the Official IMDS Certification for Specialists
You work with IMDS on a regular basis, evaluate material data, clarify inquiries, and carry responsibility both internally and externally.
The IMDS Expert Certification formally acknowledges exactly this role: it is an officially recognized credential for professionals who not only use IMDS, but also take technical responsibility for it — and want to demonstrate this expertise to the outside world.
Recognized by the IMDS Steering Committee of the OEMs as well as DXC Technology, the developer of IMDS, and internationally accepted throughout the automotive supply chain.
What IMDS Expertise Looks Like in Practice
For experienced IMDS users, taking responsibility for accurate material data is nothing new.
But the key question is: What does true IMDS expertise look like in everyday work?
It means applying relevant knowledge with confidence — and understanding its implications.
In practice, this means you:
have a solid command of the relevant legal requirements and IMDS Recommendations and know how to interpret them correctly
use IMDS functionalities purposefully rather than merely operating them
avoid rejections by identifying potential issues early
structure your daily work through clear standards and routines
independently execute and manage complex IMDS processes
What the IMDS Expert certification basically offers
Certification as an IMDS Expert (cert.) comes into play when experience becomes professional responsibility and this responsibility needs to be officially confirmed.
The certification creates a clear benchmark for whether IMDS decisions are technically reliable both internally and externally and confirms that you are able to
correctly classify complex special cases
interpret requirements reliably and consistently
make well-founded decisions, and also represent them technically to OEMs, auditors, or partners
This provides transparent proof of expertise.
Important to know: Two clearly separate modules
In order to make this professional certification transparent and fair, the IMDS Expert certification consists of two independent modules that pursue different goals:
1. Exam preparation – orientation and classification
Exam preparation serves the purpose of classification and structuring.
It helps you to
- realistically understand the requirements of certification
- classify your own level of knowledge
- plan your individual preparation in a targeted manner.
It does not replace specialist seminars and does not impart new basic knowledge.
You will have acquired the necessary knowledge either from your daily IMDS practice or from the seminars of the IMDS Skills Pyramid (Levels 1 and 2).
2. The certification exam – official proof of your competence
The certification exam is formal proof of your professional competence.
It tests whether you:
- have a solid grasp of the relevant IMDS regulations
- can evaluate contexts correctly from a technical perspective
- can not only use IMDS, but also take responsibility for it.
Upon passing the exam, you will receive the internationally recognized title of IMDS Expert (cert.).
What effect this has on you
For you personally, certification means one thing above all else: certainty.
Certainty when dealing with complex IMDS cases when special circumstances arise and requirements are unclear, when the question arises: “Is this assessment really reliable?”
Certainty during inspections, audits, and escalations, because you know that your decisions are technically sound and also meet external expectations.
This confidence creates peace of mind: less internal pressure, fewer doubts, more confidence in your own professional competence.
At the same time, it makes your everyday work easier.
You don’t have to constantly justify your decisions, but can represent them clearly, objectively, and comprehensibly as the responsible contact person in IMDS.
The official title strengthens your role both internally and externally as a technical decision-maker and IMDS expert.
Why companies benefit from certified IMDS Experts
For companies, IMDS is a quality and risk issue that has a direct impact on customer requirements, internal processes, and the supply chain.
Certified IMDS experts are more than just specialists.
They are a figurehead for customers and OEMs.
They ensure that:
OEM requirements are correctly understood and implemented
High data quality is guaranteed throughout the entire supply chain
Rejections and queries are reduced, resulting in measurable time and cost savings
IMDS issues are neatly integrated into quality processes such as PPAP and sampling
At the same time, certification creates internal clarity.
It defines technical responsibilities, relieves interfaces, and serves as an objective quality benchmark for role profiles and personnel development.
For many companies, it is therefore an important tool not only for building IMDS expertise, but also for securing it in the long term.
Is certification as an IMDS Expert (cert.) the right step for you?
The certification is aimed at professionals for whom IMDS has long been more than just an operational task.
It is particularly useful if you regularly make decisions that must be technically sound, both internally and externally.
Typically, the certification is suitable for your role if you:
- work regularly with complex material data sheets (MDSs)
- have technical responsibility for IMDS issues
- act as a contact person for OEMs, suppliers, or auditors
- want to officially validate your IMDS expertise, not just through experience
We would be happy to work with you to determine whether certification is the right step for you at this time and how you can best achieve it.
What the path to certification looks like
The path to IMDS Expert certification is clearly structured and deliberately pragmatic.
At the beginning, we work with you to clarify your requirements and experience and determine whether certification is currently the right step for you.
Based on this, we then provide targeted exam preparation.
This serves to clarify the requirements for certification, identify individual learning needs, and structure your preparation in a meaningful way.
The subsequent certification exam is the formal step.
It officially confirms your professional competence and leads to the recognized title of IMDS Expert (cert.).
Our approach is clear: as much preparation as necessary and as efficiently as possible.
Typical questions before making a decision
Is new knowledge imparted during exam preparation?
No. The preparation serves to structure and classify relevant topics and to realistically assess the exam requirements.
How much time does it take?
That depends on your previous experience. With regular IMDS practice, the effort can be easily integrated into your daily work routine.
Is the certificate internationally recognized?
Yes. IMDS Expert (cert.) certification is internationally recognized and accepted by OEMs throughout the supply chain.
What happens if I fail the exam?
The exam can be retaken.
It is important to us that you are well prepared and have realistic expectations going into the process.
Your next step
If you are responsible for IMDS, certification as an IMDS Expert is a logical next step.
We support you in taking this step in a factual, realistic, targeted, and well-prepared manner.