IMDS Expert (cert.)_new
IMDS Expert (PersCert)
the official TÜV certification for IMDS specialists
Recognized by the IMDS Steering Committee of leading OEMs and by DXC Technology—the developer of IMDS—this certification is trusted and respected throughout the global automotive supply chain.
Certified by TÜV Rheinland.
What IMDS Expertise Looks Like in Practice
For seasoned IMDS users, taking responsibility for accurate material data is nothing new.
But the real question is: What does genuine IMDS expertise look like in day‑to‑day work?
True expertise means applying your knowledge with confidence — and understanding the impact of every decision you make.
In practice, this means you:
Master the relevant legal requirements and IMDS recommendations and know how to interpret them correctly.
Use IMDS functionalities strategically, not just operate the system.
Prevent rejections before they happen by recognizing potential issues early.
Structure your daily work with clear standards and routines, ensuring consistency and quality.
Manage and execute complex IMDS processes independently, even under pressure.
What the official TÜV certification as an IMDS Expert (PersCert) delivers
The personal certification as IMDS Expert (PersCert) with a TÜV examination begins exactly where experience turns into technical responsibility—and where this responsibility should be officially validated.
The certification establishes a clear benchmark for whether IMDS-related decisions are technically sound and defensible, both internally and externally, and confirms that you are able to
Personal Certification: What Is It?
Certifications have become a key component of modern quality assurance. With a personnel certification based on TÜV Rheinland standards, companies achieve an exceptionally high level of transparency and reliability.
TÜV Rheinland examinations are based on the internationally recognized standard DIN EN ISO/IEC 17024. As an independent and neutral body, TÜV confirms the professional and technical competencies of your employees—across industries and around the world.
correctly interpret and handle complex edge cases.
interpret requirements reliably and consistently.
make well‑founded, technically sound decisions, and confidently explain and justify these decisions to OEMs, auditors, or business partners.
Important to Know: A Certification Built on Four Independent Modules
To guarantee a professional, transparent, and equitable certification, the TÜV Certification as an IMDS Expert (PersCert) consists of four clearly separated modules:
1. Free Info Webinar – Orientation and Assessment
It helps you:
- Understand the certification requirements realistically,
- Assess your current level of knowledge, and
- Plan your personal preparation in a targeted, efficient way.
It does not replace technical training and does not introduce new foundational knowledge.
2. Learning and Training Phase for Building Competence
The courses in our IMDS Skills Pyramid provide all relevant content and prepare you in a structured and effective way for the TÜV examination to become an IMDS Expert (PersCert). Simply choose the trainings you still need in order to successfully pass the exam.
The courses are divided into Level 1 (IMDS Fundamentals) and Level 2 (Operation and Regulations).
We are happy to provide you with a training overview including a checklist and advise you on which courses are relevant for you. If needed, we can also prepare an offer for a customized in-house training.
3. The Certification Exam – Your Official Proof of Competence
You will first take part in a short preparation webinar, where the process and technical requirements are explained.
The certification exam—conducted by TÜV Rheinland—is the formal proof of your professional expertise.
In the exam, the following is assessed:
- whether you have a solid command of the relevant IMDS regulations,
- whether you can correctly evaluate technical interrelations,
- whether you are able not only to use IMDS, but also to take professional responsibility for it.
Upon passing the exam, you will receive the internationally recognized TÜV certificate as IMDS Expert (PersCert).
4. Recertification – Ensuring Your Knowledge Stays Up to Date
To maintain your TÜV PersCert certificate over the long term, recertification is required every three years. The IMDS landscape is constantly evolving, with new regulations and functionalities being introduced. To remain a reliable partner in the supply chain, it is essential to stay current.
During recertification, the following is checked:
- whether you are still working in the IMDS field (e.g., through an informal confirmation from your employer),
- whether you have continued your professional development in recent years and your knowledge is up to date.
Six months before your TÜV PersCert expires, you will receive a reminder. This gives you sufficient time to refresh and update your knowledge—for example, by attending our recertification training.
How this certification strengthens your expertise—and your professional reputation
For you personally, the TÜV PersCert certification means one thing above all: certainty.
Certainty when navigating complex IMDS cases — especially when special circumstances arise, requirements are unclear, or you’re asking yourself: “Is this assessment really reliable?”
Certainty during inspections, audits, or escalations, because you know your decisions are technically sound, well‑founded, and aligned with external expectations.
This confidence brings peace of mind: less internal pressure, fewer doubts, and a stronger sense of professional competence.
At the same time, it makes your daily work noticeably easier:
- You no longer need to justify every decision repeatedly.
- Instead, you can present your assessments clearly, objectively, and convincingly — as the responsible IMDS contact person.
The official title strengthens your position both internally and externally, establishing you as a trusted technical decision‑maker and recognized as a TÜV certified IMDS expert (PersCert).
Why companies benefit from certified TÜV certified IMDS Experts
For companies, IMDS is both a quality and a risk‑relevant topic — with direct impact on customer requirements, internal processes, and the entire supply chain.
TÜV certified IMDS Experts are more than just specialists.
They serve as a reliable point of contact and a credible representative for customers and OEMs.
They ensure that:
OEM requirements are interpreted and implemented correctly, without misunderstandings or guesswork.
High data quality is maintained across the entire supply chain, ensuring compliance and consistency.
Rejections and customer queries are significantly reduced, leading to measurable time and cost savings.
IMDS processes are seamlessly embedded into quality workflows such as PPAP, sampling, or audits.
At the same time, certification creates internal clarity.
It defines clear technical responsibilities, reduces friction at internal interfaces, and serves as an objective quality benchmark for role profiles, staffing decisions, and professional development.
For many companies, it has therefore become an essential tool — not only for building IMDS expertise, but also for securing and retaining it in the long term.
Is the Certification as IMDS Expert (TÜV PersCert) the Next Level in Your Professional Development?
This certification is designed for professionals for whom IMDS has long been more than just an operational task.
It is particularly valuable if you regularly make decisions that must be technically sound — both internally and in communication with customers, suppliers, or external stakeholders.
You will typically benefit from the certification if you:
- Work regularly with complex Material Data Sheets (MDSs)
- Hold technical responsibility for IMDS-related issues
- Serve as a key contact for OEMs, suppliers, or auditors
- Want to formally validate your IMDS expertise — not just rely on experience
We are happy to help you determine whether certification is the right step for you at this point in your career and how you can best prepare for it.
Questions You May Have Before Deciding
Is new knowledge taught in the info webinar or in the preparation webinar?
How much time does it take?
Is the certificate internationally recognized?
What happens if I fail the exam?
What matters to us is that you go into the process well prepared and with realistic expectations.
Your next step
If you are responsible for IMDS, earning the TÜV certification as IMDS Expert (PersCert) is a logical and valuable next step.
We support you in taking this step in a pragmatic, realistic, targeted, and well‑prepared manner — so you can approach the certification process with clarity, confidence, and the right level of preparation.