Certified Implementation Specialist - Software Asset Management (CIS-SAM) Mainline Exam Blueprint


ServiceNow Logo.png
 
 
Updated January 2026

 

Introduction

The ServiceNow Certified Implementation Specialist – Software Asset Management (SAM) Specification document defines the purpose, audience, testing options, exam content coverage, test framework, and prerequisites for earning the Certified Implementation Specialist – Software Asset Management certification.

 

Exam Purpose

The Certified Implementation Specialist – Software Asset Management exam confirms you have the knowledge and skills to configure, implement, and maintain the ServiceNow SAM application. This certification validates their ability to manage software discovery, ensure data integrity, reconcile license usage, ensure compliance, and integrate software processes. Certified individuals optimize software usage, reduce costs, and enhance asset lifecycle management.

 

Exam Audience

The ServiceNow Certified Implementation Specialist – Software Asset Management exam is available to ServiceNow customers, partners, employees, and others interested in becoming a ServiceNow SAM Certified Implementation Specialist. Here is the recommended experience:

    • Six months of field experience participating in ServiceNow deployment projects or maintaining ServiceNow instances 
    • Participation in at least two ServiceNow deployment projects, specifically Software Asset Management (SAM) Professional 

 

Exam Prerequisites 

Prerequisite Certification 

  • Candidates must hold the Certified Implementation Specialist – Data Foundations (CMDB and CSDM) Certification before registering for this exam.

Exam Preparation

Exam questions are based on official ServiceNow training materials, the ServiceNow Product documentation site, and the ServiceNow developer site. Study materials posted elsewhere online are not official and should not be used to prepare for the examination.

ServiceNow recommends completing these training course(s) in preparation for the Certified Implementation Specialist – Software Asset Management exam.

    • Welcome to ServiceNow
    • ServiceNow Administration Fundamentals
    • Get Started with Now Create
    • ServiceNow Platform Implementation
    • Software Asset Management (SAM) Professional Fundamentals, OR
    • Software Asset Management (SAM) Professional Fundamentals On Demand

 

Additional Recommended Resources

In addition to the above, these additional resources are valuable in preparation for the exam.

    • Credentialing Program Guide – a resource to guide you through the entire certification process
    • Software Asset Management (SAM) Simulator
    • Additional Recommended Courses for Software Asset Management (SAM) Implementers
    • Official practice exams are available through our trusted partner, MeasureUp — please refer to Knowledge Article KB0013408 for more information on how to access them.

 

Exam Scope

This table shows the exam domains, weightings, sub-topics, and the percentage of questions represented in each domain. The listed sub-skills should NOT be considered an all-inclusive list of the exam content. 

 

Number of Domains

Exam Domain

Percent of Exam

1

Software Asset Core Overview & Fundamentals

  • Software Asset Management Basics
  • Process Architecture
  • Application introduction and Recommendation Practices

14%

2

Data Integrity – Attributes and Sources for the Data

  • Importing Data
  • Software Discovery and Normalization
  • Content Services

28%

3

Practical Management of Software Compliance

  • Products and Models
  • License Metrics, Entitlements and Allocations
  • Software Reconciliation

30%

4

Operational Integration of Software Processes

  • Contract and Change Management
  • Service Catalog and Procurement
  • Software Remediation

13%

5

Extending SAM

  • Software Model Lifecycle and Retirement
  • Software Installation Optimization
  • Reporting, Implementation and Maintenance

15%

Total

100%

 

Exam Registration

Step 1: Register for your exam 

  • Registration = payment. This step secures your exam attempt. Learning credits and credit card payments are accepted. Instructor-led training completion includes one free exam attempt. Discounted exam pricing may be available through associated company benefits.  
  • You can register at any time. Once registered, you have 90 days to schedule and complete your exam. 
  • Exam fees are non-refundable. Register only when you are prepared to schedule your exam. 

Step 2: Schedule your exam 

  • Click here to register for the CIS-SAM exam. Note: ServiceNow provides reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities or English as a Second Language (ESL) while taking the certification exam. 

  • Schedule within 90 days. After registration, you must schedule your exam appointment and complete your exam within 90 days. 
  •  

Step 3: Choose your exam delivery method 

  • From the My Exams page, you will be directed to Pearson. 
  • Choose to take your exam at a Pearson test center or online with OnVUE, where proctors observe via a webcam. 

Step 4: Complete your exam  

  •  If you do not complete your exam within 90 days, your registration will expire, and you will need to register and pay the full exam fee again (start at step 1 again). 

 

Exam Structure

Exam Duration

The exam duration is 90 minutes.

Number of Items

The exam consists of 60 questions.

 

Multiple Choice (single answer)

For each multiple-choice question on the exam, there are at least three possible responses. Select the correct response. 

Multiple Select (select all that apply)

There are at least four possible responses for each multiple-select question on the exam. The question will state how many responses should be selected. Select ALL correct responses. Partial credit is not provided.

 

Exam Result

An exam result notification is immediately displayed as a *conditional pass or fail after completing and submitting the exam.  

In addition, an exam result report is available and shows your exam result and the percentage of items in each section you answered correctly. Your exam result is conditional, meaning your results are preliminary and may be updated upon final review.  

*A conditional result means the exam can be audited and reviewed at any time, and the certification may be revoked after investigation if it is found that the ServiceNow Test Security Policies have been violated.    

 Understanding Your Results: 

 
Each question on the exam is worth one point. Your total score is compared to a predetermined cut score - this score is not publicly shared and is not always 70%  - to determine a pass or fail outcome. The section percentages on the exam result notification show how you performed in each domain, but they do not determine your overall result, should not be averaged, and do not indicate expertise. 

 

If You Pass: 

  • You will earn the Certified Implementation Specialist – Software Asset Management certification and receive a Credly digital badge to showcase your achievement.

  • To maintain your certification, complete annual maintenance exams (deltas) and pay the yearly Certification Maintenance Program (CMP) fee. 

If You Do Not Pass: 

  • Review the exam blueprint and the recommended training before retaking the exam.

  • The retake policy requires a waiting period between attempts and payment of the exam fee for each attempt. 

 

Sample Questions

Sample Item #1:

Which default role has permission to grant a user script writing capabilities on the ServiceNow platform?  

A. sam_developer 

B. sam 

C. sam_user 

D. sam_admin 

Answer:  A 

 

Sample Item #2:

Which is NOT a valid entitlement import error? 

A. Publisher Part Number not found 

B. Publisher Part Number and Software Model not found 

C. Multiple software models found for the Publisher Part Number 

D. Import template customized resulting in one or many fields being invalid 

E. Purchased rights should be less than 20 

Answer: E 

 

Sample Item #3:

Which calculations are provided for publishers on the license workbench? (Choose four) 

A. Total Spend 

B. Number of unlicensed installs 

C. True-up Cost 

D. Potential Savings 

E. License Metric Results 

F. Over-licensed amount: 

Answer: A, C, D, and F 

 

Sample Item #4:

Which remediation options may be available after a reconciliation has been run? (choose four) 

A. Create Allocations 

B. Create New Model 

C. Remove Allocations 

D. Purchase Rights 

E. Remove Entitlements 

F. Remove Unlicensed Installs 

Answer: A, C, D, and F 

 

Sample Item #5:

Which is an invalid software normalization status? 

A. New 

B. Fully normalized 

C. Manually normalized 

D. Publisher normalized 

E. Match not found 

Answer: B 

 

Back to Top