A physics-based numerical model for fitting local impedance spectra (local impedance model, LIM) of the segmented PEM fuel cell is developed and used to validate our recent model for recovery of local parameters from a single spectrum of the whole cell (cell impedance model, CIM). Shapes of the local parameters along the cathode channel resulting from the two models are compared. Overall, the CIM quite satisfactorily describes the cell local parameters provided that the oxygen transport impedance in the channel is not small as compared to other impedances in the cell. (C) The Author(s) 2019. Published by ECS.