If you’re looking for a career in accounting, then the CMA qualification may be a perfect fit for you. Specifically, the Certified Management Accountant qualification, known as the CMA for short, is issued by the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), which is based in the US. As such, the CMA is typically known as a US qualification, but it’s worth noting that the CMA is internationally recognised. Globally, there are over 70,000 membersof the IMA in over100 countries, so if you do decide to pursue the qualification, you’ll be in good company with thousands of other people!
What Does A CMA Do?
Before deciding whether the CMA is the right qualification for you, it may be worth knowing a little more about the type of people who generally undertake the CMA. Generally speaking, the CMA is a qualification for management accountants. Typically, management accountants work for a single company and will prepare and analyse financial data for that company. The insights that a management accountant can provide ideally help the company’s management to make well-informed and rationalised business decisions. Some typical tasks that a management accountant may perform include:
- Preparing financial statements for a company, perhaps on a quarterly basis;
- Preparing periodic cash flows;
- Budget analysis; and
- Communicating financial data and its implications to department heads who don’t work in finance.
Management accountants also typically liaise with other members of a company’s finance team. Note that the role of a management accountant differs from other positions in the accounting and finance world, such as an auditor. An auditor’s job, for example, is to review a company’s accounts to assess a number of things, including whether they are materially correct and not materially misstated. However, it’s not solely management accountants that work towards becoming a CMA. For instance, a variety of other positions may contain people who are CMA qualified, such as:
- Financial controllers;
- Cost accountants;
- Financial analysts;
- Treasurers; and
- Chief Financial Officers.
Undecided about your choices? Find out what a Certified Financial Analyst does...
What Exams Do I Need To Pass To Become A CMA?
If you think that the CMA qualification may be right for you, it’s important to be aware of the various requirements that you’ll need to meet before you can achieve the qualification. For example, you will have to meet requirements such as:
- Having a current IMA membership;
- Meet the relevant professional experience requirements; and
- Complete both parts of the CMA exam.
For a full list of the requirements, please refer to the CMA’s website. When it comes to the examination portion of the requirements, the curriculum of the CMA is broken down into two separate parts. Part One is concerned with “financial reporting, planning, performance, and control.” Part Two, on the other hand, looks at financial decision making. Overall, it should take around a year to a year and a half to complete both parts of the CMA, although you’re allowed up to three years to complete both parts’ examinations. This means that it should be possible for most candidates to find the time to fit the study demands of the CMA around their work and social life. While the exams are by no means a walk in the park, the IMA notes that there is a 50% pass rate worldwide, which means that the exams are passable, provided you put in the time to study, develop good exam technique and have the aptitude for the materials taught. Good preparation is always key when it comes to passing an exam; to that end it would be beneficial to engage a finance tutor. If you try to study regularly, keep yourself motivated by thinking about the benefits that a CMA designation could have on your career, and remember that you won't be studying forever, then you may find the process of preparing for the exams less stressful. How about becoming an ACA Chartered Accountant?
Is The CMA Qualification Right For Me?
In the accounting and auditing profession, there are a number of different qualifications, each of which brings its own benefits. Therefore, doing your research to understand which qualification will suit your specific circumstances is really important. For instance, there is another qualification that management accountants based in the UK like to pursue, which is issued by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). When it comes to choosing between studying for a CIMA qualification or the CMA, it can often be a difficult decision to take. This is because both have been around for decades, and both are internationally regarded and can often improve your career prospects and earning potential. What benefits are there to having an ICAEW Chartered Accountant Qualification... However, while each qualification carries its own recognition, there are a few instances when a CMA may be preferable over a CIMA and vice versa. For instance, where you’d like to work in the world may influence whether you see the CMA or the CIMA as more preferable. If, for example, you see yourself working in the UK for the vast majority of your career, then the CIMA qualification may be preferable to you. However, if you’d like to work over in the United States, then the CMA may be just what’s needed. Ultimately, it will depend on your own personal circumstances, and which qualification you think will best give you the knowledge and skills to succeed throughout your career. Note that this dilemma doesn't just appear when thinking about whether to take the CMA or CIMA qualification. In fact, some prospective candidates also find it difficult to choose between the CPA and the ACA or ACCA. As above, completing the CPA exam and meeting the other CPA membership requirements is more commonly a route seen in the United States, while those planning on working in the UK tend to study towards the ACA or ACCA. Do you know how to put your CPA qualification to good use?
Are There Other Qualifications I Should Be Aware Of?
There are plenty of accountancy or business qualifications out there, such as the:
- CPA;
- ACA;
- ACCA; or even
- An MBA.
As a result, it can be really confusing if you’re looking at entering the accounting or auditing sector, as it can be difficult to decide which qualification is the best. Ultimately, when it comes to deciding between a qualification such as the ACA and the CMA/CIMA, it is worthwhile thinking about the kind of career that you’d like to follow. If you think that you might want to become an auditor, or work for one of the “Big 4” professional services firms – Deloitte, KPMG, PWC, or Ernst and Young, an ACA qualification may be better than the CMA. However, if you know you’d like to work within the area of management accounting, the CMA may be preferable, as the syllabus is more focused on this line of work than the ACA, which is wider in scope. If you do have any questions about which qualification(s) could be worthwhile for you, it may be worthwhile talking to your careers adviser at school or university if you do need any extra advice. You may also consider specialising as a Certified Fraud Examiner... It may also be worthwhile noting that most qualifications also require an element of continuing professional education (CPD) even once you have become a member of that respective organisation or body. The idea behind having CPD is that you keep your knowledge and skills up to date, for example with matters such as changing accounting policies. It's also likely that, as part of your pathway to membership of these bodies, you'll have to learn about ethical behaviours or ethics more generally. Ultimately, the choice of which qualification - if any - you'd like to pursue is a matter of your own personal choice, but often people who want to work within the accounting, business or finance industries find that relevant qualifications can help boost their career prospects and future earning potential. As a result, if you feel as though you would like to ultimately have a career in an area such as management accounting, but want to check that your numerical and accounting skills are up to par, it may be worthwhile hiring a tutor from Superprof to help ensure that your knowledge is where it should be. Regardless of whether you're currently studying at school or university, Superprof has a range of tutors across subjects such as mathematics, economics, business, and accounting, who can provide a variety of questions and test examples to help put you through your paces and give you the knowledge you need to succeed. It’s just a case of entering your postcode to find a tutor that is local to you if you would like to have individual or group accounting tuition online or in person. Alternatively, if you would prefer the convenience of studying from home, there are also tutors that are willing to work with you remotely to achieve your intended learning outcomes. Now discover the many ways your accounting degree can work for you...
How much does CMA certification cost?
- $1,088 - $1,685 total cost (without exam prep)
- $1,288 - $3,685 average total cost (with exam prep)
CMA certification cost
CMA certification costs $1,088 to $1,685, depending on your membership type and whether you pass both parts of the exam on the first attempt. This total includes the CMA exam cost along with additional required fees. Preparation and review courses add $200 to $2,000 but often improve pass rates and help avoid costly retake fees.
In the following guide, we'll break down all the costs associated with how to get CMA certification as well as how to maintain it.
| Cost Component | Student Member | Academic Member | Professional Member |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Membership | $49 | $160 | $295 |
| Entrance fee | $225 | $225 | $300 |
| Exam fees (both parts) | $814 | $814 | $1,090 |
| Review course (optional) | $200-$2,000 | $200-$2,000 | $200-$2,000 |
| Total cost (certification only) | $1,088 | $1,199 | $1,685 |
| Average total investment (prep course + certification) | $1,288-$3,088 | $1,399-$3,199 | $1,885-$3,685 |
What is CMA certification?
The Certified Management Accountant or CMA certification is among the most respected credentials in the fields of management accounting and financial management. Awarded by the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), it demonstrates expertise and validates your mastery of financial planning, analysis, performance management, and strategic decision-making skills. Unlike traditional accounting certifications focused on compliance, the CMA emphasizes strategic thinking and leadership capabilities that drive business performance.
CMA certification requirements
CMA certification requires four main components:
- An active IMA membership throughout the certification process and beyond
- A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university or a qualifying finance or accounting certification
- Passing both parts of the 2-part CMA exam within three years of paying your entrance fee
- Two years of professional experience in financial management or management accounting (completed before or within seven years of passing the CMA exam)
Required CMA certification fees
Every CMA candidate must pay several mandatory fees throughout their certification journey:
IMA membership cost
The Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) oversees the CMA certification program, making membership mandatory before you can register for exams. Your membership category determines all subsequent fees. Student memberships offer the most significant cost savings and remain valid as long as you maintain enrolled status at an accredited institution.
| Membership Type | Annual Fee | Target Audience |
|---|---|---|
| Student | $49 | Currently enrolled students |
| Academic | $160 | Faculty and educators |
| Professional | $295 | Working professionals |
CMA entrance fee
After joining IMA, you must pay a one-time CMA program entrance fee that grants access to the certification program for 3 years. The entrance fee is $225 for students and academic members or $300 for professionals. This non-refundable fee includes:
- A CMA support package
- Final score report upon completion of exams
- Review of educational and experience credentials
- Listing of CMAs with active status, available on the IMA website for employers to confirm their credentials
CMA exam fees
The CMA exam consists of two parts that can be taken in any order. You must pay separately for each part. The table below shows the current CMA exam prices for students, academic associates, and professionals. Failed exam parts require paying the full exam fee again for each retake attempt.
| Membership Type | Fee Per Exam Part | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Student / Academics | $407 | $814 |
| Professional | $545 | $1,090 |
Additional expenses
Consider these potential extra costs when budgeting for your CMA certification:
- Travel and accommodation expenses may apply if visiting your nearest Prometric testing center requires overnight stays.
- Prometric Testing charges $50 if you cancel or reschedule within 3 to 30 days of the scheduled test date.
- Requesting a transfer to the next testing window (instead of rescheduling for a date within the same testing window) costs $75 extra, the additional fee paid to ICMA.
Ongoing CMA maintenance cost
All CMAs must maintain IMA membership at $30 per year for renewal fees, plus complete 30 hours of continuing professional education (CPE) annually, including at least 2 hours in the field of ethics. Many CPE opportunities are available at no cost through IMA, though premium courses may cost extra.
CMA preparation costs
The CMA exam is not easy; the first-time pass rate averages 40% to 50% on both Parts 1 and Part 2. While not mandatory, most successful candidates invest in study materials and review courses to improve their pass rates and reduce retake expenses.
CMA review courses
Most professional review courses cost $1,000 to $2,000. These comprehensive courses provide structured learning paths and expert instruction. They often include video lectures, practice exams, and study guides.
Self-study
Budget-conscious candidates may choose self-study options using textbooks, practice questions, and online resources. Self-study programs cost significantly less, with some starting at $199, but they require more self-discipline and organization. Some companies now offer subscription access to online review materials for $50 to $80 per month.
What Does the CMA Exam Consist of?
The CMA exam has two parts, each taken separately, and covers 12 competencies. Each part is 4 hours long and consists of 100 multiple-choice questions and two 30-minute essays. The table below shows a breakdown of the competencies covered in each part of the exam.
| Competency | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Part 1: Financial Planning, Performance, and Analytics | |
| External Financial Reporting Decision | 15% |
| Planning, Budgeting, and Forecasting | 20% |
| Performance Management | 20% |
| Cost Management | 15% |
| Internal Controls | 15% |
| Technology and Analytics | 15% |
| Part 2: Strategic Financial Management | |
| Financial Statement Analysis | 20% |
| Corporate Finance | 20% |
| Business Decision Analysis | 25% |
| Enterprise Risk Management | 10% |
| Capital Investment Decisions | 10% |
| Profesional Ethics | 15% |
- The CMA exam is computer-based and available at Prometric Testing Centers globally.
- Exam results are emailed and posted to your online profile about 6 weeks from the end of the month in which you tested.
Summarize with AI:
Did you like this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
