Achieving the CMA credential demonstrates your mastery of financial planning, analysis, control, decision support, and professional ethics.
These skills are critical to the success of finance teams working within organizations—this focus distinguishes the CMA from other certifications and degrees.
Certified Management Accountant (CMA) study groups are being formed. Please indicate your interest using the form on the left. The expectation is that groups will meet for about 6 weeks, focusing on one of the exam sections.
The CMA exam is designed to measure the advanced skills required to be an effective member of finance and accounting teams within organizations and to create value in today’s complex and challenging business environment. The exam is structured as follows:
PART I – Financial Planning, Performance and Control
- Planning, budgeting, and forecasting
- Performance management
- Cost management
- Internal controls
- Professional ethics
PART II – Financial Decision Making
- Financial statement analysis
- Corporate finance
- Decision analysis and risk management
- Investment decisions
- Professional ethics
|
The CMA consists of two exam parts:
PART I: Financial Planning, Performance and Control
(4 hours – 100 multiple choice questions and two 30-minute essay questions)
PART II: Financial Decision Making
(4 hours – 100 multiple choice questions and two 30-minute essay questions)
|
|
The exam parts can be taken in any order. Candidates must register to take one exam part within the first 12 months of entering the program and must complete the program within three years.
The CMA exams are computer-based and are administered in hundreds of testing facilities worldwide. With three testing windows each year, you can sit for an exam part at a time and place convenient to you. Plus, the CMA program lets you proceed at your own pace. You can earn a CMA in just six months or over three years. Busy professionals will find the CMA to be time-efficient and cost-effective.
Exams are conducted by Prometric, a worldwide network of testing centers, and are available in accordance with local customs. There are many locations throughout the U.S. and internationally. To locate a Testing Center and to schedule exam appointments, visit www.prometric.com/ICMA.
The exams are offered in the following windows:
- January and February
- May and June
- September and October
To participate in the CMA program, candidates must be members of IMA. To earn the CMA designation, candidates must pass both exam parts and fulfill the following education and experience requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Please reference the Education Qualification Section of the CMA Handbook.
- Two continuous years of professional experience in management accounting or financial management.
- Further information about the CMA can be found in this pdf.