The Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
The Institute of Management Accountant (IMA), serving individuals and corporations for nearly a century, is the world’s leading professional organization dedicated to the advancement of accounting, finance, and information managements. IMA stays in the lead by keeping its members abreast of new industry insights, in touch with their peers and on target with the latest education and certification opportunities.
With chapters around the world, the IMA provides members with personal and professional development opportunities through the globally recognized and highly coveted Certified Management Accountant (CMA).
Course Objectives
The CMA is the advanced professional certification specifically designed to measure the accounting and financial management skills that drive business performance. Achieving the CMA credential demonstrates your mastery of financial planning, analysis control, and decision support, as well as professional ethics.
The CMA Credential is:
Focused – On the critical skills you use in business Respected – Leading employers seek to hire and promote CMAs Valued – CMAs earn higher compensation than noncertified professionals. Convenient – CMA Exams are offered electronically in hundreds of locations worldwide. It offers convenient exam and flexible study options with three exam windows each year. You can schedule exams at a time and place convenient to you. The CMA is tailor-made for finance professionals at all levels, whether you want to enhance your value to your current organization or expand your career potential.
Focused – On the critical skills you use in business Respected – Leading employers seek to hire and promote CMAs Valued – CMAs earn higher compensation than noncertified professionals. Convenient – CMA Exams are offered electronically in hundreds of locations worldwide. It offers convenient exam and flexible study options with three exam windows each year. You can schedule exams at a time and place convenient to you.
The CMA is tailor-made for finance professionals at all levels, whether you want to enhance your value to your current organization or expand your career potential.
Course Structure
There are two parts to the CMA exam, consisting of four hours each, which can be taken in any order.
The exam is structured as follows:
Part I
Financial Planning, Performance and Control
Planning, budgeting and forecasting
Performance measurement
Cost management
Internal controls
Professional ethics
Part II
Financial Decision Making
Financial statement analysis
Corporate finance
Decision analysis and risk management
Investment decisions
By focusing only on advanced accounting and financial management skills, the exam is rigorous yet responsive to the needs of the marketplace and time constrained professionals.
Entry requirements
There are no entry requirements for candidates who want to register with the IMA and sit for the CMA exams. Having completed both parts of the CMA exam, candidates must fulfill the following requirements to be awarded the CMA certification:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
- Two continuous years of professional experience
- Foundational knowledge of economics, basic statistics and financial accounting
- Agree to abide by IMA’s statement of ethical professional practice
- Continue to maintain the IMA membership
Examination Rules
- The two Parts can be taken in any order at the same sitting
- Exam duration is 4 hours for each part (100 multiple choice questions and two 30 minute essay questions).
- The IMA is making it possible to sit your CMA exam at a date, time and place convenient to you.
Important Dates
Exams can be taken in three different window periods
- January and February
- May and June
- September and October