Certified Management Accountant (CMA) Certification

The certified management accountant (CMA) certification signals advanced abilities in financial accounting, enterprise finance, and strategic planning. Professionals with CMA credentials typically occupy senior or management-level roles in corporate accounting or finance departments. Some reach the top positions in the accounting profession to work as financial controllers and chief financial officers (CFOs).

The Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) issues CMA certifications to accounting professionals worldwide. According to the IMA, more than 100,000 accountants representing over 150 countries have earned the CMA designation since its 1972 introduction.

You do not need a CMA to work in financial or management accounting. However, many employers prefer or require them, especially for career-track roles with advancement potential. Earning your CMA can also dramatically increase your earning power.

This certification guide covers all the details about earning CMA credentials. Use this information in career research as you select an accounting path.

Why Get Certified as a CMA?

How to Qualify as a Certified Management Accountant

To become a certified management accountant, you must complete the IMA's three-step process:

1. Become an IMA Member: Begin by acquiring an IMA membership, then register with the IMA as a CMA candidate.
2. Register for Your Exam: Apply for testing authorization, along with times and dates to sit for both parts of the IMA's CMA examination.
3. Meet Education and Experience Requirements: You qualify for your full CMA credential by passing both parts of the exam and satisfying the IMA's education and experience requirements.

You can take your CMA exam before or after fulfilling the IMA's education and experience criteria. However, you must complete all three steps before acquiring your globally recognized CMA certification.

The following sections offer additional details.

Educational Requirements

You can satisfy the IMA's educational requirements with a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. The IMA accepts degrees in any field, but you must earn your qualifying degree before or within seven years of passing the CMA exam. You will have an advantage if you hold a bachelor's or master's degree in accounting.

The IMA accepts the following U.S. credentials as an alternative to a bachelor's degree:

• Certified fraud examiner
• Certified internal auditor
• Certified treasury professional
• Chartered financial analyst

If you hold one or more of these credentials, the IMA waives your degree requirement.

Professional Requirements

The IMA's core professional requirements include two years of continuous full-time work experience in financial management and/or management accounting. Part-time experience may qualify if it includes eligible duties and covers at least 20 hours per week. In this case, two part-time years equal one full-time year.

Teaching experience can also count if:

• You teach accounting or finance
• You work full time
• At least 60% of the courses you teach are above the foundational or introductory level

As with education requirements, you must accumulate all experience before or within seven years of passing your CMA exam.

What Does the CMA Exam Cover?

The CMA exam includes two parts — the first tests your financial planning and business analytics knowledge, and the second covers strategic management. You can sit for both parts on the same day or take each section individually and in any order. Many examinees choose the latter option.

Both parts of the exam include multiple-choice questions and essay prompts. You must complete the multiple-choice questions first and answer at least 50 questions correctly to proceed to the essay portion. This section begins after you answer all multiple-choice questions or after three hours, whichever comes first.

Each essay question describes a business scenario, with the two essay questions in each part of the exam requiring a total of 10-12 written responses or calculations.

The closed-book CMA exam is only available at Prometric testing centers. You cannot sit for it remotely.

This table explains some other pertinent structural details:

Scoring the Exam

The CMA exam uses a 0-500 range to score your performance, with 360 as a passing score. You do not need to pass both sections individually. Instead, evaluators consider your cumulative performance on both sections, using a scaled system to place the total number of questions you answered correctly on the 0-500 scale.

On test day, you will receive word about whether you can proceed to the essay section by having answered at least 50% of the multiple-choice questions correctly.

Professional reviewers regularly double-check all exam scoring while grading is in process. If your exam is on the cusp of passing or failing, it will undergo a second detailed review before your score is finalized and released.

You will receive results by email and in your IMA member profile about 6-10 weeks after completing the exam.

The IMA reports a worldwide CMA exam pass rate of approximately 50%.

How Do You Register for the CMA Exam?

You can register for the CMA exam through the IMA's online store. You can also call (+1) 800-638-4427 or (201) 573-9000. You will need an active credit card to complete your registration.

For both exam sections, you can take your test during three annual windows:

• January-February
• May-June
• September-October

Registrations for the three windows close on February 15, June 15, and October 15, respectively.

When the registration process ends, you will receive a formal authorization letter allowing you to schedule your exam. Upon receiving that letter, visit Prometric's CMA exam portal to select an exam date, time, and location. Candidates usually arrange to sit for their exam at their nearest Prometric testing center.

On test day, you must bring acceptable identification. The name on all forms of acceptable ID must exactly match your name as it appears on your authorization letter.

Acceptable forms of ID include:

• Passport
• Government-issued driver's license
• Government-issued national ID
• United States passport card
• European Union identity card

Depending on your nationality, you may be able to present other forms of ID. Consult the CMA Handbook for further details.

Paying for the Exam

Exam fees depend on whether you joined the IMA as a student, academic, or professional member. The following table covers all fees associated with the CMA exam as of April 2025:

CMA entrance fees are non-refundable, but you can get a refund on your exam fees if you have not yet registered an exam date, time, and location with Prometric and you cancel within 30 days of purchasing your exam voucher.

How Can You Prepare for the CMA Exam?

The IMA recommends committing 170 hours over 10-13 weeks to prepare for Part 1, and 130 hours over 8-11 weeks to prepare for Part 2. Start preparing early, as this provides more time to review challenging material.

Integrate these study tips to support your exam success:

Top Tips

Practice Exams and Study Resources

What Is Needed to Maintain the Certification?

Once you become a certified management accountant, you must complete two steps to maintain your CMA credential.

First, you must hold continuous IMA membership and remain in good standing. Second, you must complete 30 hours of continuing education per calendar year, including at least two hours in professional ethics. Annual requirements begin at the start of the calendar year immediately following the year you first received your CMA credential.

For further details, consult IMA guidance on maximizing and maintaining CMA credentials.

Should You Get Multiple Certifications?

CMA certification is globally recognized. It is a standalone certification pursued by accomplished accounting professionals specializing in the intersection of financial accounting and enterprise finance management.

You can pair your CMA credential with a master's degree, such as an MBA in accounting, finance, or another concentration. Doing so may unlock professional opportunities at the upper management or executive levels. However, practitioners rarely pair CMA credentials with other optional accounting designations.

Still, some accountants pursue CMA certification after earning certified public accountant (CPA) licensure. In the United States, CPA licenses are issued by state-level professional accounting boards.

For more information about CPA licensure, consult this resource:

Frequently Asked Questions About CMAs