Certified Management Accountant USA

How do I enrol in CMA (USA) course?

1. Register with Emerge Management Academy (EMA) as your review coach for earning the CMA certification. You may contact us : “Provide contact details link to user”
2. Register for the exam with the help of our course co-ordinator. You can register for Part 1 and Part 2 in any order or register for both at the same time
3. Prepare to complete certification requirements including submitting your education transcript and work experience. This can be done before or after passing the exam but is required as a final step to become certified.
4. Prepare to attend our coaching sessions in anyway way most suitable for you. (online/ offline/ hybrid)

What is ICMA?

ICMA® (Institute of Certified Management Accountants) is the certification affiliate of IMA. ICMA is responsible for developing, administering, and grading the CMA exam; establishing the policies and procedures for the CMA program; and for ensuring the program’s overall integrity. The ICMA Board of Regents is responsible for setting policies, and the ICMA staff is responsible for operations.

What is IMA?

IMA^® (Institute of Management Accountants) is one of the largest and most respected associations focused exclusively on advancing the management accounting profession. IMA offers its members exclusive access to the CMA® (Certified Management Accountant) program. We are committed to helping you – and our network of more than 100,000+ members – to expand your professional skills, better manage your organization, and enhance your career.

What is required to earn CMA certification?

1. Active membership in IMA (Institute of Management Accountants)
2. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university or a related professional certification
3. Complete two continuous years of professional experience in management accounting or financial management. This requirement may be completed prior to or within seven years of passing the examination.
4. Passing Parts 1 and 2 of the CMA exam.

For further details, please refer to the CMA Handbook.

How many parts are there to earn a CMA (USA) Certification?

There are 2 parts to earn the CMA (USA) certification, namely part1 & Part 2

How do I register for each part of the CMA Exam?

The CMA exams are computer-based and administered at hundreds of Prometric Test Centres worldwide. With three testing windows each year, you can sit for an exam at a time and place convenient for you.

If you are enrolled in the CMA program and are ready to sit for the exam, here are the steps:

1. Pick your testing window. Testing windows are offered in January/February, May/June, and September/October.
2. Register for the exam at imaonlinestore.com.
3. Receive your authorization number(s) along with further instructions.
4. Schedule your exam appointment(s) with Prometric, our testing partner, at prometric.com/ICMA

Taking the Exam

Where do I take exam?

Candidates take the CMA exam in person at a Prometric Test Center. In accordance with local customs, Prometric Test Centers are available throughout the U.S. and internationally. To locate a test center, please visit www.prometric.com/ICMA.

Can I take the exam remotely?

Remote testing is currently not available for the CMA exam.

When Can I take the exam?

Exams are offered according to the following schedule:

• January and February
• May and June
• September and October

How do I schedule an exam?

You may reach out to our course co-ordinator for scheduling an exam or may do so yourself.

To schedule exam appointments, visit www.prometric.com/ICMA or call (800) 479-6370. To ensure your first choice of date, time, and location, it is best to schedule your appointment at least four weeks in advance. All exam appointments must be scheduled at least 72 hours in advance of the exam date. Once you are registered, you must take the exam part during your assigned testing session. If, for any reason, you are unable to schedule an exam appointment during the assigned testing window, you will need to pay another registration fee. Appointments cannot be rescheduled to another testing window.

Do I have to take the exam parts in any specific order?

No, you can take parts 1 and 2 in any order. You have the option of taking both together on the same day, although many members choose to separate their testing dates.

When do I receive my exam performance report?

Performance Reports are sent via e-mail from Prometric to all candidates who take an exam part. The performance reports are emailed approximately 14 days after exam results are posted to the candidate’s profile.
Candidates who do not pass the exam will receive a report that indicates their performance on each of the key topic areas in the multiple-choice section as well as their overall performance on the essay section of the exam.

How long do I have to complete the exams?

Candidates must complete the CMA program within three years from the date of entry into the certification program. If both exam parts are not successfully completed within three years of entering the program, any passed part will expire, and the CMA entrance fee will need to be repaid.

What if I do not clear both parts within the stipulated time (3 years)?

You will lose any previous passed scores and will need to register for the exam again.

How can I check for my exam performance status?

On the IMA website, click “My Profile” and then “My Certifications.” There, you will find your exam status and transcript, information on your work experience and education, and more.

What is the passing score for the exam?

The minimum passing score is 360 for both parts of the exam. The exam score range is 0-500.

Can I retake the exam in the same testing window?

An exam part may be taken only once in a testing window. You can sit for as many testing windows as you need in your three-year period. All retakes require a new exam registration (not CMA entrance), along with payment of appropriate fees: $460 for professionals, $345 for Students/Academic members.

What languages is the CMA exam available in?

Our U.S.-based certification is also available in Mandarin Chinese. The test can be taken in China in paper/pencil format (Chinese) or in computerized format (English). IMA offers an entire suite of products for a true Chinese learning experience, including Mandarin versions of exam preparation courses, member support from native-speaking staff, thought leadership, Strategic Finance magazine, and anything else offered on IMA’s main website.

How do I send my education and work credentials?

Our course co-ordinator can hand hold you to check on eligibility status to enrol for the CMA (USA) course.

Alternatively, to fulfil your educational requirements, please submit original transcripts (or notarized copies) electronically to CMAEducationDocuments@imanet.org. Please email all documents in PDF format and make sure to include your IMA membership number. If you have questions regarding your educational documents, please email CMAEducationDocuments@imanet.org.

To validate your work credential, you will need to fill out the online CMA Experience Requirement Form.

After the CMA exam

How do I get a PDF copy of my CMA transcript?

A copy of your transcript can be found by clicking here.

Note: You need to have passed both parts of the CMA exam and be an active IMA member to access your transcript.

I passed both exams. What should I do next?

Please check your Member Dashboard to see what requirements are pending.

To fulfil your educational requirement, please submit original transcripts (or notarized copies) electronically to cmaeducationdocuments@imanet.org. Please email all documents in PDF format and make sure to include your IMA membership number. If you have any questions regarding your educational documents, please email cmaeducationdocuments@imanet.org.

To validate your work experience, you will need to complete the CMA Experience Requirement form.

As a reminder, active IMA membership is required prior to certification.

I have completed all the requirements to become a CMA certified. What next?

Once your certificate number has been issued, you can begin using the CMA designation as part of your professional credentials. To check if your certificate number has been issued, please review the My Profile section of the IMA website. If you see the CMA designation after your name, your CMA certificate number has been issued.

What is the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) requirement?

Once you have completed both parts of the CMA exam, you will be required to report 30 hours of CPE on an annual basis and a minimum of two hours must be in the field of ethics. A copy of the CPE Requirements and Rules can be found here.