{"id":250930,"date":"2023-06-07T12:33:02","date_gmt":"2023-06-07T12:33:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/imarticus.org\/?p=250930"},"modified":"2024-07-29T10:39:10","modified_gmt":"2024-07-29T10:39:10","slug":"us-cma-programme-duration-fees-syllabus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/imarticus.org\/blog\/us-cma-programme-duration-fees-syllabus\/","title":{"rendered":"US CMA Programme: Duration, Fees, Syllabus"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/imarticus.org\/certified-management-accountant\/\">Certified Management Accountant (CMA) program<\/a><\/strong> offered by the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) in the USA is a prestigious certification that provides numerous benefits to professionals in the field of accounting and finance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A CMA leads the accounting and finance aspect of an organisation as opposed to accountants who are only responsible for primarily tax and auditing. A CMA\u2019s portfolio also includes financial analysis, decision-making, and risk management.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are a prospective candidate of the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">US CMA programme<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, searching for exam-related details, this blog is for you. Read on to learn all about the CMA exam duration, fees, and syllabus.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Exam duration<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-249739 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/imarticus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/cma-300x200.jpeg\" alt=\"certified management accountant course\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imarticus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/cma-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/imarticus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/cma-480x320.jpeg 480w, https:\/\/imarticus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/cma.jpeg 626w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The CMA exam takes about 12-18 months to be completed depending on the candidate\u2019s skill, focus and dedication. However, the <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/imarticus.org\/certified-management-accountant\/\">US CMA Course<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">must be completed within 36 months or 3 years from registering with IMA.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>The Part 1 and Part 2 exams can be taken thrice a year. The three testing windows are &#8211;\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">January-February<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">May-June<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">September-October<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/dmd9_FLUYd4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Exam fees\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CMA USA programme fees<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> vary depending on whether the candidate is a professional member or a student\/academic member of IMA. The IMA membership is different for a professional as opposed to a student.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For professional members, the total cost of the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">US CMA programme<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, including the entrance fee, Part 1 and Part 2 fees, and the IMA membership fee, is $1,460. On the other hand, for student\/academic members, the total cost is $1035. Candidates are required to pay separately for each part of the exam.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The CMA entrance fee is non-refundable. However, the exam fee is refundable within 30 days of payment if the candidate has not scheduled his exam with the Prometric.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Fees breakdown<\/strong><\/h3>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Candidate Type<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Fee Type<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Fees<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td rowspan=\"3\"><b>Professional Members<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IMA Registration fee<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$260<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Entrance fee<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$280<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Exam fee<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$460+$460 = $920<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td rowspan=\"3\"><b>Student\/Academic Members<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IMA Registration fee<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$135<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Entrance fee<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$210<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Exam fee<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$345+$345 = $690<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><strong>US CMA exam syllabus<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">US CMA programme<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> syllabus covers 12 core competencies required for a CMA to succeed professionally. The exam is held in 2 parts, each covering 6 areas of accounting and finance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Part 1 is broadly focused on Financial Planning, Performance, and Analytics and covers external financial reporting decisions, performance management, planning, budgeting, and forecasting, cost management, technology and analytics and internal controls.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Part 2 is focused on Strategic Financial Management and covers financial statement analysis, corporate finance, decision analysis, investment decisions, risk management, and professional ethics.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Area Weightage<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The tables below list the areas included in Part 1 and Part 2 and the weightage each carries in the CMA exam.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Part 1<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Financial Planning, Performance and Analytics<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Weightage<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Planning, budgeting and forecasting<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">20%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Technology and analysis<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">15%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cost Management<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">15%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">External financial reporting decisions<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">15%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Performance management<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">20%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Internal controls<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">15%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Part 2<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Strategic Financial Management<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Weightage<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Investment decisions<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial statement analysis<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">20%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Risk Management<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Corporate finance<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">20%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Decision analysis<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">25%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Professional Ethics<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">15%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The CMA exam is computer-based. Each part comprises 100 multiple choice questions or MCQs and 2 essay-based questions. The <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/imarticus.org\/certified-management-accountant\/\">US CMA programme<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> tests a candidate on 500 in each part of the exam, for which they must score a minimum of 360 in each part to pass.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Career scope of US CMA<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The CMA is an \u2018A\u2019 level certification accorded by the IMA and is globally accepted by leading financial organisations and businesses. A CMA has a plethora of career scopes available. Some job profiles a CMA is eligible for include Finance Manager, Treasurer, Finance Controller, Senior Analyst, Budget Analyst, Internal Auditor, and Cost Accountant.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/imarticus.org\/certified-management-accountant\/\">CMA certification<\/a><\/strong> can land job roles in prestigious companies like Deloitte, PwC, Barclays, Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan Chase, and HP. An entry-level CMA in the US can earn <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/certified-management-accountant-annual-salary\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$79,534<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on average. The figure increases with an increase in experience. A senior CMA with more than 8 years of experience can earn up to<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/certified-management-accountant-annual-salary\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> $141,356<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, while the average salary of CMAs is around <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/certified-management-accountant-annual-salary\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$113,799<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> annually.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Responsibilities of a CMA<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Some core responsibilities of a CMA in the US are:<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CMAs are frequently responsible for analysing financial data, formulating budgets, and predicting future financial performance.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CMAs play a key role in monitoring and managing the performance of various departments within an organisation.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CMAs are knowledgeable in cost accounting procedures and are crucial in analysing and managing organisational expenses.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CMAs are responsible for building and maintaining effective internal control systems to protect assets, ensure regulatory compliance, and manage risks.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CMAs contribute to the planning and implementation of strategic financial plans.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CMAs ensure that accounting standards and regulatory obligations are met and offer stakeholders information on financial performance.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CMAs frequently function as management&#8217;s business partners, offering financial analysis and support for decision-making processes. They assist in evaluating the financial impact of various company activities, risk assessment, financial modelling and scenario analysis.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The best way to begin your journey as a CMA is to enrol in a <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/imarticus.org\/certified-management-accountant\/\">CMA prep course<\/a><\/strong>. Imarticus\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/imarticus.org\/certified-management-accountant\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Certified Management Accountant<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> course covers all the 12 core skills extensively required to ace the CMA exam. Join today to prepare better for the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">US CMA programme<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Certified Management Accountant (CMA) program offered by the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) in the USA is a prestigious certification that provides numerous benefits to professionals in the field of accounting and finance.\u00a0 A CMA leads the accounting and finance aspect of an organisation as opposed to accountants who are only responsible for primarily [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":250908,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_mo_disable_npp":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[4257],"class_list":["post-250930","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-finance","tag-us-cma-programme"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"modified_by":"Imarticus Learning","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/imarticus.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/250930","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/imarticus.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/imarticus.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/imarticus.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/imarticus.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=250930"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/imarticus.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/250930\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":265438,"href":"https:\/\/imarticus.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/250930\/revisions\/265438"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/imarticus.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/250908"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/imarticus.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=250930"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/imarticus.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=250930"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/imarticus.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=250930"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}