{"id":269128,"date":"2025-07-01T06:25:41","date_gmt":"2025-07-01T06:25:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/imarticus.org\/blog\/?p=269128"},"modified":"2025-07-01T06:25:43","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T06:25:43","slug":"all-you-need-to-know-about-cma-usa-certification","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/imarticus.org\/blog\/all-you-need-to-know-about-cma-usa-certification\/","title":{"rendered":"All You Need to Know About CMA USA Certification"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Certified Management Accountant (CMA USA) is one of the most sought-after management accounting and financial management certifications. Administered by the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA)<\/a>, CMA USA certification is designed to prepare finance professionals with skills that will propel financial strategy, budgeting, risk, and decision-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To all financial professionals, in their working career, CMA USA means global acceptance, higher earning potential, and opportunities of leadership. But this bog post will help you get answers to who can be a CMA? How to become certified? All this and more is discussed in this guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The CMA USA certification<\/a> is the globally accepted management accounting qualification with focus on financial planning, control, analysis, decision support, and professional ethics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n CMA USA is not a generic accounting course with emphasis on bookkeeping, taxation, and auditing. It is a management certification. It indicates that CMAs possess the ability of making strategic financial decisions, which contribute to a company’s growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The CMAs serve as Financial Analysts, Controllers, Finance Managers, and Chief Financial Officers (CFOs).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The credential is most sought after in banking, consulting, manufacturing, and technology industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For the certification by CMA USA, the applicants need to go through a clearly stated process of education, examination, and experience. A step-by-step process is discussed below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n You need to be an IMA member prior to starting your CMA USA journey. Your IMA membership makes you eligible to utilise several resources such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2705 Practice guides and exams<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2705 Webinars, networking, and career development<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2705 International network of finance professionals<\/p>\n\n\n\n The membership comes at a cost in a unique manner based on whether you are a professional or a student.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After your IMA membership is activated, you must join the CMA program. This welcomes you as a formal CMA candidate and provides you with three years of time to pass both exam parts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To be eligible for the CMA USA certification, candidates should have:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2705 Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university OR<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2705 Professional certification (e.g., CPA, ACCA, CA)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Final-year university students can also prepare to be certified if they graduate before joining the CMA designation program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For anyone to be eligible for CMA USA certification, the candidates should have two years of professional work experience in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The experience is acquired before or within seven years following the CMA exam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The CMA USA exam consists of two parts, and the candidates need to clear both of them to become certified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2705 Part 1 \u2013 Financial Planning, Performance, and Analytics<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2705 Part 2 \u2013 Strategic Financial Management<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both parts need 3-6 months of preparation depending on background and experience. The candidates can prepare through:<\/p>\n\n\n\n After preparation, apply for the exam via the IMA website. CMA USA is held three times a year in the following windows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Candidates must select a Prometric test center and pick their test date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n CMA exam has 100 MCQs and two essay questions of 30 minutes each.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As soon as you get certified with CMA USA, you would need to complete 30 hours of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) annually, of which 2 would be professional ethics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This keeps the CMAs informed regarding the latest trends and best practices in the profession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The CMA USA certification prerequisites guarantee that the applicants have relevant academic qualifications and experience at the workplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat is CMA USA Certification?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Who Should Take CMA USA?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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CMA USA Certification Process<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Become a member of IMA (Institute of Management Accountants)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Become a CMA Program member<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Fulfill Education Requirements<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. Get Professional Work Experience<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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5. CMA Exam Preparation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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6. Register and Schedule the Exam<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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7. Clear the CMA Exam<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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8. Re-Certification through Continuing Professional Education (CPE)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
US CMA Eligibility Requirements<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n