Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
The Certified Management Accountant (CMA) program is administered by the Institute of Management Accountants. The IMA is the world's leading professional association for management accounting and finance professionals.
As many as 85% of accountants today work inside organizations, where expertise in decision support, planning, and control over value-adding operations are crucial elements of operational success. The CMA certification demonstrates that holder of the CMA designation has mastered a comprehensive body of knowledge directly related to operational and strategic management as well as the skills and abilities required to build quality business practices inside organizations.
Exam Content
The CMA exam has four parts:
- Business Analysis
- Management Accounting and Reporting
- Strategic Management
- Business Applications
To be certified as a CMA, candidates must fulfill both an education requirement and an experience requirement. Verification of one of the following must be presented prior to completing the examination or within seven years of passing the examination in order to complete the education requirement:
- Bachelor's degree, in any area, from an accredited college or university.
- Score in the 50th percentile or higher on either the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
- Professional qualification comparable to the CPA, CMA, etc.
Candidates for certification must complete two continuous years of professional experience in management accounting or financial management. This may be completed prior to application or within seven years of passing the examination.
Exams are administered through the worldwide network of Prometric Testing Centers:
- Parts 1, 2, and 3 have a 120-day testing window during which candidates must schedule and sit for their exam
- Part 4 CMA has a one-month window and is given only four times a year during the months of February, May, August and November
CMAs are required to maintain yearly CPE credits and hold a current membership in the IMA.
More information on the CMA exam is available on the IMA Web site. Booklets describing the program in further detail are available in the Dixon School of Accounting, BA1 Room 465.
The IMA has an active local chapter in the Central Florida area with monthly meetings, and students and professionals are welcome to attend.