{"id":4326,"date":"2024-12-19T11:37:04","date_gmt":"2024-12-19T06:07:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thewallstreetschool.com\/blog\/?p=4326"},"modified":"2025-09-17T16:00:30","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T10:30:30","slug":"cpa-vs-cma-full-form-fees-and-other-details","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thewallstreetschool.com\/blog\/cpa-vs-cma-full-form-fees-and-other-details\/","title":{"rendered":"CPA vs CMA: Full Form, Fees, and Other Details"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Comparison Between CPA and CMA: Full Form, Fees and More<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are thinking of a profession in finance, you need to plan your education well. Because in this market, where the number of candidates is higher than the demand, earning a professional certification can set your career apart.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Two of the most respected options are the CPA and CMA. The <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CMA (full form<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Certified Management Accountant) focuses on management accounting, financial planning, and business analysis. On the other hand, a<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thewallstreetschool.com\/cpa-coaching-in-delhi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> CPA (Certified Public Accountant)<\/a> credential demonstrates auditing, taxation, and regulation skills.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Choosing between the two can be challenging, as each has unique requirements and rewards. This blog will summarise the differences between the CPA and CMA and help you decide which aligns best with your career goals.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CMA full form<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and course overview<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The CMA course in India is structured to teach you about cost and management accounting principles. It is divided into three levels, which are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CMA Foundation<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CMA Intermediate<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CMA Final<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here is a detailed overview:<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\"><b>CMA Syllabus for Foundation Course<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Papers<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Subjects<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paper 1<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fundamentals Of Business Laws and Business Communication (FBLC)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paper 2<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fundamentals of Financial and Cost Accounting (FFCA)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paper 3<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fundamentals of Business Mathematics and Statistics (FBMS)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paper 4<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fundamentals of Business Economics and Management (FBEM)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\"><b>CMA Syllabus for Intermediate Course<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Papers<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Subjects<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\"><b>Group-I<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paper 5<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Business Laws &amp; Ethics (BLE)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paper 6<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial Accounting (FA)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paper 7<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Direct and Indirect Taxation (DITX)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paper 8<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cost Accounting (CA)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\"><b>Group-II<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paper 9<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Operations Management and Strategic Management (OMSM)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paper 10<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Corporate Accounting and Auditing (CAA)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paper 11<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial Management and Business Data Analytics (FMDA)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paper 12<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Management Accounting (MA)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\"><b>CMA Syllabus for Final Course<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Papers<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Subjects<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\"><b>Group-III<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paper 13<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Corporate and Economic Laws (CEL)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paper 14<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strategic Financial Management (SFM)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paper 15<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Direct Tax Laws and International Taxation (DIT)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paper 16<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strategic Cost Management (SCM)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\"><b>Group-IV<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paper 17<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cost and Management Audit (CMAD)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paper 18<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Corporate Financial Reporting (CFR)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paper 19<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Income Tax Laws and Practice (ITLP)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paper 20 (you can choose any one from the following electives)<\/span><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strategic Performance Management &amp; Business Valuation (SPMBV)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Risk Management in Banking and Insurance (RMBI)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Entrepreneurship and Start-Up (ENTS)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CPA full form and course overview<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A CPA is a trusted accounting expert. They handle tax, audit, and regulatory roles.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There will be 8 papers for this exam, which you can appear for one after another. If you want to prepare for this exam in India, you need to study for:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial Reporting<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Auditing &amp; Assurance<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taxation Laws<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Business Laws<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial Management<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Management Accounting<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fee differences between CMA vs CPA exams<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Knowing the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CMA full form<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is only stage one of planning a career in finance. You must know what the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thewallstreetschool.com\/cma-coaching-in-delhi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CMA course<\/a> covers, the course fees and the job prospects. The following breaks down the CMA course fees for you:<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Fee type<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>CMA fees<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>CPA fees<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Registration fees<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">INR 500 for the CMA intermediate<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">INR 40,000<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td rowspan=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Exam fees<\/span><\/td>\n<td><b>Foundation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 1200<\/span><\/td>\n<td rowspan=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">INR 1,500 for each exam (total of 8 papers)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Intermediate:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1200 (for one group)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2400 (for two groups)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Final:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1400 (for one group)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2800 (for two groups)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td rowspan=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Course fees<\/span><\/td>\n<td><b>Intermediate:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> INR 23,100<\/span><\/td>\n<td rowspan=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Total of INR 50,000 in two years (Rs. 25,000\/- per academic year)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Final:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> INR 25,000<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wrapping up<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are driven enough to be an accountant guiding company strategies, you should explore the course details too, not just the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thewallstreetschool.com\/blog\/cpa-vs-cma-full-form-fees-and-other-details\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>CMA full form<\/strong><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. In contrast, the CPA teaches you deeply about tax laws, auditing, and regulations if pursuing public accounting roles is your goal in life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whatever path you choose, the proper certification can significantly boost your career and credibility in finance. So, good luck with choosing wisely!<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FAQs<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>What is the duration of the CMA India course?<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The duration of CMA in India is about 15 months. However, depending on your preparation and schedule, the duration can vary.<\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Is there any time limit for completing the CMA exams after registration?<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI) guidelines, registered CMA students get seven years to complete all their exams.<\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Can CMA students access exam exemptions based on prior qualifications?<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes, ACCA-UK qualified students, ISCI qualified, and engineering graduates can be exempted in various stages of CMA on a case-by-case basis.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Comparison Between CPA and CMA: Full Form, Fees and More If you are thinking of a profession in finance, you need to plan your education<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4327,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4326","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-us-cma"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thewallstreetschool.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4326","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thewallstreetschool.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thewallstreetschool.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thewallstreetschool.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thewallstreetschool.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4326"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.thewallstreetschool.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4326\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4436,"href":"https:\/\/www.thewallstreetschool.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4326\/revisions\/4436"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thewallstreetschool.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4327"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thewallstreetschool.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4326"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thewallstreetschool.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4326"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thewallstreetschool.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4326"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}