If you have been working in the financial domain for quite some time and you are looking forward to stepping up the career ladder, a US Certified Management Accountant (CMA) certification can add significant value to your professional growth.
The US CMA certification is issued by the Institution of Management Accountants (IMA) and is a globally recognized designation in the field of financial management and accounting. Considering the difficulty level of the exam, it is given that anyone who possesses this certificate has excellent command over accounting, financial analysis, management, decision support, and strategic planning.
Around 83% of CMAs agree that the certification has helped enhance their professional confidence. The CMA program prepares you for top leadership roles in organizations. Each step towards the CMA designation helps build a successful and rewarding career in finance, setting CMAs apart as leaders in the field.
In this blog, we will be discussing the stages of the CMA registration process, thereby helping you embark on your journey towards a prestigious and rewarding designation.
How to complete the US CMA registration
Listed below are the steps that you need to follow to qualify as a Certified Management Accountant:
Joining IMA:
The first step of CMA full form registration is joining IMA. IMA or Institute of Management Accountants is the body that issues the US CMA certificate.
Listed below are the steps for joining the IMA:
- For this, candidates will have to visit the membership registration page and choose “Join”.
- Here, you get to choose whether you are a professional, student, or academic member.
- After choosing one of the three, you will have to enter the details like the email address, contact information, etc.
- You will then have to choose a strong password for the IMA account.
- After all of this is done, you will have to choose an IMA subject.
Paying the fees:
Next, candidates are required to pay a fee. The CMA program fees for professionals and students/academic candidates are as listed below (in USD):
| For professionals | For students/academic candidates |
| CMA entrance fees: $300 | CMA entrance fees: $225 |
| Exam fees (for each part): $495 | Exam fees (for each part): $370 |
An IMA membership fee amounting to $295 and $49/$160 for professionals and students/academic candidates respectively is also chargeable.
After you have paid the fees, you will receive a confirmation via email.
Registering for the examination:
The next step includes registering for the examination. The CMA examination has two parts:
- Part 1: Financial Planning, Performance, and Analytics
- Part 2: Strategic Financial Management
Both parts 1 and 2 are conducted thrice a year. The examination slabs, along with the first exam date, last exam date, and registration date are listed below:
| September/October 2024 | January/February 2025 | May/June 2025 | |
| First date of examination | 1st September | 1st January | 1st May |
| Last date of examination | 31st October | 28th February | 30th June |
| Last date of registration | 15th October | 15th February | 15th June |
You can choose the order in which you want to take the CMA examinations.
Once you have registered, you will receive an authorisation number along with the testing window and a set of instructions for the candidates.
Scheduling the examination and appearing for it:
After you have completed the CMA registration, you need to schedule your examination with Prometric, which is the testing partner and conducts the CMA exam. It is important to note that the authorization number is valid only for the testing window that you have chosen.
Once the examination has been scheduled, arrive at the testing centre on the scheduled date and time with the required documents
Submitting the educational qualifications:
To get the CMA certificate, one also has to fulfil the educational requirements. According to the education requirement stated by CMA, candidates should have achieved at least one of the two educational statuses:
- The candidate should hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college.
- In case they don’t possess a traditional graduation certificate, they should have at least one approved professional certification like CA (Chartered Accountant).
You can either send your original transcripts or notarized copies of your certificates to CMAEducationDocuments@imanet.org. It is mandatory to send the IMA membership number along with the documents.
Work experience:
To acquire the CMA certification, a candidate has to acquire two years of professional experience in the field of financial management or management accounting. This experience can either be gained prior to, or within seven years of qualifying for the exam.
Benefits of becoming a Certified Management Accountant
Here are some of the benefits of having a US CMA certification:
- Robust financial skills and knowledge: To pursue a CMA certification exam, one should have a good command over basic as well as complex financial management processes. The CMA examination has two parts which contain all the topics that can help a candidate master these skills.
- New opportunities: Achieving the US CMA certification is not an easy feat. The very fact that you own one shows your skill and expertise in accounting and financial management. This gives vent to a vast range of new opportunities for CMAs. Since this certification is recognised and valued globally, one may also get the opportunity to work abroad.
- Salary boost: According to IMA’s Global Survey conducted in 2023, CMAs aged between 27 to 42 years earn about 19% more than peers of the same age who do not possess the certification.
Final words
By following these steps for CMA registration and meeting the requirements, you can gain valuable skills in strategic decision-making and financial management. Therefore, open the door to global opportunities and earn yourself a rewarding position in the field of finance with a US CMA certification.
FAQs
- How many years of CMA registration is valid?
The CMA registration is valid for a duration of 7 years from the date of registration. After the completion of 7 years, the registration expires and candidates have to apply for a “de-novo” registration if they wish to continue pursuing the CMA course.
- What happens if I do not renew my IMA membership?
The IMA membership has to be renewed every year to maintain the CMA certificate. If a candidate does not renew the membership, the certificate becomes inactive.
- What are CPE requirements?
During their 3 year reporting period, CMAs should complete 120 hours of “continuing professional education” in order to maintain their designation. This helps them maintain or update their skills.
