CMA Course Details: Eligibility, Subjects, Registration Process, Fees, and Jobs

In recent times, there has been a demand for professionals who understand the management and accounting field comprehensively. Though this knowledge can be garnered by pursuing Management courses, one can also explore other options like Chartered Accountancy, CFA course, CS, etc. One such option amongst many is the Certified Management Accountant course. As a CMA professional, you will be adept in concepts related to Taxation, Financial Risk Management (FRM), Operations Management, Accounting, Legal Frameworks, etc. To provide clarity, here is a blog that will shed light on the CMA course details, its prospects, and eligibility.

What is the CMA Course?

CMA or Certified Management Accountant is a globally recognized, advanced-level credential that is appropriate for those who wish to establish a career in Finance and Business. Covering various facets of the field, the CMA course equips you with knowledge and skills related to financial planning, decision support, cost management, investment-related decisions, direct and indirect taxation, etc., that are instrumental for making a mark in the industry. The skill set provided by the course is in great demand in organisations globally, which makes this course extremely relevant for the times. Let us now understand the three levels of the CMA course-

3 Levels of CMA Course

The CMA course is divided into 3 stages- the CMA Foundation, CMA Intermediate, and CMA Final. You can appear for the exams in 3 cycles in a year ( January and February, May and June, and lastly, September and October). The exams can be scheduled 72 hours in advance. The CMA course details of the 3 levels are as follows:

CMA Foundation Level

The very first level of the CMA course is the CMA Foundation. To get your career started as a Certified Management Accountant, candidates shall qualify for this initial level. As early as after qualifying 12th class exams, you can hear up for the CMA Foundation, which can be further completed in 8 months. 

CMA Intermediate Level

The second step of the CMA course is the intermediate level. After qualifying CMA Foundation and completing graduation, students are eligible to appear at this level. The CMA course duration of this level is 18 months. 

CMA Final Level

The final and concluding level of the course is the CMA final.  Upon passing the intermediate level, students can gather all the CMA course details and appear for this level to become a recognised Accountant. 

CMA Course Details Related to Training

As discussed, there are 3 levels to becoming a certified CMA professional. However, apart from clearing papers, you also need to complete professional training at the Intermediate and Final levels.

CMA Intermediate Level Training

The CMA intermediate level training that you will have to undertake is provided below:

1. Computer Training (100 Hours)
2. Communication and Soft Skills Training (CSS) – 3 Days
3. Practical Training (15 Months)

CMA Final Level Training

At the final level, you will have to undergo a mandatory, 7 days long, Industry Oriented Training Programme (IOTP). Extensive knowledge will be imparted on direct and Indirect taxation, bookkeeping, cost and treasury management, among others. Furthermore, emphasis will also be laid on Business Etiquette and soft Skills, along with interview and presentation skills.

To learn more about the CMA course, watch this video:

CMA Course Details: Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for CMA is an integral aspect of the CMA course details, it helps one understand the prerequisites to undertake the course. The general eligibility criteria for the 3 levels are-

Level	Eligibility Criteria
Foundation Level	1. Must have passed Class 10 or its equivalent from a recognised board. 2. Must have passed Class 12 (10+2) or equivalent from a board recognised by the Central Government. OR 1. Passed the National Diploma in Commerce Examination conducted by AICTE or State Board of Technical Education. OR Passed the Diploma in Rural Service Examination conducted by the National Council of Higher Education.
Intermediate Level	1. Must have passed 10+2 and: 2. Foundation Programme of ICSI, or Foundation Entry Level Part I of CAT by ICSI, or Foundation Entry Level Part I and Competency Level Part II of CAT by ICSI. 3. Must hold a graduation degree (excluding Fine Arts). 4. Must have passed the Intermediate level of ICAI (Institute of Chartered Accountants of India) along with 10+2.
Final Level	1. Must have passed Class 10 or its equivalent from a recognised board. 2. Must have passed Class 12 (10+2) or equivalent from a board recognised by the Central Government. OR 1. Passed the National Diploma in Commerce Examination conducted by AICTE or the State Board of Technical Education. OR Passed the Diploma in Rural Service Examination conducted by the National Council of Higher Education.

Note: The aspirants must note that it is necessary to become a member of ICAI to register under any level of CMA course.

CMA Exam Pattern

The CMA exam is an offline examination that is conducted twice a year in  June and December. The foundation level examination consists of 200 MCQ questions across 2 sections (50 per paper), and has to be completed in 120 minutes (per paper). The intermediate and final section of the paper consists of a mix of objective and descriptive questions. The scores are calculated out of 100 for each level. You can learn about the exam pattern in detail below:

Level	Papers	Duration	Question Type	Marks/Paper	Passing Criteria
Foundation	4 papers	2 hours each	MCQs (Objective)	100	≥ 40% in each & ≥ 50% aggregate
Intermediate	8 papers (2 groups × 4 each)	3 hours each	Objective + Descriptive	100	≥ 40% in each & ≥ 50% aggregate per group
Final	8 papers (2 groups × 4 each)	3 hours each	Objective + Descriptive	100	≥ 40% in each & ≥ 50% aggregate per group

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CMA Subjects 

Before pursuing any course, it is important to go through the syllabus thoroughly in order to identify your weak and strong points. This will help you in formulating a good study plan. Similarly, when it comes to CMA course details, there are a total of 20 papers that are bifurcated into 3 levels namely, Foundation, Intermediate, and Final. Tabulated below are the major subjects of the CMA course.

Levels	CMA Subjects
Foundation	Paper 5: Company Accounts & Audit  Paper 6: Laws, Ethics and Governance Paper 7:  Financial Accounting  Paper 8: Cost and Management Accounting Paper 9: Cost accounting and financial management  Paper 10: Indirect Taxation Paper 11: Operations Management Information System Paper 12 Direct Taxation
Intermediate	Paper 5: Company Accounts & Audit  Paper 6: Laws, Ethics and Governance Paper 7:  Financial Accounting  Paper 8: Cost and Management Accounting Paper 9: Cost accounting and financial management  Paper 10: Indirect Taxation Paper 11: Operation Management Information System Paper 12 Direct Taxation
Final	Paper 1: Fundamentals of Accounting  Paper 2: Fundamentals of Business Mathematics & Statistics  Paper 3: Fundamentals of Laws and Ethics Paper 4: Fundamentals of Economics and Management

CMA Course Details: Registration Process

Now that we are through with what is CMA course and its eligibility criteria, let us focus on how we can register for it. By visiting the official website of ICAI, candidates can successfully register themselves for the desired level of CMA course. You can follow the below-mentioned steps and successfully register yourself- 

1. Step 1: Visit the official website of ICAI and click on CMA 2023 registration.
2. Step 2: Fill in all the details mentioned in the registration form. Save and continue to reach the next step. 
3. Step 3: Upload the images as per the specifications mentioned and submit the form. 
4. Step 4: Choose your preferred type of payment and complete the registration process by submitting the fee. 
5. Step 5: Take a printout of your form for future use.

CMA Course Details: Registration Fee 

Since the course comprises three distinct levels, the registration fee per level varies in India as well as other foreign countries offering the course. To help you with the accurate CMA course details, mentioned below are the estimated fee charges- 

Particulars	Registration Fee
CMA Foundation	INR 4,000
CMA Intermediate	INR 20, 000
CMA Final	INR 17,000

Difference Between CWA, CMA, ICMAI, and ICWAI

Are you confused about the CWA? CMA, ICMAI, and ICWAI terminology?The CWA name was changed to CMA for managerial roles. ICWAI was changed to ICMAI. The name was updated as per the government amendment. Today, you get a certificate of CMA, issued by ICMAI. Therefore, prior terms (CWA, ICWAI) are no longer in use.  We have explained the meaning of each of these terms below. 

Term	What It Represents	Current Status (2025)
CWA	Cost & Works Accountant – former course name	Renamed to CMA; the old title is no longer used
CMA	Cost & Management Accountant– current course	Official qualification awarded today by ICMAI
ICWAI	Institute of Cost & Works Accountants of India	Former institutional name; officially renamed
ICMAI	Institute of Cost Accountants of India	The current statutory body that awards the CMA

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CMA USA vs CMA India

Now that you have understood the basic CMA course details, let us take a glance at the major differences between the CMA course in the USA and that in India.

Details	CMA USA	CMA India
Competent Authority	Institute of Management Accountants	Institute of Cost Accountants of India
Exam Pattern	2 papers in one single level	20 papers bifurcated into 3 levels
Duration of Course	6 Months	3-4 Years
Articleship	–	6 Months

To learn more about the difference between CMA India and CMA USA, watch this video:

Top Recruiters of CMA Graduates 

As soon as the CMA aspirants complete all the levels of the course along with the training period, they can make their way through a bunch of leading organisations across the globe. Before we conclude a discussion on CMA course details, listed below are some of the major recruiting companies for CMA graduates- 

1. Ernst and young
2. Deloitte
3. PWC 
4. KPMG
5. National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation 
6. Hindustan Salt Limited 
7. Godfrey Phillips India Limited 
8. BDO International
9. Grand Thornton International 
10. Desai Haribhakti

CMA Course Details: Jobs and Salary

If we assess the available opportunities after CMA, we can find innumerable employment opportunities both in India and abroad. The knowledge garnered by studying a diverse curriculum adds to your portfolio because it lets the employer know about your expertise in the field of accounting and management, as well as reveals your knowledge when it comes to the financial aspect of the industry. Some of the job profiles that you can explore after your CMA course are:

Designation	Estimated Salary in India (INR per annum)
Financial Analyst	6.45 lakh to 16 lakh (avg 10–15 lakh)
Relationship Manager	8 lakh to 20 lakh
Finance Manager	9 lakh to 21 lakh
Cost Manager	10 lakh to 25 lakh
Cost Accountant	4 lakh to 10 lakh
Financial Risk Manager	10 lakh to 18 lakh
Chief Financial Officer	40 lakh to 1.2 crore
Financial Controller	18 lakh to 35 lakh

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We have provided you with all the relevant information about the CMA course details. But when it comes to making a decision about one’s career it is natural to feel confused as well as apprehensive about whether you possess the skills for that career path. You do not need to be doubtful before exploring a career path, With the help of the study abroad experts at Leverage Edu you can make an informed decision that takes into account your strengths and skills.