CMA USA

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CMA USA

Acquiring the prestigious CMA certification from a leading country like the USA will help you earn global exposure as well as an international qualification. This certification test is conducted thrice a year- May-June; September-October; and January-February. A CMA certification enables passed candidates to gain employment in the finance sector of the USA. To all those aiming to gain a specialised certification in the field of Accountancy, this blog will provide you with the essential details of CMA USA, its syllabus, eligibility, course fees and much more!

Name of the CertificationCertified Management Accountant
CMA ExamPart 1:  Financial Planning, Performance, and AnalyticsPart 2: Strategic Financial Management
Exam SessionsMay/June 2024; September/October 2024; January/February 2024
Course Duration12-18 months to complete both parts, on average up to 3 years 
Pass Rate50% globally
Success Rate4,000 CMA granted each year; 70,000 CMA awarded to date

CMA USA Exam Dates Testing Window

Tabulated below are the dates for CMA 2024:

Testing WindowLast Date of RegistrationStarting DateLast DateResults
May/June 202415 June 20241 May 202430 June 2024To be announced
September/October 202415 October 20241 September 202431 October 2024To be announced
January/February 202415 February 20241 January 202429 February 2024To be announced

Benefits of CMA USA

Given below are some of the advantages of CMA USA:

  • Career Growth: One of the biggest benefits of having a CMA USA is career growth and development. Several mid and senior-level individuals who wish to acquire expertise in the world of finance, management, accounting and business take up CMA certification. 
  • Global Opportunities: CMA USA is a global professional certification is recognised by countries like China, India, the UK, Canada, and the Middle East countries. It presents an opportunity to settle and work abroad as well as learn about global practices and business ethics. 
  • Increased financial success: CMA is a lucrative opportunity and can lead to tremendous financial success. 58% of candidates with a CMA USA certificate see an increase in their salaries and benefits while 37% of candidates between the ages of 20-29 globally have a salary advantage due to CMA. 
  • Short-Duration course: Another advantage of taking up CMA USA is that it can be completed in 12 to 18 months. The CMA exam is conducted thrice in one year giving ample opportunities to candidates to finish their course on time- January and February, May and June & September and October. 
  • Versatile Certification: CMA is a versatile degree and is open to candidates from an array of specialisations. Candidates with a minimum of 2 years of work experience and a bachelor’s degree program from areas like engineering, business administration, economics, accountants and finance can take up this course.

Also Read: Chartered Accountant (CA) Course: Duration, Eligibility

Eligibility Criteria For CMA USA 

To pursue this prestigious program by IMA, you need to fulfil certain prerequisites specified by the institution. Candidates with discrepancies in their application or those who fail to meet the requirements will not be allowed to get admission to the course. Mentioned below are the major entry requisites of CMA USA: 

  • IMA Membership
  • A bachelor’s degree from a renowned institution in a related field. 
  • You must possess 2 continuous years of work experience in Management Accounting or Financial Accounting.
  • You must abide by the IMA’s Statement of Ethical Professional Practice.

Exam Structure 

The CMA exam is available in two parts and in order to gain this certification, it is essential for you to qualify for both these exams. Part 1 or Part 2 examination of CMA USA can be taken in any order but you will only be qualified for the next one if you clear the first examination. Registration for an exam is valid only for one exam window, hence, you have to register again if you wish to appear again for the examination. 

  • The testing window opens up every year in the months of January/ February, May/ June, and September/ October. Thus, you can book the slot of your choice and take the examination accordingly.
  • The CMA is a computer-based examination. Each of the exams will be of 4 hours with 100 MCQ questions as well as two 30-minute essays.
Name of the course  Certified Management Accountant (CMA) 
Institution  Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) 
Exam Structure  Part 1 and Part 2 
Number of Questions 100 in Each Part
Duration 4 Hours

Also Read – How to Become a Chartered Accountant?

Career Opportunities after CMA

This ‘A’ level certification is well-recognised by leading financial and business organizations around the globe. You can explore a vast range of career opportunities after completing CMA USA and some of these are: 

Job Profiles & Average Salaries

Job Profiles Average Salaries
Senior Analyst ₹7,50,000
Finance Manager  ₹14,00,000
Budget Analyst  ₹12,00,000
Treasurer  ₹8,90,000
Finance Controller  ₹19,00,000
Internal Auditor ₹3,00,000 – ₹​8,00,000 
Financial Analyst  ₹5,00,000
Cost Accountant  ₹5,00,000 – ₹​6,00,000
Management Trainee ₹6,70,000

Top Companies after CMA USA Certificate

  • Deloitte
  • PwC
  • KPMG
  • EY
  • Accenture
  • Genpact
  • InterTrust
  • Knowcraft Analytics
  • Cognizant
  • Grant Thornton
  • MaxLife Insurance
  • JP Morgan Chase
  • MasterCard
  • Barclays
  • Morgan Stanley
  • HP

CMA USA Syllabus

Now that you are familiar with the basic details pertaining to the course, let us understand the CMA USA syllabus of Part 1 and Part 2 through the tables given below:

Part 1: Financial Planning, Performance and Analytics Weightage
Technology and Analysis 15%
Internal Controls 15%
Cost Management 15%
Performance Management  20%
Planning, Budgeting and Forecasting  20%
External Financial Reporting Decisions  15%
Part 2: Strategic Financial Management Weightage
Financial Statement Analysis  20%
Corporate Finance 20% 
Decision Analysis 25%
Risk Management 10%
Investment Decisions  10%
Professional Ethics 15%

Also Read: CA Subjects

CMA USA Program Fee 

The fee for CMA USA differs for professional members and student or academic members of IMA. The following tables elucidate the fee details for this certification:

For Professional Members Cost 
CMA Entrance Fee ( Nonrefundable) $280* [INR 21,000 – 22,000]
Exam Fee $460 per part [INR 35,000 – 36,000]
For Student/ Academic Members  Cost
CMA Entrance Fee $210* [INR 16,000 – 17,000]
Exam Fee $345 [INR 26,8000 – 27,000]

*IMA membership is additional and also required 

CMA USA: Getting Started 

To qualify for the CMA course from the USA, it is necessary for one to follow a bunch of important steps. If the candidates go by these simple steps, they can easily live up to their dream of CMA USA. There are three simple steps in the journey of becoming a successful CMA. To begin with, candidates shall enrol in the CMA program so that they will become a members of the IMA association and enjoy its benefits. The next step would be to, register for the CMA exam and gain access to all the benefits. In the concluding step, you must plan to complete the certification requirements and collect all the vital documents that are to be submitted. 

CMA USA: Taking the Exam 

Before you gear up to take up the CMA examination, there are a bunch of important points that you must keep in mind. Those who register for the exam get access to the CMA Exam Support package which includes a variety of practice and previous year’s questions. Also, the candidates are advised to study at least 150-170 hours per level or part and 300 hours in total. Here are some important points with respect to the CMA examination- 

  • Candidates are free to attempt parts 1 and 2 in any order they like 
  • The testing window is open only in the slots of- January/ February; May/June; September/ October 
  • The exam registration is only valid for one exam window 
  • From the end of the month in which you have taken the exam, it takes around 6 weeks for the result to be out via the e-mail
  • A performance report will also be delivered to the candidates after 14 days after the result

Also Read – Accountant Courses: Exams, Eligibility, Jobs, Scope

Best Books for CMA USA

Here are the best books for acing CMA USA-

  • Wiley CMA excel Learning System Exam Review 2017
  • Gleim’s CMA Review: Business Applications
  • Certified Management Accountant (CMA), US – Part 1: Financial Reporting, Planning, Performance and Control by Muhammad Zain
  • Strategic Financial Management
  • CMA: Financial Planning, Performance and Control Exam Secrets: CMA Test Review for the Certified Management Accountant Exam

CMA Scholarship 

To help students fulfil their goal of CMA USA, the IMA organization also offer a scholarship for potential candidates. Since CMA is considered to be one of the topmost courses on the field of Management Accounts, it is widely pursued by students from across the world. Nearly 9,200 students globally have received this scholarship and more than 1,000 institutions from across the world have been a part of this program. To assist the IMA members, over $14 million worth of scholarships have been awarded. 

Who is it For? 

  • High-achieving students (undergrad through PhD)
  • Students who have attended an accredited school in the US or anywhere around the world
  • Only 10 students per school and academic year can be nominated for the scholarship
  • All those who will be nominated by a professor will earn the scholarship

What Does it Include?

  • Entrance fee for the CMA program
  • Exam support package with retired exam questions and a glossary of terms
  • Up to three years of IMA membership while pursuing the certification
  • Wiley CMA Excel Online Test Bank access for both exam parts for up to two years (all regions, except China)

CMA USA vs CMA India

Though both are equally recognized, there are some stark differences between CMA USA and CMA course details in India. Let us understand this through the table given below: 

Differentiators US CMA CMA India
Governing body IMA (Institute of Management Accountants), US The Institute of Cost Accountants of India (formerly ICWAI), India
Course Structure – EXAM PART 1 – Financial Planning, Performance, and Analytics– EXAM PART 2 – Strategic Financial Management Level 1 – CMA FoundationLevel 2 – CMA IntermediateLevel 3 – CMA FinalThere are a total of 20 papers
Course Duration 6-9 months 3-4 years
Exam Windows Jan-Feb May-June Sept-Oct June and December
Starting Salary INR 5-7 lpa INR 4-6 lpa

Must Read: How to Become a Chartered Accountant in UK?

CMA USA vs CIMA UK

Listed below are the key differences between CMA USA and CIMA UK:

Details  US CMA CIMA UK
Academic Focus Management Accountancy Management Accountancy
Board Institute for Management Accountants Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
Duration 6 months 2-4 years
Papers 2 Papers 16 Papers
Cost to Pursue INR 70 thousand INR 2.5-3 lakhs
Recognition Globally UK

FAQs

Is CMA degree in the USA valid in India?

Being an internationally recognised certification course, CMA is valid in India too.

Is CMA USA a good course?

Whether or not a course is good depends on what your professional goals are. If you want to gain advanced knowledge in the field of Finance and want to further progress in your career, then pursuing CA is the most suitable choice.

How to crack the CMA exam on 1st attempt?

Listed below are some tips which you can follow to clear the CMA exam on the 1st attempt:
1. Go through the syllabus thoroughly.
2. Identify your strengths and weaknesses so that you prepare a plan accordingly.
3. Chalk out a timetable.
4. Practice questions on a regular basis.
5. Solve multiple mock papers.
6. Clear your concepts.
7. Revise regularly in order to retain information for a longer period.

Lastly, I hope that you have found the necessary information that you have been looking for related to the CMA USA exam. If this blog is helpful and you want to begin your journey, you can contact us at Leverage Edu and our mentors would be happy to guide you through the process and also help you understand the field of your choosing. 

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17 comments
    1. Hi Vivek!

      If you want to pursue CMA USA then please reach out to our experts at 1800572000 and they will assist you with the application process! All the best.

  1. My Son just applued fir BCom (A &F) course. Afterthat wants to study us cma course. Advise us accordingly. It will complete only in 2023 i hope.

    1. Hello Hetakshi,

      Our study abroad experts can help you with the admission process. Please call us at 1800-572-000 for further guidance.

    1. Hi Ansif,

      CMA in the USA is a great course to pursue. Please connect to our experts at 1800-572-000 who will give you complete guidance and information on this course. All the best!

  2. Sir i want to know best colleges in India and also is cma USA is objective questions or descriptive type questions major syllabus and mock test papers are also required and is this exams is offline mode or onlitmode

    1. Hello Bala,

      CMA USA exam has 2 papers. The papers are 75% objective and 25% subjective (essays). The CMA course can be completed in 7-8 months and this exam is conducted online. You can find the mock test papers widely available online. Hope this helped!