CMA exam eligibility and registration: step by step
By Haresh Ratnagrahi, Founder, HiPrep (CPA, FCA, CMA (US), CISA, CRISC)
To earn the CMA you need a bachelor’s degree or an accepted equivalent, two years of qualifying experience in management accounting or financial management, IMA membership and a pass in both exam parts. You can sit the exams before you finish the experience, and you have three years from entry to pass both parts.
Key takeaways
- Education: a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, or an equivalent qualification the IMA accepts.
- Join the IMA and create your account.
- Because you have three years from entry to pass both parts, avoid registering long before you are ready to study.
- Your degree certificate and mark sheets, a copy of your passport or ID, and proof of professional experience such as employer letters.
- Registering far too early and burning the three-year window.
What the IMA requires
Education: a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, or an equivalent qualification the IMA accepts. International degrees are reviewed individually.
Experience: two continuous years of professional experience in management accounting or financial management, completed before you start or within the period the IMA allows after you pass.
Membership: you join the IMA as part of registering and keep it while you study.
Exams: you pass Part 1 and Part 2, each with multiple-choice questions and essays.
Registering step by step
Join the IMA and create your account.
Pay the entrance fee and register for the programme. Your three-year clock starts then.
Register for the part you want and pay its exam fee.
Receive your authorisation to test and book a Prometric slot.
Sit the exam, then repeat for the second part.
Planning your timeline
Because you have three years from entry to pass both parts, avoid registering long before you are ready to study.
Many candidates register, then book Part 1 two to three months out so the date drives their preparation.
Documents to keep ready
Your degree certificate and mark sheets, a copy of your passport or ID, and proof of professional experience such as employer letters.
If your documents are not in English, ask the IMA which translations it needs.
Common registration mistakes
Registering far too early and burning the three-year window.
Booking an exam date before checking that your Prometric centre has slots.
Letting your IMA membership lapse while you study.
Exam facts at a glance
CMA (US) (Certified Management Accountant), overseen by IMA. 2: Exam parts. 4 hrs: Per part: 100 MCQs + 2 essays. 360: Passing score (0–500 scale). 3 yrs: To complete both parts from your first.
Part 1, Financial Planning, Performance and Analytics: Budgeting, performance management, cost management and controls. Main topics: External financial reporting decisions, Planning, budgeting and forecasting, Performance management, Cost management, Internal controls, Technology and analytics.
Part 2, Strategic Financial Management: Corporate finance, investment decisions, risk and ethics. Main topics: Financial statement analysis, Corporate finance, Decision analysis and risk, Investment decisions, Professional ethics.
The path from eligibility to certification
CMA (US): 1. Join IMA. IMA membership is part of registration. 2. Check entrance requirements. A bachelor’s degree, plus two years of relevant experience (before or within a window after passing). 3. Register and pay fees. Register for the exam through the IMA. 4. Book at Prometric. Schedule each part at a test centre near you. 5. Pass both parts. Within three years of passing your first part. 6. Complete the experience requirement. Then apply for your CMA certification.
Who it suits: Management accountants and cost accountants; FP&A, MIS and controllership professionals; Chartered and cost accountants adding a global credential; Finance graduates aiming for business-partnering roles. Careers it opens: FP&A and business finance; Controller and finance manager; Cost and management accounting; Strategy and corporate finance; CFO track.
Key terms explained
Multiple-choice question: A question with one best answer from several choices. Most exam sections combine multiple-choice questions with task-based simulations. The CMA and EA exams are mainly multiple choice, with CMA essays.
Prometric: The test-centre network where the CPA, CMA and EA exams are delivered, including centres in many countries outside the US.
CMA: Certified Management Accountant: the IMA credential for management accounting, planning and financial strategy. The exam has two parts and the passing score is 360 out of 500.
IMA: The Institute of Management Accountants: the US body that grants the CMA and runs its entrance requirements and fees.
More questions candidates ask
Which should I pick: CPA, CMA or EA? CPA suits audit, reporting and global accounting careers. CMA suits management accounting, FP&A and finance leadership. EA suits US tax and IRS representation, and is the quickest to complete. Our counsellors will map one to your background and goals for free.
Can I take these exams from outside the US? Yes. The CPA, CMA and EA exams are available at Prometric test centres in many countries, including India, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. Eligibility and registration run through the relevant body: a US state board for CPA, IMA for CMA and the IRS for EA.
Do I need a commerce degree? It depends on the exam. CPA requires a degree plus accounting and business credit hours, which vary by state. CMA requires a bachelor’s degree plus experience. EA has no degree requirement. Book a free eligibility check and we will tell you exactly where you stand.
What are the passing scores? CPA: 75 on a 0–99 scale. CMA: 360 on a 0–500 scale. EA: 105 on a 40–130 scale. All are scaled scores, not percentages.
How HiPrep can help
HiPrep is an exam-prep provider for the CPA (US), CMA (US) and Enrolled Agent exams. Every answer is built step by step, cell by cell, so you see how a result is reached and not only what it is. Explanations are available in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada, and a mentor is behind the platform for doubts.
You get a Prometric-style simulator with tutor and exam modes, full-length mock exams with a scaled-score estimate and topic breakdown, layered books, one-page revision notes built from your mistakes, flashcards, an AI tutor that hints before it tells, and a study plan that adapts to your exam date and weekly hours.
Start with the free diagnostic: 45 minutes and a topic-by-topic report that shows where you stand before you spend anything.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need work experience before I can sit the exam?
No. You can sit the exams first and complete the two years of experience within the period the IMA allows after you pass. Confirm the current window with the IMA.
Do I need a commerce or accounting degree?
The IMA requires a bachelor’s degree, but it does not have to be in accounting. Confirm how your degree is assessed with the IMA.
Can I change my exam date?
Yes, within the rules of the test provider. Check the rescheduling deadlines when you book.
Sources and official references
About the author
Haresh Ratnagrahi, Founder, HiPrep (CPA, FCA, CMA (US), CISA, CRISC). Haresh has spent 30+ years in corporate finance, M&A and teaching, including as a professor at Sydenham College of Commerce and as founder of the Finance & Accounts Learning Academy at EXL, where he trained more than 6,000 employees. He founded HiPrep to give CPA, CMA and EA candidates clear teaching, a real exam simulator and mentoring.