CMA Certification Review
IMA's Certified Management Accountant (CMA) is designed for management accounting and financial-management professionals, with two exam parts plus education, experience and membership requirements.
Strong when it matches the work and career stage you actually have.
IMA's Certified Management Accountant (CMA) is designed for management accounting and financial-management professionals, with two exam parts plus education, experience and membership requirements.
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Eligibility
Active IMA membership; bachelor's degree from an accredited institution or a related professional certification; and two continuous years of professional management-accounting or financial-management experience, completed before or within seven years after passing the exam.
- Budget for exam/application fees separately from optional training.
- Verify the issuer's current price immediately before registering.
- Include renewal or continuing-education costs when applicable.
Current cost
For professional members, IMA currently lists a $300 entrance fee, $545 per exam part and $295 annual membership, plus a $30 CMA annual maintenance fee after certification.
- Confirm education, experience or membership prerequisites.
- Use the current exam/version handbook—not an older prep outline.
- Check employer, state or regulatory requirements where they apply.
What this credential actually validates
Planning & analysis
Apply budgeting, forecasting, performance and analytical methods.
Corporate finance
Use financial decision-making and capital-management concepts.
Controls
Understand reporting, controls and professional ethics.
Strategic management
Connect accounting information to business strategy and decisions.
Difficulty depends on scope, experience and the current exam blueprint.
A credential can be approachable for an eligible candidate and still be difficult for someone without the underlying work context. Prepare from the current issuer blueprint and practice applied decisions, not just definitions.
The biggest difficulty usually comes from breadth, scenario judgment and unfamiliar job context—not from memorizing isolated terms.
Difficulty profile
- Conceptual load: Moderate for true beginners
- Technical depth: Introductory to intermediate
- Exam pressure: Lower than a traditional certification exam
- Consistency required: High
Career fit matters more than the acronym.
CMA is one of the clearest credentials for professionals building corporate accounting, FP&A, controllership and finance-leadership careers. It does not confer the public-accounting legal status of a CPA license.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Clear external validation of role-relevant knowledge
- Provides a structured preparation target
- Can strengthen progression when employers recognize it
- Useful alongside relevant projects and work experience
- Creates a defined maintenance/learning framework
Cons
- Does not replace hands-on experience
- Employer recognition varies by market and role
- Exam, training and renewal costs can add up
- Eligibility or renewal rules may change
- Poor ROI when unrelated to the target job
Consider these instead if your goal is different.
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Compare this path →CMA Certification FAQ
How many CMA exam parts are there?
Two.
How much experience is required?
Two continuous years of relevant management-accounting or financial-management experience.
Do I need a bachelor's degree?
A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution or a related professional certification is required to earn the CMA.
How much does CMA cost for professional members?
IMA lists $300 entrance, $545 per part and $295 annual membership; taxes and prep are separate.
Can I take the exams before finishing experience?
Yes. The experience can be completed within seven years after passing the exam.
Is CMA the same as CPA?
No. CMA is a professional certification; CPA is state licensure.
Use it when it advances the role—not just for another badge.
CMA is one of the clearest credentials for professionals building corporate accounting, FP&A, controllership and finance-leadership careers. It does not confer the public-accounting legal status of a CPA license.