Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
Offered by Institute of Management Accountants (IMA)
This page is for the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) from IMA — the accounting and corporate-finance credential. It is not the AAMA Certified Medical Assistant, which lives at /certifications/aama-cma.
EXAM AT A GLANCE
Testing time
4
hours
Sections
2
Delivery
Prometric test center
Passing score
360
Cost
Varies
by option
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Part 1 — Financial Planning, Performance, and Analytics
Part 2 — Strategic Financial Management
About the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) certification
IMA's CMA focuses on management accounting and corporate finance: financial planning, analysis, control, decision support, and strategy. It's designed for accountants and finance professionals working inside businesses rather than in public accounting. The exam has two parts, and from 2026 the constructed-response section uses case-based questions instead of essays.
Who it’s for
Management accountants and corporate finance professionals pursuing FP&A and finance-leadership roles.
- Format
- Two parts; each part has 100 multiple-choice questions (75% of score) plus two case-based scenarios (25% of score)
- Testing time
- 4 hours per part (3 hours MCQ + 1 hour case-based)
- Passing score
- 360 on a 0–500 scale, per part (must clear 50% of MCQs to unlock the case section)
- Cost
- Exam fees per part plus an IMA membership and CMA entrance fee (varies by member category)
- Validity
- Maintain with IMA membership and 30 CPE hours per year
- Prerequisites
- Bachelor's degree (or approved certification) and 2 years of relevant experience — can be completed within 7 years of passing
Official exam page· Details verified August 2026
Exam details can change. Always confirm current requirements, fees, and exam policies with the certification provider before registering.
How to prepare
01
Join IMA and register for the CMA program.
02
Study Part 1 (planning, budgeting, performance, cost management, internal controls, analytics).
03
Study Part 2 (financial statement analysis, corporate finance, decision analysis, risk, ethics).
04
Practice the case-based question format that replaced essays in 2026.
05
Sit each part when you're consistently scoring above the passing threshold on mocks.
FAQ
How is the CMA different from the CPA?
The CPA centers on public accounting, audit, and tax; the CMA centers on management accounting, corporate finance, and strategic decision-making inside organizations.
Is this the Certified Medical Assistant exam?
No. This CMA is IMA's Certified Management Accountant for accountants and finance professionals. The Certified Medical Assistant (AAMA) is a different credential at /certifications/aama-cma.
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