Certified Management Accountant is a professional certification credential in the management accounting and financial management fields. The certification signifies that the person possesses knowledge in the areas of financial planning, analysis, control, decision support, and professional ethics. The CMA is a U.S.-based, globally recognized certification offered by the Institute of Management Accountants. CMA-certified professionals work inside organizations of all sizes, industries, and types, including manufacturing and services, public and private enterprises, not-for-profit organizations, academic institutions, Government entities, and multinational corporations worldwide. CMA has better Career in Management Accounting Globally than Cost Accountants of SAARC Countries. To date, there are more than 40,000 active CMAs with more than 80,000 candidates in the current pipeline. To obtain certification, candidates must pass a rigorous exam, meet an educational requirement, experience requirement, and demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning through continuing professional education.
The Certified Management Accountant Exam
Prior to 2010, the CMA exam was organized into four parts: Business Analysis, Management Accounting and Reporting, Strategic Management. Since 2010, the exam has been condensed into two four-hour parts, covering largely the same material as the former four part exam with added emphasis on financial planning, analysis, control, and decision support. Each exam consists of descriptive questions and two 30-minute essay questions. Candidates are given 3 hours to complete the multiple choice section and one hour to complete the essays. Candidates must show their work for the essay questions in order to receive credit. Parts 1 and 2 of the CMA exam are scored on a scale of 0–500 with a candidate's raw score converted to a uniform scaled score against all exam candidates. On this scale, a score of 360 represents the minimum passing scaled score.
The exam is considered very rigorous and pass rates for the CMA exam have historically been low for both parts. Worldwide, the exam had a pass rate of 35% for Part 1 and 49% for Part 2 in 2014. Historic pass rates published by the IMA for the two part exam are as follows:
Region
2010
2011
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Worldwide
40%
35%
35%
35%
35%
35%
40%
Asia Pacific
44%
42%
41%
41%
N/A
N/A
N/A
Europe
55%
51%
50%
53%
N/A
N/A
N/A
Middle East & Africa
20%
20%
21%
21%
N/A
N/A
N/A
Americas
54%
53%
51%
53%
N/A
N/A
N/A
Region
2010
2011
2013
2014
2015
2016
2016
Worldwide
40%
43%
42%
49%
52%
50%
50%
Asia Pacific
47%
51%
45%
55%
N/A
N/A
N/A
Europe
53%
50%
52%
63%
N/A
N/A
N/A
Middle East & Africa
25%
28%
29%
37%
N/A
N/A
N/A
Americas
47%
53%
54%
57%
N/A
N/A
N/A
The IMA discontinued region breakouts of exam pass rates starting with the 2015 results.
Additional Certification Requirements
In addition to successfully passing the exams, CMA candidates must fulfill education and experience requirements in order to be certified: 1. Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university 2. Two continuous years of professional experience employing the principles of management accounting and financial management including:
