CMA US

US CMA and CMA India are separate qualifications offered by different professional bodies. US CMA is offered by IMA and has two exam parts. CMA India is offered by the Institute of Cost Accountants of India and has Foundation, Intermediate and Final levels, with entry depending on your qualifications. Compare their syllabuses and requirements against your career plans.

To earn the US CMA certification, you must:

• Hold an active IMA membership.
• Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution or an approved professional qualification.
• Pass both parts of the CMA examination.
• Complete two continuous years of qualifying experience in management accounting or financial management.
• Comply with IMA’s ethical standards.

You can take the exams before completing the education and experience requirements, provided you fulfil them within IMA’s prescribed deadlines.

The full form of CFA is Chartered Financial Analyst.

Yes. You can begin preparing after Class 12 and study for the exams alongside your degree. Students from non-commerce backgrounds can also pursue the qualification, although they may need additional preparation in accounting fundamentals. Class 12 alone does not meet the education requirement for certification; you must eventually hold an eligible degree or approved professional qualification.

IMA’s regional guidance gives an average of around 12–18 months to complete both exam parts. Your timeline depends on your accounting knowledge, study schedule and exam results. Both parts must be passed within three years of entering the CMA programme. Receiving the certification also requires completion and verification of your education and relevant work experience.

The syllabus has two parts:

• Part 1 — Financial Planning, Performance and Analytics: Reporting business results, preparing budgets and forecasts, measuring performance, managing costs, maintaining internal controls, and using technology and data.
• Part 2 — Strategic Financial Management: Analysing financial statements, financing businesses, evaluating business decisions, managing risk, assessing capital investments and applying professional ethics.

Preparation should include both understanding the concepts and applying them to business situations.

Each exam part lasts four hours and includes 100 multiple-choice questions followed by two case-based question sets. The allocated time is three hours for multiple-choice questions and one hour for the case-based section. From the September–October 2026 testing window, case-based questions replace essays for the English-language CMA exams in India.

You need a scaled score of 360 out of 500 in each part. This is a scaled score, so it should not be interpreted simply as answering 72% of the questions correctly. You must answer at least 50% of the multiple-choice questions correctly to enter the case-based section, but reaching that threshold alone does not mean you have passed.

The exams are offered during three testing windows each year: January–February, May–June and September–October. You can take the two parts in either order. Choose your first part based on your preparation, familiarity with the subjects and available study time.

First, join IMA and enrol in the CMA programme. Register and pay for your chosen exam part and testing window. Once you receive your exam authorisation, schedule an appointment with Prometric. You can take the computer-based exams at participating Prometric test centres in India, subject to appointment availability. Coaching enrolment does not automatically register you for the exams.

Under IMA’s examination route, candidates must pass both Part 1 and Part 2. Holding a degree or another professional qualification does not automatically provide an exam exemption. An approved professional qualification may satisfy the education requirement instead of a bachelor’s degree, but education recognition and exam exemptions are separate matters.

You can register again and retake the unsuccessful part in a later testing window. Each part can be attempted only once within a testing window, and another exam registration fee applies. Results are normally released approximately six weeks after the end of the month in which you took the exam. Review your performance before planning the next attempt.

You need two continuous years of qualifying professional experience in management accounting or financial management. This can be gained before passing the exams or completed within seven years afterwards. Relevant responsibilities may include budgeting, financial analysis, reporting and cost management. Internships, trainee roles and purely clerical positions do not satisfy the requirement under IMA’s published guidance.

Your total cost includes coaching and the fees payable to IMA. The published standard IMA charges are:

Add your selected coaching package to these amounts. Further membership renewals, retakes and applicable payment or currency-conversion charges can increase the total. Check IMA’s current prices when registering.

Yes. US CMA online classes and US CMA recorded lectures can help you fit preparation around your work schedule. IMA’s regional guidance suggests approximately 150–170 study hours per part as a planning reference. Your actual requirement may be higher. Allow time for learning, question practice and revision, and use mock results to assess your readiness.

To maintain active CMA status, keep your IMA membership current, pay the applicable annual maintenance charges and follow IMA’s ethical standards. You must also meet the annual continuing professional education requirement of 30 hours, including at least two hours in ethics. Follow IMA’s reporting rules and retain evidence of completed learning activities.

US CMA is relevant to management accounting, financial analysis, budgeting, cost management and corporate finance roles. With suitable experience, professionals may progress into finance management and controller positions. Your opportunities depend on your qualification stage, practical skills and experience. Overseas employment also depends on the employer’s requirements and your eligibility to work in that country.

US CMA career overview lists the following annual salary ranges for different roles:

These figures cover different career stages and should not be treated as guaranteed fresher salaries. Actual offers depend on your experience, practical skills, location, employer and responsibilities. Senior leadership positions require substantial relevant experience.

Our US CMA classes cover both exam parts through practical explanations, question practice and faculty guidance. Our faculty includes Pavan Sharma, CA, CS, CMA US, and Mohit Rohra, CA, CMA US. Pre-exam evaluations help identify topics that need more attention before students attempt the examination.

Yes. We provide US CMA coaching in India through online batches and face-to-face classes at our Pune centre. You can choose the format that suits your location and routine. Contact our admissions team for the available batches and class timings.

Yes. Our US CMA recorded lectures are included in the listed Live + Recorded and Face-to-Face + Recorded learning options. Recordings help you revisit lessons during preparation. Confirm the access period, viewing limits and device requirements for your selected package before enrolling.

Our listed package includes chapter summary videos, a question bank with more than 3,500 questions and solutions, chapter-wise practice, four sectional tests and four mock papers. Students also receive a study planner and access to our Telegram doubt-solving group. Ask which case-based practice resources are included for your target exam window.

For the latest US CMA coaching fees, package inclusions and enrolment details, check out our US CMA course product page.

Yes. Our offering includes placement support and a 150-hour corporate grooming programme covering areas such as communication, presentation skills, professional etiquette and teamwork. These services support career preparation. Recruitment decisions and salary offers remain with employers; placement assistance does not guarantee a job.

Call +91 9307319507 or submit the enquiry form on this page. Share your preferred learning format, intended exam part and target testing window. Our admissions team can confirm upcoming batch dates, class timings and whether a suitable demo lecture is available before you enrol.