anyone know?\n
\nDone!

anyone know?\n
\nThey're two different certifications totally independent from each other.
\nHowever, the CPA certification is much more widely regarded.\n
have you ever heard of the CIMA?\n
\nYes, right now. Google is great! :)\n
\nI think the purposes are different but at the same time because the CPA is so much more widely known that I am not sure it is worth pursuing the CMA initially. Perhaps after obtaining your CPA down the line it would be good plus you get out of the first section if you already have a recognized credential.
\nThe CMA is gaining recognition though.\n
\n@ Potatogun
\nThey just changed the exam (from four parts to two parts).
\nI don't think you can get out of a part if you hold a CPA license anymore.\n
CPA > CMA in terms of prestige.
\nGive it the neigborhood test...go ask your neighbor next time he is mowing the lawn and ask them if they know what a CPA is..."yeah...it's like an accountant" would be the average Joe response.
\nThen ask them about a CMA. "Never heard of that" will be Joe's response.
\nWith that said - adding a CMA to your CPA designation is a VERY good idea career-wise.\n
\nAre you planning on adding it Jeff?\n
\nYes I am actually...sometime this fall maybe??\n
\nDoes getting a CMA require as much studying as the CPA exam?? I really don't want to sacrifice my life again. lol\n
\nCAcpahopeful2010 - With only two exams I don't possible see how it can worse than the CPA exam. By no means do I think it is easy but it is only two exams.\n
\nThat is a great question. I wonder this myself all the time. I would eventually like to get my CMA (If I could manage to pass the CPA). I have heard a couple people say CMA is harder than the CPA, but nobody that I know actually holds both certificates. I looked at a few salary comparisons and the CMA makes more over a lifetime. I also heard that each CMA question is adaptive giving you more and more difficult questions if you get them correct. It something that I haven't had the time to really look into because CPA review runs my life. The good part is they give you the score once you press done. Does anybody know the recommended study hours for the two parts?
\nI don't think there are as many study programs as well.\n
\nIn addition to my last post, does anybody know about a CIA? I think you have two years in Internal Auditing to be eligible for the exam. Has anybody studied for this? I can't imagine the exam being as difficult as a CPA or CMA, but I'm clueless.\n
\nCMA is better known at the industry level.
\nIt's not hard, but I'm too lazy to study for the CIA.\n
\nLee_IN - I have CPA's tell me all time that the exam is easier now that it is broken down into four parts. Who really knows which system is tougher. I guess I would rather go into a 2 part test knowing that they're going to pass the top 40%, etc.
\nA colleague of mine came up freaked out bc of the new CMA exam changes. In my ignorant opinion, does anybody really feel like the difficulty exam doesn't matter. They are looking for the top 40% taking the exam.\n
\nHey Vern - I know of a number of CPA-passers who have passed the CIA - they all said it was pretty easy. Unless they've changed it, the CIA accepts 24 months of public or private experience, can be a mix; there's 4 exams parts, and you can be excused from the last part if you already have a CPA.
\nIt's pretty much all qualitative - haven't seen much in the way of numbers. A lot of questions about hierarchy, who can change policy, who to notify about this/that, how to plan and assess risk, what is the COSO framework and corresponding 5 concepts, etc.
\nWhat I'm not too sure about is the CPE required or accepted for CIAs. It doesn't seem like CIA-related CPEs are accepted for CPA CPEs, don't know if it's okay the other way around.\n
\nThe CPA Exam experience itself was worse and more rigorous under the old way. The actual volume and complexity of material tested in harder now...those old school paper and pencil people are speaking out of ignorance.
\nThey didn't take the exam in the brave new world of IFRS and Sox.\n
\nCMA is harder.
\nthe CPA is by far the easiest for me but everybody is different. The questions might be long but there are no complicated calculations to give you headache.
But the CPA is rank higher. I am a controller in NYC and cannot move up to DIR of finance unless I have the stupid CPA, that is why I am doing this exam.\n
\nyes, CMA is harder
\nIn the last window the pass rate was 32.5% in the world, and 40% over the life.
\nwhile the average pass rate for the cpa is more than 45%, the cia about 50%.\n
I think those pass rates are apples and oranges.
\nCMA first time pass rate: 40% (according to your stat)
\nCPA first time pass rate: 25%
\nPlus, the CMA covers only a small scope of the CPA Exam - basically a harder version of BEC.
\nThe CMA would be a great addition to any resume and I think it's better than getting an MBA after you get your CPA designation.
\nMy friend is a CPA, CMA, CIA and he ranks them in that order in terms of difficulty - and he passed all of them on his first try.\n
\nI have a CMA and I am going for the CPA. The are both very hard exams to pass. And I agree with the prior comments to obtain both certifications if you can. They are compliments to each other. No doubt the CPA is more established mostly due to the state licensure requirement. The CMA is gaining noteriety mostly over seas.
\nOne can think of a CPA as a refree in a ball game while the CMA would be more like a player on one of the teams. CPA candidates are generally trained to attest and audit company financials from the outside while a CMA candidate is trained to be a managerial accountant. In other words you are working to improve the business model. possibly a CFO in training not that a CPA couldnt do that as well.
\nBottom line is their both hard as heck, you need to put several 100 hours of study into both.\n
\nFor me the CPA is much harder and it isn't even close. I passed the CMA when it was four parts back in 2006. I used Gleim study guides for each section and crammed the weekend before each test. That was all the studying I did and passed each part. For comparison purposes, the Gleim books for the CMA review were around 250 pages per section. The Gleim books I am using for the CPA are around 1,000 pages per section. So far I took REG and tried to use the same study habits as I did on the CMA. This resulted in a 69. I then went on to FAR and spent around 100 hours studying and just took the test this past Thursday. I feel good about the exam I just took, but honestly have no idea what the score will be. I know this though, I spent probably 90 hours more studying for one part of the CPA exam than I did for all of the CMA. That being said, everyone is different though. Also, I work in the corporate enviornment and I still feel like the CPA is the exam that holds the most prestige in the accounting proffesion. I really don't even think it's close.\n
\nanyone know?
They're two different certifications totally independent from each other.
However, the CPA certification is much more widely regarded.
have you ever heard of the CIMA?
Yes, right now. Google is great! :)
I think the purposes are different but at the same time because the CPA is so much more widely known that I am not sure it is worth pursuing the CMA initially. Perhaps after obtaining your CPA down the line it would be good plus you get out of the first section if you already have a recognized credential.
The CMA is gaining recognition though.
@ Potatogun
They just changed the exam (from four parts to two parts).
I don't think you can get out of a part if you hold a CPA license anymore.
CPA > CMA in terms of prestige.
Give it the neigborhood test...go ask your neighbor next time he is mowing the lawn and ask them if they know what a CPA is..."yeah...it's like an accountant" would be the average Joe response.
Then ask them about a CMA. "Never heard of that" will be Joe's response.
With that said - adding a CMA to your CPA designation is a VERY good idea career-wise.
Are you planning on adding it Jeff?
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