Which is a higher rank, CMA or CPA? - Page 2

  • Creator
    Topic
  • #158158
    financeguy
    Participant

    anyone know?

    AUD - 81, BEC - 74, 80, FAR - 82, REG - 81
    Done!

Viewing 15 replies - 16 through 30 (of 34 total)
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    Replies
  • #408008
    jeff
    Keymaster

    The 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.

    They didn't take the exam in the brave new world of IFRS and Sox.

    AUD - 79
    BEC - 80
    FAR - 76
    REG - 92
    Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
    NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71
    #408009
    NYMadMan
    Participant

    CMA is harder.

    the 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.

    ACCA (London - CPA)
    CMA

    BEC(4/17)-90, REG(5/28)-88, AUD (7/11)-83, FAR (8/31)- 90

    #408010
    aliialmasri
    Participant

    yes, CMA is harder

    In the last window the pass rate was 32.5% in the world, and 40% over the life.

    while the average pass rate for the cpa is more than 45%, the cia about 50%.

    #408011
    jeff
    Keymaster

    I think those pass rates are apples and oranges.

    CMA first time pass rate: 40% (according to your stat)

    CPA first time pass rate: 25%

    Plus, the CMA covers only a small scope of the CPA Exam – basically a harder version of BEC.

    The 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.

    My 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.

    AUD - 79
    BEC - 80
    FAR - 76
    REG - 92
    Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
    NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71
    #408012
    Ahmad
    Participant

    I 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.

    One 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.

    Bottom line is their both hard as heck, you need to put several 100 hours of study into both.

    #408013
    kmfellows
    Participant

    For 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.

    #408014
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I'm a CMA, and spent 15 years in finance in various Controllership roles. I moved into an auditing role a year ago, so am now sitting for CPA certification. The CMA is far more relevant to running a business and making daily operational decisions than the CPA certification. It's widely recognized and held in high regard internationally, but as many point out the CPA certification is considered prime in the USA. The IMA needs to do a much better job marketing the CMA certification and educating the business community on its merits.

    Which is harder? They're similar in difficulty and length, but test different topics and skillsets. If I had to do it over again, I would sit for the CPA certification first, only for the recognition, though it pains me to recommend that. If you want to work in industry, the knowledge required to pass the CMA certification is far more relevant and useful. However, the recognition of the CPA certification will make a difference in today's job market.

    #408015
    jeff
    Keymaster

    Welcome Chattyj!

    AUD - 79
    BEC - 80
    FAR - 76
    REG - 92
    Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
    NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71
    #408016

    so who makes the a good study program for the CMA exam?

    FAR 90
    BEC 87
    REG 82
    AUD 2/14/13

    #408017
    Sandra
    Member

    Gleim and hock both make one. I only recommend Gleim if youve done you're CPA and didn't struggle too badly with BEC. Neither review program is great but hock does a better job.

    If you look around a while you can find them used. We're not allowed to sell stuff through this page but some of the other forums allow it. You might be able to save yourself a bunch of money.

    #408018
    MCCCG
    Member

    I took all three exams and passed (CPA, CMA,and CIA) after getting my Bachelors in Accounting while finishing my MBA at night school and working jobs in internal audit from 1987 to 1993. The MBA coursework seemed to help with the CMA exam, The CMA seemed to take me longer to finish. The CPA was easiest to prepare for because of all the review courses. I don't remember struggling at all with the CIA exam because I worked in Internal Auditing at the time I sat for the CIA exam. In the 20 years since I got all three designations I've never been required to have any of them for any of my jobs. The CPA is by far the most recognizable. The CPA designation will let you volunteer to be Treasurer of most volunteer organizations and be on all sorts of Boards. Get all of the exams and degrees done in your twenties. Once you get married and have kids enjoy all those experiences like coaching kids and being involved in scouting and volunteering for organizations. Luckily my advanced degree and professional designations have allowed me the luxury of choosing who I work for allowing me to choose a job that allows me to do other things I like to do.

    #408019
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Jeff I am counting on you for some ninja notes for the cma sometime in the near future!!!

    #408020
    msgolds
    Participant

    I don't think you should think of them in terms of rank. Any given certification has value depending on what you want to accomplish with it. If you work in public accounting, internal / external audit, tax practice, consulting, or at a financial reporting level in an entity, a CPA is an extremely useful credential to have. If you are a Project or Line Manager in a firm or in a financial analyst type position, a CMA has a lot of value.

    BEC - 90 PASSED
    FAR - 84 PASSED
    AUD - 93 PASSED
    REG - 84 PASSED

    I DID IT!!!!

    Using Becker Self-Study

    "If we were put here to carry a great weight, then the very things we hate are here to build those muscles."

    #408021
    Industry84
    Member

    “CAcpahopeful2010 – 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.”

    And the bar and MCAT exams are only one test, so the CPA must be 4 times harder than those. 🙂

    #408022
    nbad311
    Member

    looking at that exam content, it looks like BEC on ‘roids

    REG - 65, 70, 80!
    BEC - 35, 62, 79!
    AUD - 73, 75!
    FAR - 65, 73, 70, 75! DONE.

Viewing 15 replies - 16 through 30 (of 34 total)
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