[songhee7]

As a licensed CPA with about 1.5 years of audit experience at a small public accounting firm, I’m thinking about studying for CIA exam.

I’m planning to move to a bigger accounting firm soon and maybe becoming an internal auditor at a private sector might be one of my future career choices if I decide to leave public accounting. Plus I’m interested in learning more about internal controls as an external auditor.

Since I don’t know anyone with CIA designation, I wanted to make sure if it will be worth my time and effort to go for CIA (I’m single and working for a small firm so I have plenty of time).

Any thoughts or advice?

[jokami]

I love this thread…. I always said that my goals were; CPA, CIA, CISA, CFE… I live for auditing and I think this combinations is perfect. As soon I am finished with the CPA (which will be this April/May window) I will continue this challenge.

B - 62, 70, 72, 79!!!
A - 68, 81
R - 70, 82
F - 84

"The limit to your abilities is where you place them" - Fortune Cookies

[jelly]

If you have the CPA, I believe you get credit for one of the test sections off the CIA. The exam itself is very qualitative. (I was just too lazy to go through with it, and then keep track of another certification's dues). It's helpful for analyzing companies that have more formal systems in place – think mid and large size places, and very few small places (like $10MM and up or something).

Keep in mind that these certifications – CIA, CISA – like the CPA, are handy only with work experience. I've seen and known people with all of these certifications, on the client and vendor side, get removed from client testing projects b/c they didn't know what they were doing and just pissed everyone off.

Couldn't pass again!

[jelly]

If you have the CPA, I believe you get credit for one of the test sections off the CIA. The exam itself is very qualitative. (I was just too lazy to go through with it, and then keep track of another certification's dues). It's helpful for analyzing companies that have more formal systems in place – think mid and large size places, and very few small places (like $10MM and up or something).

Keep in mind that these certifications – CIA, CISA – like the CPA, are handy only with work experience. I've seen and known people with all of these certifications, on the client and vendor side, get removed from client testing projects b/c they didn't know what they were doing and just pissed everyone off.

Couldn't pass again!

[Mayo]

Jokami, forget the cfe. Look at the CFF if you're interested in fraud examination. The CFE is a joke to get.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Mayo]

Jokami, forget the cfe. Look at the CFF if you're interested in fraud examination. The CFE is a joke to get.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[senbi575]

I used Gliem test bank only for the CIA, CMA & CPA; drill the heck out of questions worked like a charm for me, but you have to figure out what works for you. I know the CIA exam is going to get restructured to a 3-part exam, elminating the 1-part credit (similar to the newly restructured 2-part CMA exam) so you may want to look into that before investing in a review course.

@Jelly, for sure work experience is more valuable than the letters, too bad you need those letters to get an interview though!

[senbi575]

I used Gliem test bank only for the CIA, CMA & CPA; drill the heck out of questions worked like a charm for me, but you have to figure out what works for you. I know the CIA exam is going to get restructured to a 3-part exam, elminating the 1-part credit (similar to the newly restructured 2-part CMA exam) so you may want to look into that before investing in a review course.

@Jelly, for sure work experience is more valuable than the letters, too bad you need those letters to get an interview though!

[songhee7]

Thanks, Senbi575!

It seems like the CIA exam restructuring is effective 2013. I'm not sure if I can finish within 2012 or not but yes I will look into the changes.

Gleim has many different materials, online, audit, books, etc. Book & Test Prep Software Download for each part is the most economic and I wonder if this is going to be good enough to start with.

[songhee7]

Thanks, Senbi575!

It seems like the CIA exam restructuring is effective 2013. I'm not sure if I can finish within 2012 or not but yes I will look into the changes.

Gleim has many different materials, online, audit, books, etc. Book & Test Prep Software Download for each part is the most economic and I wonder if this is going to be good enough to start with.

[Anonymous]

Just throwing it out there I was doing some research on internal auditing and I saw a job that was 80-90k which to me is a lot of money and it was CIA required CPA preferred in addition. So there are good jobs out there that want it. A lot of the Internal auditor jobs seem to prefer it over CPA but will look more highly on you if you also have a CPA license.

[Anonymous]

Just throwing it out there I was doing some research on internal auditing and I saw a job that was 80-90k which to me is a lot of money and it was CIA required CPA preferred in addition. So there are good jobs out there that want it. A lot of the Internal auditor jobs seem to prefer it over CPA but will look more highly on you if you also have a CPA license.

[foreseeableCPA]

I am starting to get interested in taking the CIA exam. Does anyone know which certs after the CPA is most valuable? CIA, CFE, etc?

CPA - Class of 2013
CIA - Class of 2016

[foreseeableCPA]

I am starting to get interested in taking the CIA exam. Does anyone know which certs after the CPA is most valuable? CIA, CFE, etc?

CPA - Class of 2013
CIA - Class of 2016

[fuzyfro89]

From anecdotal experience, a CIA is useful for a career in internal audit. Outside of that, I haven't seen much evidence that it's useful in general to non-internal audit positions.

[fuzyfro89]

From anecdotal experience, a CIA is useful for a career in internal audit. Outside of that, I haven't seen much evidence that it's useful in general to non-internal audit positions.

[Author]

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