The Certified Management Accountant Exam

For students who plan to apply their critical accounting and financial skills to commerce and industry early in their careers, pursuing a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designation may be a good option.

To become a CMA, you must:

• pass the CMA exams;
• have two years of work in an accounting or finance role; and
• hold a 120-credit-hour bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

Students who major or minor in Accounting at Champlain College will get the preparation they need to sit for the CMA exams, which can be passed while still in school.

The exam is in two parts, which focus the student's attention on advanced accounting and financial management skills pertinent to today's workplace.Part 1 addresses the student's preparation in Financial Planning, Performance, and Control.Part 2 covers skills related to financial decision making.

By preparing for and achieving the CMA designation, you will:

• join an elite group of operations-focused strategists and decision makers skilled in evaluation, critical thinking, and judgment;
• confirm your broad business competency;
• better position yourself for career advancement and greater earning power; and
• demonstrate commitment to professional development and professional ethical standards.

Membership in the Institute of Management Accountants

The Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) has a number of competitive scholarships that allow students to study for and take the exam at no cost. Student memberships in the IMA are a low-cost way for students to keep abreast of changes to the exams and the certification process. 

Champlain College currently has faculty members with the CMA designation who are eager to help students plan out their course selection in order to prepare for these exams.