[Anonymous]

Hey everyone,

Now that I have my CPA license, I’m thinking about going for my CMA license. The IMA’s work experience requirement is “two continuous years of professional experience.” For my CPA license, I needed 1600 hours of qualifying experience. I’ve been in public accounting (auditing) for about 1.5 years, but only a certain amount of that time went towards my CPA license because things like admin time, training, and other non-chargeable time didn’t count as experience. Would the time that didn’t count towards the CPA license count towards the “two continuous years of professional experience” that’s required for the CMA license?

[CPA soon]

I thought the CMA required 5 years of experience in a managerial role?

FAR - 71, 68, 74, (8/31/14) 78 ✔
REG - 67, 71, 71, (10/18/14) 78 ✔
BEC - (11/29/14) 86 ✔
AUD - 73, (4/4/15) 86 ✔

I can't believe this is over! 2 years and 3 months..

[CPA soon]

I thought the CMA required 5 years of experience in a managerial role?

FAR - 71, 68, 74, (8/31/14) 78 ✔
REG - 67, 71, 71, (10/18/14) 78 ✔
BEC - (11/29/14) 86 ✔
AUD - 73, (4/4/15) 86 ✔

I can't believe this is over! 2 years and 3 months..

[Anonymous]

Here is the description of the CMA Experience Requirements per the form that candidates must complete:

Candidates for the CMA must complete two continuous years of professional experience in management accounting or financial management. This requirement may be completed prior to or within seven years of passing the CMA Examination. Professional experience is expected to be gained in full-time employment. However, continuous part-time positions of 20 hours per week meeting the definition of qualified experience will count toward this requirement at a rate of one year of experience for every two years of part-time employment.

Qualifying experience is obtained in positions that require regularly made judgments employing the principles of management accounting and financial management. For example, such employment includes financial analysis; budget preparation; management information systems analysis; management accounting and auditing in government, finance, or industry; management consulting; auditing in public accounting; and full-time college level teaching.

It looks like candidates complete the form, and somebody at the IMA will contact the employer to make sure everything on the form is correct. I think the IMA is more concerned about employment dates than the number of hours in determining if somebody has met the experience requirement. Does anybody have any insight into the CMA work experience requirement process?

[Anonymous]

Here is the description of the CMA Experience Requirements per the form that candidates must complete:

Candidates for the CMA must complete two continuous years of professional experience in management accounting or financial management. This requirement may be completed prior to or within seven years of passing the CMA Examination. Professional experience is expected to be gained in full-time employment. However, continuous part-time positions of 20 hours per week meeting the definition of qualified experience will count toward this requirement at a rate of one year of experience for every two years of part-time employment.

Qualifying experience is obtained in positions that require regularly made judgments employing the principles of management accounting and financial management. For example, such employment includes financial analysis; budget preparation; management information systems analysis; management accounting and auditing in government, finance, or industry; management consulting; auditing in public accounting; and full-time college level teaching.

It looks like candidates complete the form, and somebody at the IMA will contact the employer to make sure everything on the form is correct. I think the IMA is more concerned about employment dates than the number of hours in determining if somebody has met the experience requirement. Does anybody have any insight into the CMA work experience requirement process?

[mmp7183]

CMA looks at the length of full-time employment, instead of the hours. If you already have at least 2 years work experience (that covers any of the areas listed on the requirement), then you should be good. You will just send a signed form to IMA (you can do by email). They will review and update your candidate portal in like 2-3 business days. I doubt if they call the employers. When I submitted my work experience, it listed more than 7 years combined experiencebut they were all earned outside of the US, so I don't think they called my then-employers (only 3 months of that at the time was earned here in the US) . The CMA is more “ethics-driven”, so it's mostly up to the candidates to be honest and ethical in their reporting. Also, you can now sit for the CMA exam even without the 2 yrs experience, but they will not grant you the designation after you pass the two parts unless you have earned the required exp.

Oh-Hey-Yoh Candidate

FAR - 89 Dec 2013 (CPAExcel)
AUD - 89 Feb 2014 (CPAExcel)
BEC - 83 Aug 2014 (Becker)
REG - 85 Oct 2014 (Becker)

CMA (Aug 2011), CFSA (Dec 2008), Philippine CPA (Nov 2004)

[mmp7183]

CMA looks at the length of full-time employment, instead of the hours. If you already have at least 2 years work experience (that covers any of the areas listed on the requirement), then you should be good. You will just send a signed form to IMA (you can do by email). They will review and update your candidate portal in like 2-3 business days. I doubt if they call the employers. When I submitted my work experience, it listed more than 7 years combined experiencebut they were all earned outside of the US, so I don't think they called my then-employers (only 3 months of that at the time was earned here in the US) . The CMA is more “ethics-driven”, so it's mostly up to the candidates to be honest and ethical in their reporting. Also, you can now sit for the CMA exam even without the 2 yrs experience, but they will not grant you the designation after you pass the two parts unless you have earned the required exp.

Oh-Hey-Yoh Candidate

FAR - 89 Dec 2013 (CPAExcel)
AUD - 89 Feb 2014 (CPAExcel)
BEC - 83 Aug 2014 (Becker)
REG - 85 Oct 2014 (Becker)

CMA (Aug 2011), CFSA (Dec 2008), Philippine CPA (Nov 2004)

[Author]

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