Is the CMA Certification Worth the Time and Investment?

In turn, they use this information to identify where the company is losing money unnecessarily and how to improve their financial management. China is probably the next favorable place for those with a CMA title. Since the launch of the Chinese version of the CMA exam, the number of candidates and CMA holders has exploded. It also helps that a management accounting qualification doesn’t exist locally, so there are no other alternatives. If you aspire to work in China, the CMA title is a good investment.

If your firm has international offices or works with overseas businesses, this may be a good choice for your career path. Passing the two sections of the CMA Exam just once grants you a lifetime of global career opportunities. As a CMA, you will have had to prove your knowledge in areas such as financial strategy, risk management, analytics, and business and team administration.

Knowing that the CMA value varies by country and industry, how can you know where to get the most value from your certification? The answer could be an integral part of deciding whether or not the CMA certification is right for you. CMA US jobs are available, and the certification is most recognized here. Don’t get me wrong — I fully respect Certified Management Accountants (or else I wouldn’t be running this site). But in reality, the value of the CMA varies in different countries and industries.

The CMA certification opens doors to prestigious roles and organizations worldwide.

Cost

The global recognition of the certification, coupled with its focus on decision-making and analytics, ensures that you are set for long-term success. The CMA equips professionals with is cma worth it skills that go beyond compliance and auditing. CMAs excel in roles requiring performance management, budgeting, and strategic financial planning.

Can I Get a CMA Without Work Experience?

Again, the CMA exam can help them prepare for that change because it really focuses on those types of areas. Therefore, if you aren’t only looking for accounting certifications, big global designations exist. Again, this is why it is so important to know your needs and to do your research based on those needs. Just because it seems like everyone is hyping up a certification doesn’t mean it is best for you. Small and medium-sized companies probably don’t need a professional specialized in management accounting and costing. Many CMA-certified professionals highlight the certification’s impact on their confidence and ability to contribute strategically within their organizations.

Global Senior Leadership Programme Specialisation: Chief Finance Officer

CMAs tend to have a more strategic role, while CPAs are more into taxation, bookkeeping and audit. One of the best ways to see if CMA certification is worth it is to compare its benefits against other popular designations, such as the CPA and CGMA. This level of skill leads to improved networking and professional relationships, which can result in more growth and leadership opportunities. Any professional designation has the potential to level up your credibility in your professional network.

How the CMA Certification Helps Your Career

The exam had a four-part program when she earned her designation in 1996. The professionals we interviewed uniformly stated that they pursued the CMA USA degree to advance their careers. Ben Mulling, CFO of TENTE Casters, Inc., chose the CMA to supplement his CPA certification, thereby filling critical gaps in his professional skills. Lon Searle, CFO of YESCO Franchising LLC, aspired to become a top-tier financial leader by preparing for a promotion to CFO. You will also have to fulfill your work experience prerequisite, which is two consecutive years of management accounting experience. Note, you can earn your work experience as a part-time employee, but you must maintain at least 20 hrs of work per week, and it has to be completed within four years.

This is interesting since those with a CPA tend to have higher average salaries, so it might be worth considering which test is right for you. The continuing education for CPAs is more demanding, but only by ten hours per year, or less than one hour of continuing education per month. Kuchen says he initially took an in-person study class at a local college. “After that, I used a private company’s self-guided software study program, which also helped me a great deal,” he says.

Thankfully, getting your CMA is the difficult part, and maintaining it is rather easy. You only need to stay current on your IMA membership fees and make sure you fulfill your annual requirements. This is a requirement for continued education of 30 hours a year, with at least two hours of continuing education being devoted to ethics.

• If your firm has international offices or works with overseas businesses, this may be a good choice for your career path.
• Glassdoor found that CMA certification allows for a 35% jump in salary over non-certified peers in 2025.
• According to the IMA’s Global Salary Survey, participants from all geographic regions involved in the survey reported significantly higher base salaries and total annual compensation rates.
• You can find management accountants in private or public businesses or within government agencies.
• However, the CMA focuses on depth and strategic thinking, making it equally rigorous for those without a strong background in management accounting.

The CMA curriculum is carefully crafted and regularly updated to equip candidates with in-depth knowledge in areas such as financial analysis, planning, and decision-making. This specialized knowledge can enhance your ability to make strategic financial decisions, which is a valuable asset in today’s complex business environment. In today’s ever-evolving job market, standing out is no longer optional but it’s essential. As someone who has been in the finance field for over a decade, I can confidently say that professional certifications like the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) can make a world of difference. Imagine being equipped with the skills to make strategic decisions that can drive an organisation’s success, that’s the power of CMA. There was a lot of emphasis on “future-proofing” one’s career even before the pandemic.

• That will give them a good overview of the knowledge and cognitive skills that candidates should possess going into the CMA examination.
• They can work in hospitals, physician’s offices, outpatient clinics, surgical centers, urgent care facilities, long-term care facilities, and skilled nursing or rehabilitation facilities.
• The CMA exam is known for its rigor, with pass rates hovering around 45% globally.
• Take the first step toward a rewarding healthcare career with Athena Career Academy.
• But it can go a long way toward helping professionals upskill in a meaningful way — and to shine in the hiring marketplace, today and tomorrow.
• You can’t land a job out of the blue in another country unless you have an amazingly unique skill set or strong network that leads you to that job.
• Medical assistants make a real difference in the lives of their patients, and you will feel that every day when you are on the job.

The CMA exam is known for its rigor, with pass rates hovering around 45% globally. Pursuing CMA certification requires careful planning and a commitment of both time and money. These positions often require a combination of technical accounting skills and the ability to analyze complex financial data, both of which are core focuses of the CMA credential. The prestige of having a CMA title isn’t limited to the U.S. border.