Most candidates take between 6 and 18 months to earn the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) credential, depending on study pace, exam scheduling, and whether they already have the required work experience. The process involves joining the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), passing a two-part exam, and completing two years of qualifying professional experience.
Total Study Time for Both Exam Parts
The CMA exam has two parts, and IMA estimates that Part 1 requires about 170 hours of study, while Part 2 takes roughly 130 hours. That adds up to around 300 total study hours. At a pace of 12 hours per week, which IMA recommends as a minimum, you can prepare for Part 1 in 10 to 13 weeks and Part 2 in 8 to 11 weeks.
If you study consistently at that pace and take the parts back to back, the study phase alone takes roughly five to six months. Many candidates stretch this out longer because of work, family, or other commitments. Studying fewer than 10 hours a week is common, which pushes the timeline closer to 9 to 12 months just for exam preparation.
Exam Scheduling and Score Timelines
The CMA exam is offered year-round at Prometric testing centers, and you can schedule each part when you feel ready. However, score results take time. Exam results are released approximately six weeks after the end of the month in which you tested. So if you sit for Part 1 on March 10, you won’t get your score until mid-May at the earliest.
This waiting period matters for planning. Most candidates prefer to know whether they passed Part 1 before investing study time in Part 2. That six-week score delay, plus the time needed to schedule and prepare for the next part, often adds two to three months between exams that pure study hours alone wouldn’t account for.
The Three-Year Completion Window
Once you enter the CMA program by paying the entrance fee, you have three years to pass both exam parts. If you don’t finish within that window, any part you’ve already passed expires, and you’ll need to repay the entrance fee and start over. For most candidates studying at a reasonable pace, three years provides plenty of room. But if you fail a part and need to retake it, the clock keeps running, so it’s worth building a study plan early.
Work Experience Requirement
Beyond the exam, you need two continuous years of professional experience in management accounting or financial management to earn the certification. Qualifying roles include positions in financial analysis, budgeting, cost management, internal auditing, corporate finance, and similar functions. You don’t need to have this experience before you take the exam. IMA allows you to complete it up to seven years after passing both parts.
This flexibility means you can start the certification process while still early in your career. If you already have two years of qualifying experience when you pass the exam, you can receive your certification almost immediately after your final score posts. If you’re still building that experience, you’ll carry a “passed both parts” status until you meet the requirement.
Realistic Timelines by Situation
Your personal timeline depends largely on your starting point and how aggressively you study.
- Full-time professional, aggressive study schedule (12+ hours per week): You can realistically pass both parts within 6 to 9 months, factoring in score wait times. If you already have the work experience, you could be fully certified within that same window.
- Part-time study (6 to 8 hours per week): Expect the exam phase to take 12 to 18 months. This is probably the most common path for working professionals balancing the CMA with a full-time job.
- Recent graduate or career changer: You may pass both parts within a year but still need to accumulate two years of qualifying work experience afterward. Total time to full certification could be three years or more from when you start.
What Adds Time to the Process
Retakes are the biggest variable. If you fail a part, you need to wait for your score, re-study, and schedule another attempt. Each retake can add three to four months to your timeline. The CMA exam has a pass rate that hovers around 45% to 50% for each part, so retakes are not uncommon.
Administrative steps also add small but real delays. You need an active IMA membership and must pay the CMA entrance fee before you can register for an exam. Processing your experience verification after passing both parts takes additional time. None of these steps are lengthy on their own, but together they can add a few weeks to the end of your journey.
For most candidates, a planning estimate of 12 months from first study session to passing both parts is realistic. Add the experience requirement if you don’t already have it, and you’re looking at one to three years total for the full credential.