CMA Exam essentials
Know the dates, fees, and preparation steps for CMA. Start studying with free practice questions, guides, and PDFs.
The essentials
Exam dates & results
| Exam | Testing windows | Results |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1 and Part 2 | 2027 planning: January-February, May-June, and September-October | IMA’s published estimate is about six weeks after the testing month ends. January 2027 therefore points to around mid-March, and February to around mid-April. These are estimates, not announced release dates; confirm the timing in your CBQ sitting’s IMA notice. |
Application and exam fees*
| Fee and where to pay | Amount (USD) |
|---|---|
| Program entrance: professional / student or academicPay IMA in your account when enrolling in the CMA program; membership is separate. | US$300 / US$225 |
| Each part: professional / student or academicPay IMA for the correct part and format. English CBQ purchases currently allow eight months from purchase to sit; book Prometric separately. | US$545 / US$407 |
Your next study session
Free CMA Practice & PDFs
Build separate plans for both parts
Set a study budget based on your accounting background, then reserve time for both MCQs and the scenario format used in your sitting. For example, 12 weeks at 12 hours per week gives 144 hours for one part. This is an illustrative plan, not a measured average.
Create a free accountAll 2 PDFs, in one email
40 multiple-choice questions with answers and explanations. Get all 2 PDFs in one email.
Registration, booking & results help
Open the step you need.
How to apply and payJoin IMA, enroll in CMA, then register and pay for an exam part.
Before you apply
IMA membership, education, relevant professional experience, and passing both exam parts are separate requirements. Confirm your documentation and completion deadlines with IMA.
Pay membership, program entrance, and exam registration through IMA. Membership and program entrance alone do not register you for an exam part.
Join IMA and enroll in the CMA program
Sign in or create an IMA account, select the appropriate membership category, and pay the membership and CMA entrance fees.
Purchase the part and check your eligibility period
Current English CBQ purchases allow eight months from the invoice date to sit. Save the authorization and its actual eligibility dates, then book a Prometric appointment within them. The separate three-year deadline for passing both parts still applies.
IMA English CBQ purchase terms
If the authorization number has not arrived or your membership price is wrong, contact IMA using the assistance linked from its registration guide before attempting a new purchase. IMA registration and scheduling instructions.
How to book your examUse IMA’s exam authorization number to book with Prometric.
For 2027, plan around January-February, May-June, or September-October using IMA’s annual pattern. Check that your authorization covers the exact sitting. An October 2026 purchase does not automatically cover September 2027. Seats vary by center and day.
Use the ICMA program on Prometric
Choose Schedule and enter the exam authorization details from IMA. Search centers and dates inside your authorized window.
Confirm and save your appointment
IMA requires scheduling at least 72 hours before the exam and recommends at least four weeks ahead. Finish the reservation and verify the part, language, location, and time.
If your preferred center is full, check other centers or dates within your window. Use Prometric for appointment assistance and IMA for authorization problems. Mainland China’s Chinese-language route uses the separate page in Official websites & sources below. Open Prometric’s ICMA scheduler.
Where to find your resultsCheck your IMA profile and the email attached to your registration.
IMA’s published estimate is about six weeks after the testing month ends. January 2027 therefore points to around mid-March, and February to around mid-April. These are estimates, not announced release dates; confirm the timing in your CBQ sitting’s IMA notice.
Check the email attached to your IMA account
Look for the result notification after the expected release period, including in your spam folder.
Open your IMA certification record
Use Sign In on IMA’s website with the account used to register, then open your profile and CMA certification record to see the posted result.
If the result is missing after the expected release period, contact IMA/ICMA with your member number, exam part, and test date. Prometric’s appointment confirmation is not your score report. IMA registration and scheduling instructions.
Keep preparing with our study guides
Start with a guide, or narrow the list to the material you need.
14 resources to explore
Eligibility, dates, and exam day
Study planning and retakes
Compare exam programs
Official websites & sources
These steps cover the computer-based CMA exam administered by ICMA, IMA’s certification division. Chinese-language testing in mainland China and Japanese-language testing have separate schedules; confirm the local route.
- IMA / ICMA
- The Institute of Management Accountants handles membership, CMA enrollment, and exam payment. ICMA authorizes your exam and releases results.
Open IMA’s CMA enrollment page - Prometric
- Reserves test-center appointments using the authorization number issued after exam registration.
Open Prometric’s ICMA scheduler
- IMA registration and scheduling instructions
- IMA results timing
- IMA program enrollment and current fees
- IMA CMA candidate handbook
- IMA Japan Chapter: January 2027 CBQ announcement
- Mainland China: Chinese-language CMA scheduling
Application, booking, and result instructions checked .
Notes
- * Application and exam fees: Use current USD fees as a 2027 budget baseline, not a guaranteed 2027 price: $300 entrance and $545 per part for professional members; $225 entrance and $407 per part for student or academic members. Membership and other costs are separate. Confirm the applicable checkout price. ↩ Return to content