CMA Vs CPA – Side by Side Comparison
Are you looking for definitive answer to below questions?
- CMA Vs CPA: Which is better
- CMA Vs CPA: exam structure
- CMA Vs CPA: exam difficulty level
- CMA Vs CPA: pass rate
- CMA Vs CPA: exam requirements
If answer is YES than keep reading best CMA Vs CPA – Side by Side Comparison available on internet… We mean it!!! 🙂
CMA Vs CPA – Side by Side Comparison
| CMA (US) | CPA (US) | |
|---|---|---|
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What is Exam Eligibility Criteria? |
Candidates seeking to become a CMA must hold a bachelor’s degree, in any area, from an accredited college or university. Even if you do not have graduation certificates still you can give and pass CMA examination. You will have 7 years to submit graduation certificates after passing CMA examinations. | Eligibility criteria vary from one state board of accountancy to another state board of accountancy. Most of the states require four year of graduation. However there are still some states which accept Indian 3 year Bcom as well.Check our Online CPA Eligibility Tool to determine your eligibility. |
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How Much Experience required?
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No experience is required for giving and passing CMA examination. Once CMA exams are passed, two continuous years of professional experience in financial management and/or management accounting are required within 7 years of passing CMA examination. | No experience is required for giving and passing CPA examination. Once CPA exams are passed then professional experience is required. Length of experience depends upon state board of accountancy. Check our Online CPA Eligibility Tool to determine how much experience is required by each state. |
| Do I need to travel outside of UAE to fulfill experience requirement? | Not required. You can fulfill experience requirement by working in UAE. | Not required. You can fulfill experience requirement by working under CPA. Contact us to fix meeting with qualified CPA for experience letter. |
| How many examinations? | CMA is divided into two examinations: Part 1: Financial Reporting, Planning, Performance, and Control Part 2: Financial Decision Making |
CPA is divided into four examinations: BEC: Business Environment and Concepts AUD: Auditing FAR: Financial Accounting and Reporting REG: Regulation |
| What is exam content? | CMA Exam Content Part 1: External Financial Reporting Decisions 15% Planning, Budgeting, and Forecasting 30% Performance Management 20% Cost Management 20% Internal Controls 15% Part 2: Financial Statement Analysis 25% Corporate Finance 20% Decision Analysis 20% Risk Management 10% Investment Decisions 15% Professional Ethics 10% |
CPA Exam Content
BEC: Business Environment and Concepts AUD: Auditing REG: Regulation REG: Regulation |
| What is Duration and Exam Format? | Each CMA part consists of 100 multiple-choice questions and 2 essay scenarios, and testing lasts 4 hours (3 hours for the multiple-choice questions plus 1 hour for the essays). | Auditing and Attestation (AUD) — 4 Hours (90 questions and seven task-based simulations) Business Environment and Concepts (BEC) — 3 Hours (72 questions and three written communications tasks) Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) — 4 Hours (90 questions and seven task-based simulations) Regulation (REG) — 3 Hours (72 questions and six task-based simulations) |
| How will I give exam? Written or Computer Based | CMA is a Computer Based Examination | CPA is a Computer Based Examination |
| How many times I can give exam in a year? | 3 times | 4 times |
| When can I gave examination? | CMA Exam Testing Windows January and February May and June September and October |
CPA Exam Testing Windows 1st Quarter: January to February 2nd Quarter: April to May 3rd Quarter: July to August 4th Quarter: October to November |
| How long will it take to complete? | Approx. 6 Months | Approx. 1 Year – 1.5 Years |
| What is exam difficulty level? | It depends from one student to another. As a general rule CMA is easier than CPA to pass. | It depends from one student to another. As a general rule CMA is easier than CPA to pass. |
| Which certification is having more worth? | CMA ideal if you looking for professional certification in less time with less burden on your pocket. This certification is good choice for beginners looking for mid-level to high level posts. | CPA is highly recommended certification if you are looking for top position in any company. Best suitable to grab high level jobs. |
| Which certification is having more accounting concentration? | There is syllabus area for financial and management accounting but not extensive as in CPA. | CPA is meant for hard core financial accounting with all GAAP and IFRS. Moreover there is tax and audit as well. |
| Which certification is having more auditing concentration? | There is only 10% – 15% syllabus dedicated to internal control and internal auditing. Surely not recommended if you are looking for long term auditing career | Extensive statutory auditing is there in CPA. Ideal for internal as well external auditing. |
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