CMA Course Details: Duration, Fees, Eligibility and More

CMA Course Details: Duration, Fees, Eligibility and More

Thu Apr 10 2025

Do you have an interest in commerce and management? Are you looking for highly professional courses in management and accounts? Are you passionate about becoming a certified Management Accountant? Are you looking for job profiles like Internal Auditor, Cost Accountant, Finance Manager, Assistant Finance Manager, or Chief Financial Officer? Are you confused about what you should do after the 10th or 12th? If so many questions are there in your mind then this platform is perfect for you to find the answers to these questions. Here the CollegeHai team is going to tell you about CMA course details. So, let’s begin with the meaning of CMA.

Table of Content

🎓What Is a CMA Course? 

CMA (known as Certified Management Accountant) is a certificate course. It is a professional qualification that emphasizes accounting and financial management. 

The amazing thing about CMA is that it is internationally recognized and gives good opportunities for career prospects. You can pursue a CMA from any of the two well-recognized institutions of India, i.e., The Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI) and The Institute of Management Accountants (IMA). 

This course provides you with the experience to meet the demands of the fast-growing business world. Now you must be thinking about the eligibility criteria. How much is the CMA course fees? What is the duration of the course ‘Certified Management Accountant’? We will discuss everything one by one. 

⏳CMA Course Duration

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CMA course duration depends on the levels of the course. The CMA course is categorised into different levels, i.e., foundation, intermediate, and final. If you want to pursue all the levels, it usually takes 3 years. If you are getting enrolled after graduation then the duration of the foundation course will be 2 years. Here detail of every level is given below in the following table:

Level

Level name

Description

Level 1

CMA Foundation

It is an Entry-Level Programme for non-graduate students

Level 2

CMA Intermediate

The Intermediate Course is followed by the Final Course. Those who are graduates can directly apply for the intermediate course.

Level 3

CMA Final

Every subject has a percentage weight assigned to it.  This is meant to give students better direction regarding the distribution of coverage of various subjects.  Additionally, this will help the examination system assess students’ knowledge of various subjects in a logical way.

✅CMA Course Eligibility

Are you planning to start your career in management and cost accounting? Are you planning to pursue CMA (Certified Management Accountant)? Are you thinking whether you are eligible for the CMA course or not? Don’t worry. We are going to let you know about the eligibility criteria for getting admission in the CMA course. Details of CMA course qualification and experience is given in this section.

This course is open to all accounting students and finance professionals. Furthermore, the CMA course is also for those who are looking to advance their careers in management accounting. So, let’s have a look at the CMA course qualifications for different levels.

🎓CMA Foundation Qualifications

  • Passed high school or Intermediate.

  • Passed the National Diploma in Commerce Examination recognized by AICTE or any other board.

👩🏻‍🎓CMA  Intermediate Qualifications

  • Passed the CMA foundation course or entry-level course from the Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI) or its equivalent.

  • Any stream of graduation (Except fine arts)

👨‍🎓CMA Final Qualifications

  • Passed all the papers of both groups (Group I and Group II) of the intermediate level of CMA.

✍CMA Exam Pattern

Every year exam applications are released in April for the exams in June and October for the exams in December. Here you can see the CMA course details in the following table: mode of exam, question type, marks, no. of groups, etc.

Exam pattern

CMA Foundation

CMA Intermediate 

CMA Final

Mode

Offline

Offline

Offline

Questions 

Objective questions

Subjective questions

Subjective questions

Total marks

100 (Each paper)

100 (Each subject)

100 (Each subject)

Duration

2 Hours

3 Hours

3 Hours

Groups

No group

Two groups

Two groups

Subjects/papers

4

8 (4 in each group)

8 (4 in each group)

💸CMA Examination Fees

The Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI) conducts the CMA exams twice in a year (June and December). You have to apply before the exam application deadline if you want to sit in any examination, i.e., foundation, intermediate, and final. For this, you have to pay an examination fee to the institute. The fee amount varies for national and international students. If you cannot pay the fee in a single time then you can pay the fee in two installments. Here you can have a look at the CMA course fee in the following table. 

CMA Levels

Fee (Foreign)

Fee (Inland)

Foundation

60 USD

1200 INR

Intermediate

90 USD

1200 INR (for single group) &

2400 INR (for both groups) 

Final

100 USD

1400 INR (for single group) &

4800 INR (for both groups)

*Note: The data mentioned above is subject to change. We suggest you see the prospectus for more updated information. Prospectus link: https://icmai.co.in/upload/Students/Syllabus2022/CMA_Prospectus_Syllabus_2022.pdf.

📝CMA Course Syllabus

Basically, the CMA course covers various subjects, including cost accounting, financial analysis, strategic planning, performance evaluation, business analysis, and decision-making. CMA course syllabus is divided according to the levels of the course. 

Now let’s see the syllabus of CMA full course (Foundation, Intermediate, and final) in detail.

📈CMA Syllabus: Foundation Level

– All the papers of CMA Foundation level are given below:

Paper no.

Paper Name

Paper 1

Fundamentals Of Business Laws and Business Communication (FBLC)

Paper 2

Fundamentals of Financial and Cost Accounting (FFCA)

Paper 3

Fundamentals of Business Mathematics and Statistics (FBMS)

Paper 4

Fundamentals of Business Economics and Management (FBEM)

🚀CMA Syllabus: Intermediate Level

– There are 2 groups in the CMA Intermediate level, i.e., Group I and Group II. All the papers of the CMA Intermediate level are given below:

Group I

Paper no.

Paper Name

Paper 5

Business Laws & Ethics (BLE)

Paper 6

Financial Accounting (FA)

Paper 7

Direct and Indirect Taxation (DITX)

Paper 8

Cost Accounting (CA)

Group II

Paper no.

Paper Name

Paper 9

Operations Management and Strategic Management (OMSM)

Paper 10

Corporate Accounting and Auditing (CAA)

Paper 11

Financial Management and Business Data Analytics (FMDA)

Paper 12

Management Accounting (MA)

🔰CMA Syllabus: Final Level

– There are 2 groups in the CMA Intermediate level, i.e., Group I and Group II. All the papers of CMA Intermediate level are given below:

Group III

Paper no.

Paper Name

Paper 13

Corporate and Economic Laws (CEL)

Paper 14

Strategic Financial Management (SFM)

Paper 15

Direct Tax Laws and International Taxation (DIT)

Paper 16

Strategic Cost Management (SCM)

Group IV

Paper no.

Paper Name

Paper 17

Cost and Management Audit (CMAD)

Paper 18

Corporate Financial Reporting (CFR)

Paper 19

Income Tax Laws and Practice (ITLP)

Paper 20

Elective: You have to choose one of the following:

  • Strategic Performance Management & Business Valuation (SPMBV)

  • Risk Management in Banking and Insurance (RMBI)

  • Entrepreneurship and Start-Up (ENTS)

🎯CMA Course Job Opportunities

Whenever a person plans to pursue a course, some questions come into their mind like “What are the job opportunities after the course”, or “What are the benefits of the course?” Generally, people want to pursue a course either to get a good job or to get a promotion so that they can increase their financial status. CMA is a good course to pursue in the 21st century. It is most in demand. It opens great job opportunities for you. 

Here we will discuss the career prospects and potential returns after pursuing the CMA course. This course leads to the roles in areas, such as planning, analysis, control, and decision-making. Have a look at the following job profiles that you can apply for after completing the CMA program.

Job Profile

Description

Internal Auditor

An internal auditor looks at the financial records and operational procedures of the business to verify accuracy, compliance, and risk management.

Cost Accountant

A cost accountant helps businesses make informed decisions about pricing and efficiency by analyzing production costs.

Finance Manager

A finance manager oversees a company’s financial health, such as budgeting, forecasting, and investment decisions.

Assistant Finance Manager

An assistant finance manager assists the finance manager in completing financial tasks and assists with daily financial operations.

Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

The CFO is the top financial executive, responsible for the overall financial strategy and well-being of the business.

💡Conclusion

In the end, it is concluded that the CMA course is good for those who want to make a career in financial management and for those who want to upgrade their profile in financial management. It is recognized internationally. Additionally, you can get a job in finance at an early age compared to CA and a Ph.D. in financial management. Hope you got all CMA course details, including CMA course job opportunitiesfees, qualifications, etc. through the CollegeHai platform.

📌Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)

1. What is the total cost of CMA?

The total cost of CMA depends on the variables like study materials and tutoring. Basically, the entire cost of pursuing the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) course ranges between 50 thousand and 1 Lakh in India.

2. How many years is the CMA course?

If you are pursuing the CMA course in India, you can complete it in 3 years including all the levels, i.e., foundation, intermediate, and final. 

3. Can I complete CMA in 2 years?

Yes, you can complete the CMA in 2 years if you are enrolled directly at an intermediate level. Rest it depends on how much time you are spending on your study. 

4. How much can a CMA earn?

A Certified Management Accountant (CMA) can get a good salary. In India, entry-level CMA can earn ₹6-7 lakhs/year. It increases with the experience.

5. Is CMA easy to pass?

Pursuing CMA is not as easy as pursuing a normal B.A. or B. Com. Effective preparation and dedicated study are important to clear the course. Furthermore, it is a + point for you if you have a good understanding of cost management, financial analysis, and other related areas.

6. Is CMA better than CA?

We cannot say which one is better, CMA or CA. Both the courses are professional. CMA is a good choice for those who have an interest in management accounting, strategic financial management, and cost analysis. Whereas CA is good for those who have an interest in auditing, taxation, and broader accounting principles. Moreover, the duration of CMA is shorter than CA.

7. Is CMA a tough job?

CMA is not too tough if you are interested in studying management accounting, strategic financial management, and cost analysis. But if you want to clear CMA in a single attempt, you have to study a lot to clear all the papers of all groups. 

8. Who is eligible for CMA?

Eligibility of CMA is given below:

  • Highschool or Intermediate; OR

  • Professional experience in financial management; OR

  • Passed in the CMA foundation; OR

  • Bachelor degree. 

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