CMA Exam Fees: Entrance Fee, Part Fees, and Membership

Current US CMA program fees

IMA’s current CMA enrollment page lists separate charges for membership, CMA program entrance, and exam registration. For US professional members, it lists $295 for IMA membership, a $300 one-time CMA entrance fee, and $545 for each exam part. For student and academic members, it lists a $225 entrance fee, $407 per exam part, and membership at $49 for students or $160 for academics.

The totals in the table add the displayed membership, entrance, and one or two exam registrations for a first-year US example. They do not include taxes, study materials, travel, late changes, retakes, or later membership and certification maintenance. IMA’s checkout may show different currency or regional amounts. Use the current rate shown to your account before paying.

What each CMA fee covers

IMA membership

Active IMA membership is required to enter the CMA program and maintain certification. The enrollment page lists professional, student, and academic membership rates. Eligibility for student or academic status depends on IMA’s membership criteria, so a candidate should not assume a lower rate applies based solely on having taken a class or graduated recently. Use the membership category for which you qualify.

CMA entrance fee

The CMA entrance fee enrolls a candidate in the certification program. It is separate from IMA membership and exam-part registration. IMA’s published enrollment information describes the entrance fee as nonrefundable. The fee does not buy both exam registrations; candidates still register and pay separately for Part 1 and Part 2.

Exam fees

The listed exam fee applies per part. Passing Part 1 does not include Part 2, and a candidate who must retake a part must register for that part again. IMA’s current enrollment page lists $545 per professional exam part and $407 per student or academic member part. Older webpages may show prior rates, so do not combine a current entrance fee with an old exam price.

Worked first-year cost comparisons

A professional candidate who pays current US professional-member amounts and registers for both parts has a base first-year subtotal of $295 membership + $300 entrance + (2 × $545 exam fees) = $1,685. This calculation assumes one attempt for each part and excludes tax and optional costs. If the candidate registers for Part 1 only in the first year, the corresponding subtotal is $295 + $300 + $545 = $1,140.

A qualifying student member registering for both parts has a base subtotal of $49 + $225 + (2 × $407) = $1,088. An academic member using the listed $160 membership rate has a subtotal of $160 + $225 + $814 = $1,199. These examples show the arithmetic from IMA’s published US table; they do not establish that every candidate is eligible for those categories or that the amount applies in another region.

Membership can also have a renewal cost beyond the first year. If a candidate spreads the exams across multiple years, include the membership needed to remain active. Do not assume a single-year total will cover a longer study timeline. Compare the expected membership renewal with the benefit of maintaining access to IMA resources and program eligibility.

A candidate can also estimate the cost of taking only Part 1 in the first year and delaying Part 2. Under the current professional rates, the one-part subtotal is $1,140 before optional costs. The second part adds another $545 when registered, but membership may also renew in the next membership year. Compare this staggered plan with the three-year program completion period so that reducing immediate spending does not create a deadline problem.

For a student member, a one-part first-year subtotal is $49 + $225 + $407 = $681. The second part adds $407 at registration, while membership status and annual renewal depend on the candidate’s circumstances. If student eligibility changes before the second registration, ask IMA how the fee category is determined. A useful estimate should use the category that applies at purchase, not assume today’s rate will automatically remain available.

Membership choice and discounted categories

The student and academic exam rates are lower, but they apply only to the applicable membership categories. A candidate should check the status requirements, renewal terms, and documentation that support their category before choosing it. If a student’s status changes while studying, ask IMA how that affects future exam registrations rather than assuming the first payment determines all later fees.

Promotions can change the entrance fee or membership price for a limited period. The regular fee table remains a useful budget baseline, but apply a promotion only when its terms and dates cover your enrollment. Do not treat an old promotional page as a current price. Record the purchase date and saved confirmation when using a special rate.

Some discounts target students, academics, or a limited enrollment period. Read the terms to see whether the reduced amount applies to the entrance fee, membership, or exam registration, and check the expiration date. A lower entrance fee does not mean that the exam parts or future maintenance are included. Keep the itemized checkout receipt so you can distinguish a promotion from the regular program fee.

Other costs to include

The first-year subtotal is not the full cost for every candidate. Study materials, prep courses, tutoring, or a question bank may be optional costs. Training is not a mandatory contact-hour prerequisite for the CMA exam, unlike some credentials, but candidates may choose structured instruction. Compare the course’s scope, delivery, practice quality, and access term with your needs before buying.

Travel and time away from work vary by testing location. A candidate may need transportation, lodging, parking, or childcare, while another can reach a nearby Prometric center. If a candidate changes an appointment close to the date, the testing vendor’s current rules may produce a charge. A cancellation may affect exam registration differently from a date change, so understand the policy before confirming.

Retakes require a new registration fee for the exam part. IMA’s public pages can differ by update date and may show old amounts for retakes. Use the current program account or latest handbook transaction amount rather than extrapolating from an outdated FAQ. Budget a contingency based on the current registration price if a retake would be difficult to fund unexpectedly.

Certification maintenance after passing

After certification, holders must maintain active IMA membership and pay the CMA annual maintenance fee. The current enrollment page lists the CMA maintenance fee at $30 per year, separate from membership renewal. Continuing professional education requirements also involve time and may carry course or conference costs. Plan for these recurring obligations when comparing the credential’s total cost over several years.

If you already maintain another qualifying credential, some continuing education activity may overlap under the applicable rules, but do not assume all hours or topics automatically count. Maintain records and follow IMA’s current CPE and ethics requirements. Renewal is a separate part of maintaining the designation, not included in the initial entrance fee or exam price.

Build a personal budget

1. Confirm the membership category and current rate shown for your region.
2. Add the CMA entrance fee and the number of exam parts you plan to register for.
3. Plan membership renewal if your timeline extends beyond the paid membership year.
4. Include study materials, course choices, travel, appointment changes, and possible retakes that actually apply.
5. After certification, budget annual membership renewal, the CMA maintenance charge, and qualifying continuing education.
6. Save receipts and compare each transaction with the budget; update estimates when IMA posts a new rate.

A useful budget separates required fees from optional study purchases. Required costs include active membership, program entrance, and registrations for both exam parts. Study tools and travel depend on the candidate. Recurring fees begin after certification or membership renewal. This separation helps candidates avoid mistaking an advertised package for a universal price or paying for optional services they will not use.

Common cost questions

Does the entrance fee include the exams?

No. Each exam part has its own registration fee. The entrance fee enrolls the candidate in the program and is separate from both exam payments.

Can I take one part now and pay for the other later?

Yes. Candidates register for each part separately and may take them in either order. The three-year program clock still applies, so include it in your timing and cost plan.

Are international prices exactly the same as the US table?

Not necessarily. The figures above are the current published US amounts. Currency, regional pricing, taxes, and promotions can affect the transaction shown for another market.

Plan costs with the certification timeline

The most complete estimate includes the program entrance, membership, two first-attempt exam registrations, and the time needed to prepare. If the candidate uses more than one membership year or retakes an exam part, the actual total rises. Once certified, membership and maintenance continue annually. Use the current IMA rate page and transaction details for your candidate category, and keep a record of what each fee pays for.