You need two continuous years of professional experience in management accounting or financial management. The experience can be earned before or within seven years after passing the CMA exam, so it doesn’t have to be locked in before you start studying. Part-time work counts too: 20+ hours per week of part-time work over two years equals one year of full-time experience. Qualifying experience includes financial analysis, budget preparation, cost analysis, internal auditing, financial planning, investment decisions, and risk management. Once you’ve completed the work, you submit an Experience Verification Form to the IMA, signed by a supervisor or HR representative. Don’t worry about having a perfect title — what matters is the substance of what you actually did in the role.
