You’re considered a CMA candidate once you’ve enrolled in the CMA program — meaning you’ve joined the IMA, paid the entrance fee, and are working toward passing the two-part exam. You remain a candidate until you’ve passed both parts, met the education and experience requirements, and been formally awarded the CMA designation. As a candidate, you have access to certain IMA resources, you can register for the exam, and you can list “CMA Candidate” on your LinkedIn profile and resume (which is actually a good idea — recruiters notice it). You cannot, however, use the CMA designation after your name until you’ve fully certified.
