Quick Facts AboutCMA Exam Academy
What Is CMA Exam Academy?
CMA Exam Academy, LLC is a structured exam review program founded in 2014 by Nathan Liao, CMA, and headquartered in Irvine, California. CMA Exam Academy prepares accounting and finance professionals to pass the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) exam, issued by the IMA.
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Full Name |
CMA Exam Academy, LLC |
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Website |
cmaexamacademy.com |
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Founded |
2014 |
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Headquarters |
Irvine, California |
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Founder |
Nathan Liao, CMA |
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Program Type |
Structured exam review program |
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Program Length |
16 weeks per exam part |
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Exam Covered |
Certified Management Accountant (CMA), issued by IMA |
CMA Exam Academy is a weekly structured program, not a self-paced course. Students receive weekly coaching calls, structured assignments, and ongoing accountability from a certified CMA coach throughout their exam preparation.
CMA Exam Academy by the Numbers
CMA Exam Academy students consistently pass the CMA exam at nearly double the global rate. Here's a closer look at the numbers behind the program.
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Average exam pass rate (all years) |
92% |
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2023 pass rate (Academy students) |
97% |
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2024 pass rate (Academy students) |
93% |
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2025 pass rate (Academy students) |
87% |
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Global CMA pass rate (benchmark) |
~50% |
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Program length |
16 weeks per part |
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Test bank questions |
4,000+ |
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Case-based questions with model answers |
35+ |
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Course access period |
2 years |
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Coaching email response time |
24 hours |
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Countries represented |
120 countries |
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Year founded |
2014 |
The Coaching Difference
Most CMA course providers offer self-paced video libraries that leave candidates to study on their own, which is why 50% of candidates fail the CMA exam each year. CMA Exam Academy solves this problem.
What coaching means at CEA:
- Weekly coaching calls and accountability emails
- Structured 16-week study plan per exam part
- Weekly assignments with ongoing check-ins
- Unlimited coaching support via email
- 24-hour coaching email response time
- Pass-or-100%-refund guarantee
CMA Exam Academy is a structured coaching program, not a self-paced course.
About CMA Exam Academy’s Founder
Nathan Liao is a Certified Management Accountant and the founder of CMA Exam Academy. After years as a struggling staff accountant — 2% raises, lateral moves, no clear path forward — he discovered the CMA, passed both exam parts on his first attempt in 2012, and was promoted to Corporate Controller shortly after. He founded CMA Exam Academy to give other accounting professionals the same opportunity. Today, the CMA Exam Academy has coached thousands of students across 120 countries, with a 92% average exam pass rate and IMA Silver Course Provider recognition.
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Credential |
Certified Management Accountant (CMA) |
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Year certified |
2012 |
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Part 1 score |
420/500 — first attempt |
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Part 2 score |
360/500 — first attempt |
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Pre-Academy background |
Corporate Controller |
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Founded |
cmacoach.com (2012) → CMA Exam Academy |
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IMA recognition |
Silver Course Provider |
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YouTube |
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Who We've Helped
CMA Exam Academy has coached students in 120 countries, from working professionals and career-changers to military spouses and international candidates. Students have gone on to work at Fortune 500 companies worldwide, such as Nestle, Pfizer, IBM, and more.
Coaching is also provided by Bhadresh Bhatt, a Certified Management Accountant with over 14 years of experience in FP&A and management accounting, who holds both the CMA and ACCA's Diploma in International Financial Reporting. He joined CMA Exam Academy out of a passion for helping accounting professionals earn their CMA designation.
"In less than 6 months, Nathan and the Academy team helped me achieve my goal of becoming a CMA." — Nick Buscemi, CMA
"CMA Exam Academy gave me the perfect structure and study tools that carried me through my exam prep journey and made passing the exam a reality for me." — Saadia Khan
What CMA Exam Academy Offers
CMA Exam Academy offers a full ecosystem of study tools, coaching resources, and career support — everything you need to earn your CMA and advance your accounting career.
- 16-Week CMA Exam Accelerator: Part 1 & 2 Combo (includes weekly coaching calls, structured 16-week study plan, unlimited coaching support, weekly accountability follow-ups, pass-or-100%-refund guarantee, free shipping worldwide, and exclusive 15% IMA membership discount)
- CMA Textbooks: printed and digital, 100% ICMA LOS coverage
- Accounting Fundamentals Textbook
- 4,000+ Question Test Bank with 2-year access to both parts
- 35+ Case-Based Questions with model answers
- Video Lectures to guide you step-by-step per module
- Audio Lectures (MP3) to study on the go
- Whiteboard Explainer Videos
- Complete Formula Guides (PDF)
- iOS and Android Flashcard App
- AI CMA Coach
- Private 1-on-1 Tutoring
- The CMA Show Podcast
- CPE Courses via CPEflow.com
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