The IMA offers different membership tiers — professional, academic, and student — and each has its own annual fee. Student membership is significantly discounted compared to professional membership, which is one reason I push undergrads and grad students to join early. Academic membership applies to full-time professors, and there’s also a discounted rate for members in certain emerging-market regions. Your IMA membership has to stay active for the entire time you’re a CMA candidate and for as long as you hold the credential. Current fees are listed on the IMA website. The membership pays for itself fast — you get Strategic Finance Magazine, local chapters, networking events, research, and webinars that count toward CPE.
