The total cost includes several pieces: annual IMA membership, the one-time CMA entrance fee, exam registration fees for each of the two parts, and your review course. If you fail and retake a part, that’s an additional fee. The biggest variable is the review course: self-study workbooks are inexpensive, while comprehensive coached programs with one-on-one support cost more. When students ask me to budget, I tell them to think of the CMA as an investment that typically pays back many times over within a year or two of certifying. Current IMA fees are on the IMA website. If cost is a concern, ask your employer about reimbursement — many companies cover the credential fully or partially.
