{"id":3524,"date":"2025-02-28T17:10:47","date_gmt":"2025-02-28T22:10:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/?p=3524"},"modified":"2026-06-19T09:44:39","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T14:44:39","slug":"cma-exam-cost","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cma-exam-cost\/","title":{"rendered":"How Much Does the CMA Exam Cost?"},"content":{"rendered":" <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&#8217;re thinking about becoming a Certified Management Accountant, you\u2019re probably asking, <em>&#8220;How much is this actually going to cost me?&#8221;<\/em> And that\u2019s a smart question\u2014because the CMA certification is an investment, both in time and money.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The good news? While the CMA exam fees and other costs add up, the long-term financial benefits make it worth it. The tricky part is knowing exactly what you\u2019ll need to pay so you can budget accordingly.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this guide, I&#8217;ll break down every cost\u2014from membership fees and exam registration to CMA review courses and even potential retake costs. Plus, I\u2019ll show you how quickly you can expect to earn back your investment and how your CMA certification can pay dividends over the course of your career.<\/p> <p class=\"custom_key wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list custom_underline\"> <li><strong>Total CMA Costs Vary:<\/strong> Expect to spend between $945 and $3,500+, depending on your IMA membership type, exam attempts, and study materials.<\/li> <li><strong>Student Discounts Save You Money:<\/strong> If you qualify for a student IMA membership, you can save over $500 on exam fees.<\/li> <li><strong>Retakes Cost Extra:<\/strong> If you fail an exam part, you\u2019ll have to pay the full exam fee again\u2014so investing in a CMA review course is a smart move.<\/li> <li><strong>CMA Review Courses Make a Difference:<\/strong> Study materials range from $699 to $2,200, with options for self-paced, AI-powered, and instructor-led programs.<\/li> <li><strong>CMA Pays Off Quickly:<\/strong> CMAs earn 20% more on average than non-certified accountants, meaning most candidates recoup their investment in a year or less.<\/li> <\/ul> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-much-does-the-cma-exam-cost-in-2025\"><strong>How Much Does the CMA Exam Cost in 2025?<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s a quick breakdown of the total cost of the CMA certification:<\/p> <style type=\"text\/css\" id=\"supsystic-table-50_68321-css\">\/* Here you can add custom CSS for the current table *\/ \/* Lean more about CSS: https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cascading_Style_Sheets *\/ \/* To prevent the use of styles to other tables use \"#supsystic-table-50\" as a base selector for example: #supsystic-table-50 { ... } #supsystic-table-50 tbody { ... } #supsystic-table-50 tbody tr { ... } *\/ span.discount { margin-top: 6px; display: inline-block; float: left; font-weight: 400; width: 100%; font-size: 12px; } .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) th a:nth-child(3) { background: #1873cd; border: 1px solid #1873cd; } .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) th a:nth-child(4) { background: #1873cd; border: 1px solid #1873cd; } \/*.supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) th {*\/ \/* padding: 65px 10px 20px;*\/ \/* position: relative;*\/ \/*}*\/ .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) th .editor_block:nth-child(1) { background: #32cd32; color: #fff; font-size: 14px; position: absolute; padding: 10px 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; top: 0px; left: 0; right: 0; } li.coupon_dis { list-style: none; } .dataTables_scrollBody .editor_block { display: none; } .editor_block::after { content: \"\"; position: absolute; left: 0; right: 0; margin: auto; height: 10px; width: 10px; background: #32cd32; top: 35px; transform: rotate(45deg); } .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) a:nth-child(4), .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) a.external { color: #fff; padding: 4px 12px; width: 70%; border-radius: 50px; font-size: 9px; margin-top: 10px; display: inline-block; margin-bottom: 12px; } .supsystic-table thead th img { width: 200px; margin: 0 auto; display: block; } .supsystic-table tbody tr:last-child { height: 80px; } .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) a:nth-child(3), .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) a.external { color: #fff; padding: 4px 12px; width: 70%; border-radius: 50px; font-size: 9px; margin-top: 10px; display: inline-block; margin-bottom: 12px; } table.dataTable.cell-border tbody th, table.dataTable.cell-border tbody td { border-top: 1px solid #ddd; border-right: 1px solid #ddd; } tr:first-child th { background-color: #fff; border: 1px solid #e1e1e1; } th:first-child, td:first-child { font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: left; } .supsystic-table tbody tr td { padding: 12px 10px !important; } td { font-size: 13px; text-align: center; } .supsystic-table tbody tr:first-child td { border-top: 1px solid #dddddd !important; } .dataTables_scrollBody { border: unset !important; } .supsystic-table tbody tr:last-child td { border-bottom: 1px solid #dddddd; } .supsystic-table thead th { border-bottom: unset !important; border-left: unset !important; } .supsystic-table thead tr:first-child th:first-child { border-radius: 12px 0 00; border-left: 1px solid #dddddd !important; } .supsystic-table thead tr th { border: 1px solid #dddddd; } .supsystic-table thead tr:first-child th:last-child { border-radius: 0 12px 0 0; } .supsystic-table thead tr:last-child th:first-child { border-left: 1px solid #dddddd !important; } .supsystic-table tbody tr:last-child td:first-child { border-radius: 0 0 0 12px; } .supsystic-table tbody tr:last-child td:last-child { border-radius: 0 0 12px 0; } <\/style> <div id=\"supsystic-table-50_68321\" class=\"supsystic-tables-wrap \" style=\" width:100%; visibility: hidden; \" data-table-width-fixed=\"100%\" data-table-width-mobile=\"100%\" ><table id=\"supsystic-table-50\" class=\"supsystic-table border lightboxImg cell-border\" data-id=\"50\" data-view-id=\"50_68321\" data-title=\"CMA Exam Cost in 2025\" data-currency-format=\"$1,000.00\" data-percent-format=\"10.00%\" data-date-format=\"DD.MM.YYYY\" data-time-format=\"HH:mm\" data-features=\"[&quot;after_table_loaded_script&quot;]\" data-search-value=\"\" data-lightbox-img=\"\" data-head=\"on\" data-head-rows-count=\"1\" data-pagination-length=\"50,100,All\" data-auto-index=\"off\" data-searching-settings=\"{&quot;columnSearchPosition&quot;:&quot;bottom&quot;,&quot;minChars&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-lang=\"default\" data-override=\"{&quot;emptyTable&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;info&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;infoEmpty&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;infoFiltered&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;lengthMenu&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;search&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;previous&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;next&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;zeroRecords&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;exportLabel&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;file&quot;:&quot;default&quot;}\" data-merged=\"[]\" data-responsive-mode=\"2\" data-from-history=\"0\" ><thead><tr><th data-cell-id=\"A1\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"1\" data-db-index=\"1\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Expense\" data-order=\"Expense\" style=\"min-width:33.3333%; width:33.3333%;\" >Expense <\/th><th data-cell-id=\"B1\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"1\" data-db-index=\"1\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Professional Member \" data-order=\"Professional Member \" style=\"min-width:33.3333%; width:33.3333%;\" >Professional Member <\/th><th data-cell-id=\"C1\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"1\" data-db-index=\"1\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Student\/Academic Member\" data-order=\"Student\/Academic Member\" style=\"min-width:33.3333%; width:33.3333%;\" >Student\/Academic Member <\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr style=\"height:px\" ><td data-cell-id=\"A2\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"2\" data-db-index=\"2\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"IMA Membership Fee (Annual)\" data-order=\"IMA Membership Fee (Annual)\" >IMA Membership Fee (Annual) <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B2\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"2\" data-db-index=\"2\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"$295\" data-order=\"$295\" >$295 <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C2\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"2\" data-db-index=\"2\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"$49 Student \/ $160 Academic\" data-order=\"$49 Student \/ $160 Academic\" >$49 Student \/ $160 Academic <\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"height:px\" ><td data-cell-id=\"A3\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"3\" data-db-index=\"3\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"CMA Entrance Fee (One-Time)\" data-order=\"CMA Entrance Fee (One-Time)\" >CMA Entrance Fee (One-Time) <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B3\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"3\" data-db-index=\"3\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"$300\" data-order=\"$300\" >$300 <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C3\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"3\" data-db-index=\"3\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"$225\" data-order=\"$225\" >$225 <\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"height:px\" ><td data-cell-id=\"A4\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"4\" data-db-index=\"4\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"CMA Exam Fees Per Part (And Total)\" data-order=\"CMA Exam Fees Per Part (And Total)\" >CMA Exam Fees Per Part (And Total) <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B4\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"4\" data-db-index=\"4\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"$495 ($990)\" data-order=\"$495 ($990)\" >$495 ($990) <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C4\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"4\" data-db-index=\"4\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"$370 ($740)\" data-order=\"$370 ($740)\" >$370 ($740) <\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"height:px\" ><td data-cell-id=\"A5\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"5\" data-db-index=\"5\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Overall Total (Not Including Prep Materials)\" data-order=\"Overall Total (Not Including Prep Materials)\" >Overall Total (Not Including Prep Materials) <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B5\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"5\" data-db-index=\"5\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"$1,475\" data-order=\"$1,475\" >$1,475 <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C5\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"5\" data-db-index=\"5\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"$945\" data-order=\"$945\" >$945 <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><!-- \/#supsystic-table-50.supsystic-table --><\/div><!-- \/.supsystic-tables-wrap --><!-- Tables Generator by Supsystic --><!-- Version:1.11.2 --><!-- http:\/\/supsystic.com\/ --><a title=\"WordPress Data Table Plugin\" style=\"display:none;\" href=\"https:\/\/supsystic.com\/plugins\/wordpress-data-table-plugin\/?utm_medium=love_link\" target=\"_blank\">WordPress Data Table Plugin<\/a> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This table covers the bare minimum you\u2019ll need to pay. But let\u2019s break it down further.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-ima-membership-fee\"><strong>IMA Membership Fee<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before you can even register for the CMA exam, you must become a member of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA).<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Professional Membership:<\/strong> $295 per year<\/li> <li><strong>Student Membership:<\/strong> $49 per year (only if you\u2019re a full-time student)<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udca1 <strong>Pro Tip:<\/strong> If you\u2019re eligible for the student membership, take advantage of it! It saves you hundreds of dollars on exam-related fees.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-cma-entrance-fee\"><strong>CMA Entrance Fee<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The CMA entrance fee is a one-time payment that officially enrolls you in the CMA program and gives you access to the CMA Exam Support Package (which includes some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cma-exam-questions-and-pratice-test\/\">free CMA practice questions<\/a>).<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Professional Members:<\/strong> $300<\/li> <li><strong>Student Members:<\/strong> $225<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2705 <strong>You only pay this fee once,<\/strong> even if you need to retake an exam part.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-cma-exam-fees\"><strong>CMA Exam Fees<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The CMA exam has two parts; you must pay for each part separately.<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Professional Members:<\/strong> $495 per part ($990 total)<\/li> <li><strong>Student Members:<\/strong> $370 per part ($740 total)<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udccc <strong>Important:<\/strong> You must register for each exam part separately and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cma-exam-dates\/\">schedule your exam dates<\/a> within your eligibility period (which lasts three years).<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-cma-exam-retake-fees\"><strong>CMA Exam Retake Fees<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you don\u2019t <a href=\"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/pass-the-cma-exam\/\">pass the CMA the first time<\/a> (which happens\u2014these exams are tough), you\u2019ll have to pay the full exam fee again to retake it:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Professional Members:<\/strong> $495 per retake<\/li> <li><strong>Student Members:<\/strong> $370 per retake<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udca1 <strong>Pro Tip:<\/strong> Investing in a good CMA review course can help you avoid retakes and save money in the long run.<\/p> <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/02\/CMA-Exam-Cost-infographic-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3525\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/02\/CMA-Exam-Cost-infographic-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/02\/CMA-Exam-Cost-infographic-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/02\/CMA-Exam-Cost-infographic-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/02\/CMA-Exam-Cost-infographic-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/02\/CMA-Exam-Cost-infographic-280x280.png 280w, https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/02\/CMA-Exam-Cost-infographic.png 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-cma-review-course-costs\"><strong>CMA Review Course Costs<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Studying for the CMA exam without a prep course is like driving cross-country without a GPS\u2014you <em>might<\/em> get there eventually, but it\u2019ll take way longer and be way more frustrating.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most CMA candidates invest in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/best-cma-review-courses\/\">CMA review course<\/a> to boost their chances of passing on the first try. Here\u2019s what you can expect to pay from top CMA prep providers:<\/p> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-comparison-of-cma-review-courses\"><strong>Comparison of CMA Review Courses<\/strong><\/h3> <style type=\"text\/css\" id=\"supsystic-table-51_58175-css\">\/* Here you can add custom CSS for the current table *\/ \/* Lean more about CSS: https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cascading_Style_Sheets *\/ \/* To prevent the use of styles to other tables use \"#supsystic-table-51\" as a base selector for example: #supsystic-table-51 { ... } #supsystic-table-51 tbody { ... } #supsystic-table-51 tbody tr { ... } *\/ span.discount { margin-top: 6px; display: inline-block; float: left; font-weight: 400; width: 100%; font-size: 12px; } .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) th a:nth-child(3) { background: #1873cd; border: 1px solid #1873cd; } .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) th a:nth-child(4) { background: #1873cd; border: 1px solid #1873cd; } \/*.supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) th {*\/ \/* padding: 65px 10px 20px;*\/ \/* position: relative;*\/ \/*}*\/ .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) th .editor_block:nth-child(1) { background: #32cd32; color: #fff; font-size: 14px; position: absolute; padding: 10px 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; top: 0px; left: 0; right: 0; } li.coupon_dis { list-style: none; } .dataTables_scrollBody .editor_block { display: none; } .editor_block::after { content: \"\"; position: absolute; left: 0; right: 0; margin: auto; height: 10px; width: 10px; background: #32cd32; top: 35px; transform: rotate(45deg); } .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) a:nth-child(4), .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) a.external { color: #fff; padding: 4px 12px; width: 70%; border-radius: 50px; font-size: 9px; margin-top: 10px; display: inline-block; margin-bottom: 12px; } .supsystic-table thead th img { width: 200px; margin: 0 auto; display: block; } .supsystic-table tbody tr:last-child { height: 80px; } .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) a:nth-child(3), .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) a.external { color: #fff; padding: 4px 12px; width: 70%; border-radius: 50px; font-size: 9px; margin-top: 10px; display: inline-block; margin-bottom: 12px; } table.dataTable.cell-border tbody th, table.dataTable.cell-border tbody td { border-top: 1px solid #ddd; border-right: 1px solid #ddd; } tr:first-child th { background-color: #fff; border: 1px solid #e1e1e1; } th:first-child, td:first-child { font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: left; } .supsystic-table tbody tr td { padding: 12px 10px !important; } td { font-size: 13px; text-align: center; } .supsystic-table tbody tr:first-child td { border-top: 1px solid #dddddd !important; } .dataTables_scrollBody { border: unset !important; } .supsystic-table tbody tr:last-child td { border-bottom: 1px solid #dddddd; } .supsystic-table thead th { border-bottom: unset !important; border-left: unset !important; } .supsystic-table thead tr:first-child th:first-child { border-radius: 12px 0 00; border-left: 1px solid #dddddd !important; } .supsystic-table thead tr th { border: 1px solid #dddddd; } .supsystic-table thead tr:first-child th:last-child { border-radius: 0 12px 0 0; } .supsystic-table thead tr:last-child th:first-child { border-left: 1px solid #dddddd !important; } .supsystic-table tbody tr:last-child td:first-child { border-radius: 0 0 0 12px; } .supsystic-table tbody tr:last-child td:last-child { border-radius: 0 0 12px 0; } <\/style> <div id=\"supsystic-table-51_58175\" class=\"supsystic-tables-wrap \" style=\" width:100%; visibility: hidden; \" data-table-width-fixed=\"100%\" data-table-width-mobile=\"100%\" ><table id=\"supsystic-table-51\" class=\"supsystic-table border lightboxImg cell-border\" data-id=\"51\" data-view-id=\"51_58175\" data-title=\"Comparison of CMA Review Courses\" data-currency-format=\"$1,000.00\" data-percent-format=\"10.00%\" data-date-format=\"DD.MM.YYYY\" data-time-format=\"HH:mm\" data-features=\"[&quot;after_table_loaded_script&quot;]\" data-search-value=\"\" data-lightbox-img=\"\" data-head=\"on\" data-head-rows-count=\"1\" data-pagination-length=\"50,100,All\" data-auto-index=\"off\" data-searching-settings=\"{&quot;columnSearchPosition&quot;:&quot;bottom&quot;,&quot;minChars&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-lang=\"default\" data-override=\"{&quot;emptyTable&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;info&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;infoEmpty&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;infoFiltered&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;lengthMenu&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;search&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;previous&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;next&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;zeroRecords&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;exportLabel&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;file&quot;:&quot;default&quot;}\" data-merged=\"[]\" data-responsive-mode=\"2\" data-from-history=\"0\" ><thead><tr><th data-cell-id=\"A1\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"1\" data-db-index=\"1\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"CMA Review Course \" data-order=\"CMA Review Course \" style=\"min-width:33.3333%; width:33.3333%;\" >CMA Review Course <\/th><th data-cell-id=\"B1\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"1\" data-db-index=\"1\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Price Range \" data-order=\"Price Range \" style=\"min-width:33.3333%; width:33.3333%;\" >Price Range <\/th><th data-cell-id=\"C1\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"1\" data-db-index=\"1\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Best For\" data-order=\"Best For\" style=\"min-width:33.3333%; width:33.3333%;\" >Best For <\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr style=\"height:px\" ><td data-cell-id=\"A2\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"2\" data-db-index=\"2\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"&lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/prf.hn\/click\/camref:1101l4eyz\/pubref:SB-Becker-CMA\/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.becker.com%2Fcma-review%2Fcourses&quot; target=&quot;_self&quot;&gt;Becker CMA&lt;\/a&gt;\" data-order=\"&lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/prf.hn\/click\/camref:1101l4eyz\/pubref:SB-Becker-CMA\/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.becker.com%2Fcma-review%2Fcourses&quot; target=&quot;_self&quot;&gt;Becker CMA&lt;\/a&gt;\" ><a href=\"https:\/\/prf.hn\/click\/camref:1101l4eyz\/pubref:SB-Becker-CMA\/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.becker.com%2Fcma-review%2Fcourses\" target=\"_self\">Becker CMA<\/a><\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B2\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"2\" data-db-index=\"2\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"$1,599 \u2013 $2,199\" data-order=\"$1,599 \u2013 $2,199\" >$1,599 \u2013 $2,199 <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C2\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"2\" data-db-index=\"2\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Structured lessons &amp; live coaching\" data-order=\"Structured lessons &amp; live coaching\" >Structured lessons & live coaching <\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"height:px\" ><td data-cell-id=\"A3\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"3\" data-db-index=\"3\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"&lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/gleim-publications-inc.sjv.io\/PyX6QY&quot; target=&quot;_self&quot;&gt;Gleim CMA&lt;\/a&gt;\" data-order=\"&lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/gleim-publications-inc.sjv.io\/PyX6QY&quot; target=&quot;_self&quot;&gt;Gleim CMA&lt;\/a&gt;\" ><a href=\"https:\/\/gleim-publications-inc.sjv.io\/PyX6QY\" target=\"_self\">Gleim CMA<\/a><\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B3\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"3\" data-db-index=\"3\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"$999 \u2013 $1,799\" data-order=\"$999 \u2013 $1,799\" >$999 \u2013 $1,799 <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C3\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"3\" data-db-index=\"3\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Self-paced learners &amp; practice-heavy prep\" data-order=\"Self-paced learners &amp; practice-heavy prep\" >Self-paced learners & practice-heavy prep <\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"height:px\" ><td data-cell-id=\"A4\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"4\" data-db-index=\"4\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"&lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.linkconnector.com\/ta.php?lc=076621000012006249&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.surgent.com%2Fexam-review%2Fcma-exam-review%2F&amp;atid=SB-Surgent-CMA&amp;lcpf=0&quot; target=&quot;_self&quot;&gt;Surgent CMA&lt;\/a&gt;\" data-order=\"&lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.linkconnector.com\/ta.php?lc=076621000012006249&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.surgent.com%2Fexam-review%2Fcma-exam-review%2F&amp;atid=SB-Surgent-CMA&amp;lcpf=0&quot; target=&quot;_self&quot;&gt;Surgent CMA&lt;\/a&gt;\" ><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkconnector.com\/ta.php?lc=076621000012006249&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.surgent.com%2Fexam-review%2Fcma-exam-review%2F&atid=SB-Surgent-CMA&lcpf=0\" target=\"_self\">Surgent CMA<\/a><\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B4\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"4\" data-db-index=\"4\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"$699 \u2013 $1,299\" data-order=\"$699 \u2013 $1,299\" >$699 \u2013 $1,299 <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C4\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"4\" data-db-index=\"4\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Busy professionals &amp; adaptive learning\" data-order=\"Busy professionals &amp; adaptive learning\" >Busy professionals & adaptive learning <\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"height:px\" ><td data-cell-id=\"A5\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"5\" data-db-index=\"5\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"&lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/cmaexamacademy.com\/product\/premium-cma-coaching-combo-part-1-part-2\/ref\/crushingcmasales\/?campaign=SB&quot; target=&quot;_self&quot;&gt;CMA Exam Academy&lt;\/a&gt;\" data-order=\"&lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/cmaexamacademy.com\/product\/premium-cma-coaching-combo-part-1-part-2\/ref\/crushingcmasales\/?campaign=SB&quot; target=&quot;_self&quot;&gt;CMA Exam Academy&lt;\/a&gt;\" ><a href=\"https:\/\/cmaexamacademy.com\/product\/premium-cma-coaching-combo-part-1-part-2\/ref\/crushingcmasales\/?campaign=SB\" target=\"_self\">CMA Exam Academy<\/a><\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B5\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"5\" data-db-index=\"5\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"$1,999\" data-order=\"$1,999\" >$1,999 <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C5\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"5\" data-db-index=\"5\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Guided program with step-by-step coaching\" data-order=\"Guided program with step-by-step coaching\" >Guided program with step-by-step coaching <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><!-- \/#supsystic-table-51.supsystic-table --><\/div><!-- \/.supsystic-tables-wrap --><!-- Tables Generator by Supsystic --><!-- Version:1.11.2 --><!-- http:\/\/supsystic.com\/ --><a title=\"WordPress Data Table Plugin\" style=\"display:none;\" href=\"https:\/\/supsystic.com\/plugins\/wordpress-data-table-plugin\/?utm_medium=love_link\" target=\"_blank\">WordPress Data Table Plugin<\/a> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-which-cma-course-should-you-choose\"><strong>Which CMA Course Should You Choose?<\/strong><\/h3> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Go with <a class=\"thirstylink\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Becker CMA Coupon\" href=\"https:\/\/prf.hn\/click\/camref:1101l4eyz\/pubref:CO-Becker-CMA-Coupon\/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.becker.com%2Fcma-review%2Fcourses\" data-linkid=\"1574\" data-shortcode=\"true\">Becker<\/a><\/strong> if you want live classes and an exam pass guarantee.<\/li> <li><strong>Pick <a class=\"thirstylink\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Gleim CMA Coupon\" href=\"https:\/\/gleim-publications-inc.sjv.io\/PyX6QY\" data-linkid=\"402\" data-shortcode=\"true\">Gleim<\/a><\/strong> if you love tons of multiple-choice practice questions and detailed textbooks.<\/li> <li><strong>Choose <a class=\"thirstylink\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Surgent CMA Coupon\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkconnector.com\/ta.php?lc=076621000012006249&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.surgent.com%2Fexam-review%2Fcma-exam-review%2F&amp;atid=CO-Surgent-CMA-Coupon&amp;lcpf=0\" data-linkid=\"518\" data-shortcode=\"true\">Surgent<\/a><\/strong> if you\u2019re after AI-powered adaptive learning on a budget<\/li> <li><strong>Opt for <a class=\"thirstylink\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"CMA Exam Academy\" href=\"https:\/\/cmaexamacademy.com\/product\/premium-cma-coaching-combo-part-1-part-2\/ref\/crushingcmasales\/?campaign=CO-CMA-Exam-Academy-Coupon\" data-linkid=\"465\" data-shortcode=\"true\">CMA Exam Academy<\/a><\/strong> for personalized coaching, video lessons, and a study plan.<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udca1 <strong>Pro Tip:<\/strong> Many of these providers offer discounts throughout the year\u2014so don\u2019t pay full price if you don\u2019t have to!<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-other-potential-cma-certification-costs\"><strong>Other Potential CMA Certification Costs<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beyond the main fees, here are a few other costs to consider:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Travel Expenses:<\/strong> If you don\u2019t live near a Prometric testing center, you may need to budget for travel and accommodations.<\/li> <li><strong>Study Materials:<\/strong> Some candidates buy extra flashcards, textbooks, or question banks ($50\u2013$300).<\/li> <li><strong>IMA Membership Renewal:<\/strong> If you don\u2019t pass both exam parts within a year, you\u2019ll have to renew your IMA membership ($295 for professionals, $49 for students).<\/li> <\/ul> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-is-the-cma-certification-worth-it-roi-analysis\"><strong>Is the CMA Certification Worth It? (ROI Analysis)<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I won\u2019t sugarcoat it\u2014the CMA certification isn\u2019t cheap. But is it worth the investment? Let\u2019s do some quick math.<\/p> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-much-more-do-cmas-earn\"><strong>How Much More Do CMAs Earn?<\/strong><\/h3> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to the IMA\u2019s Global Salary Survey, <strong>CMAs earn <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imanet.org\/press-releases\/2023\/december\/imas-2023-global-salary-survey-reports-rising-salaries-job-opportunities-and-satisfaction-among-cmas\">20%<\/a> more on average<\/strong> than non-certified accountants. Here\u2019s what that looks like:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Non-CMA Base Salary:<\/strong> $114,190<\/li> <li><strong>CMA-Certified Base Salary:<\/strong> $137,137<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s a <strong>$22,947 increase<\/strong> per year!<\/p> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-fast-can-you-earn-back-the-cma-costs\"><strong>How Fast Can You Earn Back the CMA Costs?<\/strong><\/h3> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let\u2019s say your total investment in the CMA certification is $3,500 (including exam fees, membership, and a review course).<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you get a $10,000 salary bump, you\u2019ll make back your investment in just a few months.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Plus, let&#8217;s say you&#8217;re 30 years old. To be generous, we&#8217;ll assume you make $10,000 extra per year on average for the next 10 years. Then, let&#8217;s say you shift into $22,947-increase territory. If you retire at 60, you&#8217;ll earn an additional $558,940<strong> <\/strong>over the course of your career.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Half a million dollars from a $3,500 investment?<\/strong> Not too shabby, if you ask me.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udca1 <strong>Bottom Line:<\/strong> The CMA certification pays for itself quickly and continues to boost your earnings throughout your career.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-save-money-on-cma-costs\"><strong>How to Save Money on CMA Costs<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Want to cut down on your CMA certification costs? Here are a few money-saving tips:<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2705 <strong>Use the Student Discount<\/strong> \u2013 If you\u2019re eligible, you can save over $500.<br>\u2705 <strong>Ask Your Employer to Cover Costs<\/strong> \u2013 Many companies reimburse CMA exam fees.<br>\u2705 <strong>Look for Discounts on Review Courses<\/strong> \u2013 Most prep providers offer seasonal discounts.<br>\u2705 <strong>Pass on the First Try<\/strong> \u2013 Avoid retake fees by investing in a solid study plan.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-final-thoughts-plan-your-cma-budget-wisely\"><strong>Final Thoughts: Plan Your CMA Budget Wisely<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/how-to-become-a-certified-management-accountant\/\">Becoming a CMA<\/a> is an investment in your future. While the upfront costs might seem high, the long-term salary increase and career opportunities make it 100% worth it.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By planning ahead and using the cost-saving tips above, you can earn your CMA certification without breaking the bank. In fact, your bank account will be thanking you in no time, to the tune of quite a few zeroes added to the end of your pay.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I hope you found this helpful, and I wish you the best of luck on your CMA journey!<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-faqs\"><strong>FAQs<\/strong><\/h2> <div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1740736990856\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>How much is the CMA exam fee?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The CMA exam fee is $495 per part for professional members and $370 per part for student members, totaling $990 or $740 for both parts, respectively.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1740737000377\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Is passing the CMA exam hard?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Yes, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cma-exam-pass-rate\/\">CMA exam is challenging<\/a>, with a historical pass rate of around 45%\u201350% per part. However, with proper study materials and preparation, many candidates pass on their first attempt.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1740737005848\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>How much is the annual CMA fee?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The annual IMA membership fee is $295 per year for professionals, $160 per year for academics, and $49 per year for students. This membership is required to take the CMA exam.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1740737012635\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Is the CMA exam harder than the CPA exam?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cma-vs-cpa\/\">CMA and CPA exams<\/a> test different skill sets. The CMA focuses on management accounting, financial management, and strategic decision-making, while the CPA covers auditing, tax, and financial reporting. Many candidates find the CPA\u2019s breadth harder but the CMA\u2019s calculations more intensive.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1740737020180\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Is a CMA certification worth it?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Absolutely! The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cma-salaries\/\">CMA designation boosts salaries<\/a> by 20% on average, opens up high-level management roles, and increases job security. Most candidates earn back their CMA investment within a year or less.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you&#8217;re thinking about becoming a Certified Management Accountant, you\u2019re probably asking, &#8220;How much is this actually going to cost me?&#8221; And that\u2019s a smart question\u2014because the CMA certification is an investment, both in time and money. The good news? While the CMA exam fees and other costs add up, the long-term financial benefits make [&hellip;]<\/p> ","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":3537,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,241],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3524","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-careers-education","category-accounting"],"acf":{"external_author":[129],"external_editor":"","select_template":"default","not_show_feature_image":false,"hide_toc":false},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/02\/CMA-Exam-Cost-feature.png","author_info":{"display_name":"","author_link":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/author\/"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.7 (Yoast SEO v27.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How Much Does the CMA Exam Cost?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Get a full breakdown of CMA exam fees, membership, and prep costs\u2014plus tips to save money on your CMA certification!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cma-exam-cost\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How Much Does the CMA Exam Cost?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Get a full breakdown of CMA exam fees, membership, and prep costs\u2014plus tips to save money on your CMA certification!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cma-exam-cost\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Charlotte Observer - Careers &amp; 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