US CMA Eligibility: Complete Guide (2026)

If you’re planning to pursue the US CMA eligibility criteria is the first thing you should understand clearly. Many students assume the requirements are complicated, but the structure is actually simple and flexible. The US CMA certification is designed to allow both students and working professionals to enter the program without unnecessary barriers.

The US CMA (Certified Management Accountant) certification is offered by the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), and all eligibility rules are set by IMA.

Let’s break down the US CMA eligibility requirements step by step.

1. Educational Qualification

To meet US CMA eligibility, you must have:

A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
OR
An equivalent professional certification (approved by IMA)

The good news is that you can appear for the exams before completing your degree if you are in your final year. However, to receive the official CMA certification, you must complete your graduation within the allowed timeframe.

Important point: Your degree can be in any discipline — commerce, science, arts, engineering, or management. There is no restriction on stream.

2. IMA Membership Requirement

To enter the CMA program, you must:

Become a member of IMA
Pay the CMA entrance fee
Register for exam parts

Without active membership, you cannot sit for the exam. So technically, membership is also part of US CMA eligibility.

3. Work Experience Requirement

Apart from clearing both exam parts, candidates must complete:

Two years of relevant professional experience

The experience must be in areas like:

Management accounting
Financial management
Budgeting and forecasting
Financial analysis
Internal controls

The experience can be completed:

Before passing the exams
During exam preparation
Or within 7 years after passing both parts

This flexibility makes US CMA eligibility convenient for students and professionals.

4. US CMA Exam Structure (Eligibility to Attempt)

There are only two exam parts:

Part 1 – Financial Planning, Performance & Analytics
Part 2 – Strategic Financial Management

There is no minimum age requirement, and there are no entrance tests before registration. Once you become an IMA member and pay the entrance fee, you are eligible to register for the exam.

Who Can Apply for US CMA?

The US CMA eligibility makes the course suitable for:

B.Com / BBA / BMS students
MBA (Finance) students
Working professionals in finance
Cost accountants and auditors
Engineers or graduates wanting to switch to finance

Even non-commerce students can apply, though they may need extra effort to understand accounting fundamentals.

Is There Any Percentage Requirement?

One of the biggest advantages of US CMA eligibility is:

There is no minimum percentage requirement in graduation.
There are no entrance exams to qualify.

This makes the certification accessible to a wide range of candidates.

US CMA Eligibility in India

For Indian students, the eligibility remains the same:

Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university
IMA membership
Two years of relevant work experience

There is no requirement of CA foundation, CPT, or any Indian entrance test.

Final Thoughts

The US CMA eligibility criteria are simple and flexible compared to many other professional accounting certifications. You need a bachelor’s degree, IMA membership, and two years of relevant work experience. There are no strict percentage cut-offs or entrance barriers.