Best CMA Books and Study Materials for CMA US Exam 2026

It is necessary to look for the best CMA books and study tips that add value and will help you in CMA exam preparation. The CMA exam review sessions refer to the collection of personalised study plans designed to surgent CMA US exams

Let us first see the CMA USA exam topics for both parts, with detailed explanations.

Part 1: Financial Planning, Performance, and Analytics

• 15% - External Financial Reporting Decisions
• 20% - Planning, Budgeting, and Forecasting
• 20% - Performance Management
• 15% - Cost Management
• 15% - Internal Controls
• 15% - Technology and Analytics

Part 2: Strategic Financial Management

• 20% - Financial Statement Analysis
• 20% - Corporate Finance
• 25% - Decision Analysis
• 10% - Risk Management
• 10% - Investment Decision
• 15% - Professional Ethics

IMA, the conducting body, does not provide any resources to help. Therefore, the CMA candidates must rely on third-party companies, which are verified by the IMA. These companies include Becker, Gleim, Hock, Wiley, and a few more. But all this makes the selection of the right study material a task in itself.

Hence, to help you with the best study experience, and CMA books, we at NorthStar Academy have the most preferred study material, CMA prep courses, and review sessions. The best materials are available here, that will help Indian students or accounting professionals in their test prep to clear the CMA USA exam.

Let's look at the best CMA study materials and books to prepare for the exam:

1. Becker US CMA Review System and Study Plan

Becker is a respected prep provider in accounting and is well known for its CPA books. A little more than a year ago, the company started to produce its own CMA Books and study material.

Becker's review system also provides personalized review sessions and live webinars with their study material. Candidates will be given the option to speak with experts who can answer all their queries.

2. Gleim CMA Review System and Study Material

Gleim is one of the first providers of study materials for the US Certified Management Accountant (CMA) certification. The prep books provided by Gleim are popular among students as the materials include detailed explanations. It is also the most affordable of the courses mentioned here.

The study guide for CMA certification provided by Gleim includes multiple question banks and exam papers which will help you to earn this certification. 

The Gleim CMA review system is time-tested. Hence, it is the most popular and commonly used review system. 

Your study journey will surgent toward exam success if you join a reputed CMA exam academy like NorthStar Academy. NSA has an association with the Gleim and provides their study material which will help you to get US CMA certification with ease.

3. Wiley US CMA Review System

Wiley offers highly comprehensive study material, specially designed for students doing self-study for the CMA US examination. The language used in the Wiley CMA books and study materials is clear and easy to understand. This means that books are written for individuals with no prior financial knowledge. The Wiley CMA Excel Platinum Review Course includes more than 65+ hours of video guidance, test-based guides, and mock exams since practice makes perfect.

The Wiley Review system features a performance tracker and an interactive study schedule planner, designed to create an optimal study session.

Due to these limitations, the Wiley US CMA study material is quite expensive for many candidates.

4. Hock US CMA Study Material

Hock provides CMA study materials which have been popular recently, especially among international students. Hock provides study materials that are the most affordable in the market. The most fascinating thing about the Hock CMA course is that it is the only review course to offer the "you pass or we pay" Guarantee assurance

These are some of the study materials that you can get hold of in India, however, keep in mind that Gleims study materials and textbooks, in association with NorthStar Academy, are the best. The course material, guidance, review sessions, and practice exams are some of the best advantages of joining the NorthStar Academy. You can enroll in their CMA USA course to get access to the most referred-to and highly relevant study material.

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• Responsibilities of Certified Management Accountant (US CMA) Professionals

The ICMAI, an organization of accounting professionals, conducts the CMA program in India. The CMA in India is conducted in three phases: the CMA foundational, CMA Intermediate, and CMA final- with 20 subjects divided into these three examinations.

The candidates have to clear all three examinations to get the CMA certification and to score on the CMA exam, you need good-quality study material and books. CMA foundation books and other CMA study materials, provided by the ICMAI, are the best and most reliable. Here is the list of CMA books required to crack the examination.

CMA Foundation Books and Study Guide:

Getting CMA Foundation books is the first step toward the CMA India certification. The Foundation exam consists of 4 papers, and the ICMAI has launched 4 different CMA foundation books for each paper. You can download these 4 CMA foundation books from the official website of ICMAI. Here are the links to download CMA foundation books: 

CMA Study Plan

Unlike the 4 CMA Foundation books, the CMA Intermediate level has 8 books. The examination is divided into 2 groups, each containing 4 subjects. Below is the list of CMA Intermediate books provided by ICMAI.

Paper 5: Financial Accounting (Group 1)
Paper 6: Laws and Ethics (Group 1)
Paper 7: Direct Taxation (Group 1)
Paper 8: Cost Accounting (Group 1)
Paper 9: Operations Management & Strategic Management (Group 2)
Paper 10: Cost & Management Accounting and Financial Management (Group 2)
Paper 11: Indirect Taxation (Group 2)
Paper 12: Company Accounts & Audit (Group 2)

Read More :

• Complete Your US CMA Dream Course Using the IMA Scholarship
• 10 Career Options After Qualifying US CMA
• CMA USA vs CFA vs MBA in Finance | Which one you should choose

CMA Final books

ICMAI also offers the 8 CMA final books for all 8 papers and subjects, as it does for the CMA foundation books and Inter books. Here is a list of books with download links. 

Good quality books/study materials are for the US CMA course. It is essential to have relevant CMA foundation books and CMA USA books to create an understanding of the exam structure. The CMA review systems by Hock and Gleim are the most affordable ones. Gleim is the oldest, most precise, and comprehensive study material and is the best for studying the CMA USA core concepts of all subjects. 

For a clearer understanding of the US CMA syllabus and course, visit NorthStar Academy CMA USA course. We are a leading institute, guiding thousands with top mentors like M Irfat Sir.

NorthStar Academy. offers Becker's comprehensive CMA study materials, including 12-section books and essay case studies, which is a part of the CMA course. Contact us for guidance, queries, and counseling. Bundle discounts are available for those enrolling in our top financial management courses.