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Check the complete CMA exam schedule 2026 with important dates, exam windows, and registration deadlines to plan your preparation effectively
👤 NorthStar Academy📅 11 Aug, 24⏱ 9 min read

CMA Exam Schedule 2026 and Key Dates to Know

Certified Management Accountant (CMA) USA is the highest professional accounting and financial management certification. If you have the vision to change the world and want the freedom to choose from a wide range of careers. In that case, the CMA USA provides you with knowledge in financial planning, risk management, corporate finance, accounting, and analysis. Hence it is the best decision for your career and is highly valued by recruiters. A CMA USA certification not only helps you bring skills to the corporate table but also strategic thinking and work experience to elevate your career to the next level. 

Hence, companies like the Big 4 or other MNCs like JP Morgan, Hewlett Packard and Accenture prefer candidates with a CMA USA certification. It adds value to any organisation, and when the target is to compete in a fast-evolving market - a CMA degree holder bridges the skills in the market.

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Components of the CMA USA Exam Schedule

The consists of two parts listed below:

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 Decisions
  • 15% Professional Ethics

CMA USA exam structure

The CMA is a computer-based examination with 2 parts. Each part of CMA consists of 100 MCQs with 3 hours and two essay questions within 1 hour.

Eligibility criteria for CMA USA certification

To gain this highly competitive complete this certification,

  1. Register with CMA USA Classes with NorthStar Academy.
  2. You have to become a member of the Institute of Management Accountant (IMA) and then clear two examinations. 
  3. You need a bachelor's degree from an accredited college and two years of work experience in accounting or financial management. If you do not have work experience while writing the exam, you have seven years to apply for the IMA certification and membership. 
  4. You need to abide by the IMA's Statement of Ethical Professional Practice. 
  5. You have to pass both parts of your CMA USA exam.

To pass the CMA USA exam at one go, you should enroll in NorthStar Academy's best comprehensive CMA USA programs, under the guidance of experienced faculty M Irfat.

You will be able to learn from the basics and develop a clear foundation of the CMA  concepts. 

CMA USA Schedule

The CMA exam is administered by Prometric, which manages the testing process and schedules. To schedule your CMA exam, visit the Prometric website and select a convenient date and location. Ensure to review the CMA exam schedule to choose a testing window that best fits your preparation timeline. If for any reason, you need to cancel your exam please follow the instructions on the Prometric website to avoid any additional fees. If you are concerned about registering for the CMA USA exam, this will help you understand everything you need to know about registering with Prometric. 

Before Scheduling Exam

Before planning the exam with Prometric, you need to join the IMA, complete the registration by paying the fees and wait for the confirmation message. 

The IMA process

To become a member of to be created with a new password to pay the fees and register for the test. After you're an IMA member, you have to pay a one-time entrance fee to be able to sit for the exam./p>

Since there are two parts to the exam, you will have to pay this fee at least twice. If in case you fail a part of the exam, you'll have to pay the fee an additional time to retake it Once the registration and payment of fees are made, you'll receive the information you need to set your CMA exam final schedule. You'll get an email with your authorization number and further instructions to plan with a Prometric test centre for the CMA USA exam.

Finding a Prometric testing centre

When you decide to sit for the CMA USA exam, you will need to find a testing center. CMA USA Prometric has thousands of testing centers throughout the world. Open the Prometric website which will bring you to a page to select the state you want to take the exam. Find a testing center at a convenient location and then select a time and date to write the exam. It will also have a lot of information about eligibility seat availability for Prometric's CMA exam.

Testing Window for CMA USA exam: 

The CMA USA exam offers three testing periods each year that last for two months. The testing periods are:

Window 1

January February

Window 2

May June

Window 3

September - October

You can book the slots as per your choice and take the examination. Choose a slot that will enable you to complete all your preparation, give mock tests, and have ample time for revision. NorthStar Academy's mock tests will give you the confidence to clear your exam in one attempt. 



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CMA USA Prometric Centres in India:

  • Bangalore
  • Kochi
  • Chennai
  • Hyderabad
  • Trivandrum
  • Mumbai
  • Ahmedabad
  • Kolkata
  • Gurgaon
  • Allahabad

CMA USA Prometric Centres in the Middle East:

  • Bahrain
  • Egypt
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Kuwait
  • Lebanon
  • Oman
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • UAE (Abu Dhabi and Dubai)
  • West Bank

If you want to choose CMA USA Testing Centre and schedule exam appointments, you can visit www.prometric.com

Scheduling the CMA USA exam:

Prometrics recommends getting everything set at least six weeks before attempting the CMA test. This gives plenty of time for paperwork and is stress free at the last minute. 

Rescheduling the CMA USA exam

The schedule and reschedule can be easily done at the IMA website and ICMA Prometric sites.. To check your exam status, you need to provide the confirmation number, which you received when you initially scheduled your exam. To know additional information like Test Distribution, Test Administration, Eligibility, Billing and Payment can be acquired by clicking Prometric.com.

Acceptable forms of ID

A valid, government-issued passport is required as your only form of ID on the day of the test. In case you don't have a passport, you can use two other forms of ID for verification. They must be current and also have a signature on them. These forms of identification that Prometric will accept include :

  1. Photo-bearing driver's licence with signature
  2. Employee ID card
  3. Official state or government ID 
  4. Credit card with photo
  5. Driver's licence without a photo
  6. Valid credit card with signature
  7. Bank automated teller machine card

Take the CMA USA exam online

In January 2022, candidates can take the CMA USA exam online via remote proctoring instead of in-person at a Prometric centre. Prometric will supervise your exam from your computer's webcam while taking the test at home through ProProctor. The process of registration is the same. You need to still register for the CMA exam and then go to the Prometric website to schedule your test. However, you can only take the exam during the three testing windows. Date and time to take the exam must be selected since someone from Prometric must be available to supervise you remotely.

When you schedule your exam with Prometric, you can choose remote proctoring. After scheduling your test, Prometric will email you a set of instructions to use the ProProctorTM service.

Privacy Policy of Prometrics

According to the privacy policy to take the CMA exams, you must agree to let Prometric use your data during the test. It reserves the right to use any audio or video recordings of the candidate while taking the test. The recordings are used by companies for training purposes.

Benefits of Becoming a CMA USA

Growth as an individual: 

The most important aspect of being a CMA USA is the growth and development of an individual. You can become an expert in the fields of finance, management, and accounting after acquiring the CMA Certification.

Global Opportunities: 

CMA USA is an international professional certification recognized by developing countries like China, India, UK, Canada, Middle East countries. It gives an opportunity to work abroad, gain worldwide exposure as well as learn business ethics at an international level. 

Financial Benefits: 

Being a CMA is a profitable opportunity leading to tremendous financial success. Candidates with a CMA USA certificate see a rise in their salaries and gain huge benefits from being a CMA. 

Short-Duration course:

CMA USA is a short duration course of 6-9 months which is an added advantage. With NorthStar Academy's Comprehensive CMA program, you are sure to clear it in the very first attempt.

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Conclusion

The CMA USA certification is a prestigious qualification that opens doors to a range of career opportunities in accounting, finance, and management. Recognized globally by top companies like the Big 4 and MNCs, the CMA USA equips you with expertise in financial planning, analysis, and strategic decision-making.

With a clear structure covering essential topics in two parts, the exam is offered three times a year, giving candidates flexibility. By enrolling in NorthStar Academy's CMA USA program, you'll receive expert guidance and ample resources to pass on your first attempt.

Boost your career, gain global opportunities, and enjoy long-term financial rewards by becoming a CMA USA with NorthStar Academy!

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the exam pattern and format for CMA USA ?

 CMA USA is a computerised exam conducted in two parts with 100 multiple-choice questions and two essay questions within 4 hours. You are eligible to take the exam on any weekday within the testing windows of January/February, May/June, and September/October through Prometric testing centres. 

What is IMA?

 Institute of Management Accountants or IMA, is the globally recognized body of accountants and financial professionals such as CMA USA and CSCA.  

Can I retake the CMA USA exam ?

CMA USA exam part may be taken only once in a testing window. All exam retakes require a new intake along with payment of appropriate exam fees.