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US CMA registration fee breakdown, CMA exam fee comparison chart, IMA CMA fee structure overview
👤 NorthStar Academy📅 29 Aug, 24⏱ 15 min read

US CMA Exam And Registration Fees ease your way into the global degree

All you need to know about CMA USA Certification

Certified Management Accountant (CMA USA) certification is one of the most sought-after certifications in management accounting. The CMA program is a globally recognized and prestigious certification, hence many employers from all around the world seek CMA-certified accountancy professionals to join their respective companies. Many institutes provide reputable US CMA courses, which can help you attain this international certification easily.

The salary of a CMA-certified accountant is quite high. It compensates for the expenses undertaken to get the CMA certification like the CMA registration fees, CMA course fees, etc.

But earning this certification is no easy task. The individual must have a passion for the field of Accountancy a willingness to pass CMA and have at least 2 years of professional experience in finance and accounting. Candidates who want to pursue CMA are required to prepare for the exam, the exam parts are divided into 2 major papers weighing 500 marks each. Every candidate is expected to pass the exam with a minimum of 360 marks for each of the papers. Successful completion of these requirements will help you earn the prestigious CMA designation. 

On top of that, CMA candidate certification also requires a significant financial investment from the applicant along with the exam registration to gain the certification. But for the exposure and salary, you get after achieving the CMA certification is worth putting in the time and monetary investment. 

That being said, now you most probably want to know all the fee structure in advance before you start your journey of becoming a CMA-certified management accountant, so you can make a budget accordingly.

Hence, to help you with that, we will break down the whole CMA Registration Fees and how you can save your expenses on fees.

With no further ado, let's get straight into the CMA exam fee structure.

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What is the US CMA Exam Fees?

Getting a CMA certification can lead to great job opportunities with higher pay. As per the reports, an individual who had completed the CMA USA certification earns 60% more than the individuals without it. The CMA exam may look expensive, but considering the benefits of this certification, it is certainly worth the investment.

We can separate the CMA exam fees into three categories, namely IMA membership program fees, CMA Entrance fees, and CMA registration fees. 

1. IMA Membership Fees

Before you can take part in the US CMA examination and get your certificate, you must become a member of the IMA (Institute of Management Accountants), an internationally recognized professional organization of Accountants.

IMA is the organization responsible for awarding the CMA certification to all deserving candidates. The organization has made it mandatory for all CMA applicants to have a membership in their organization.

The IMA membership requires you to pay an annual fee, ranging from $39 to $245. You need to pay these annual fees both while you are pursuing the CMA certification and also after getting the certification. If you do not pay the IMA membership fees, your certification will expire.

In the CMA certification, the cost of everything (including the CMA registration fees) changes according to the professional status of the applicant. Similar is the case with the price of IMA membership charges.

2. CMA Entrance Fees or CMA Registration Fees

After you get the membership in the IMA, now the time is to pay for the CMA entrance exams and finally get there. After paying for the CMA entrance, you will officially start pursuing the CMA examination. It is a one-time cost that you will have to bear at the start of your CMA journey.

Again, depending on your professional status, the CMA registration fees for the CMA entrance exam vary a lot. 

There are extra fees for the CMA examination itself. Once you are confident in your skills and believe that you can clear the examination, you need to appear in the examination. You need to pay this fee to sit in the upcoming CMA examination. 

The CMA examination has 2 parts in it and you need to pay for each examination separately. Hence, you will have to pay the CMA examination fees twice. Each fee will let you sit in the examinations for only one time. This is why it becomes monetarily important to clear the examination in the first attempt.

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CMA USA Exam Fees 2027 - Complete Fee details for the CMA USA Course

Student Category: UG or PG (Regular, Online, Distance Basis) 

Particulars

Fee ($)

Membership Registration fee (Valid for 3 years)

135

IMA Entrance fee (Valid for 3 years)

210

Part 1 Exam fee

345

Part 2 Exam fee

345

Total CMA USA Student Category Fees

1035

Professional Category: (Passed college or working professionals)

Particulars

Fee ($)

IMA Membership Registration fee (Valid for 1 year)

260

IMA Entrance fee (Valid for 3 years)

280

Part 1 Exam fee

460

Part 2 Exam fee

460

Total CMA USA Professional Category Fees

1460

However, you get Bundle Discounts when you register with NorthStar Academy! 
IMAs Official Training Partner: Know more about the BUNDLE DISCOUNTS today!

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CMA USA Exam Fee Summary

As mentioned earlier, CMA USA has three stages of fees where the candidates have to pay a certain sum of money. These three stages are - IMA Membership fees, CMA Entrance fees, and exam fees. The fees also change with the professional status of the applicant. 

Let's understand the fee difference for various professional statuses and stages of the CMA USA-

Particulars

For Students($)

For Professionals($)

Fees for membership of the IMA

135(3 years)

260(1 year)

CMA entrance fees

210

280

Part 1

345

460

Part 2

345

460

Total

1035

1460

Note: The fees are much less with NorthStar Academy! 

Hence, the total fee required to be paid by a professional in the field is the highest at USD 1460. While the academics and students get a little discount on the membership fees, entrance fees, and exam entrance fees. Thus, the total fees required to be paid by students is 1035. Complete CMA USA online in a year and crack CMA with NorthStar, the best CMA exam academy, as we help you every step of the way of your CMA exam journey.

What is the CMA Foundation registration fees in India?

The Institute of Cost & Management Accountants of India (ICMAI) is an institute that designed and launched an Indian version of the CMA certification for applicants living especially in India.

The certification is launched to promote and regulate the professions of Cost and Management Accountancy in the country of India. The CMA India cost is quite low compared to its USA counterpart, while it still provides the holder with many great work opportunities to work in India. But you can not have much scope with CMA Certification in the United States and other foreign nations.

Lets look at the CMA registration fees for the CMA India-

The CMA fees can be divided into three sections: the CMA Foundation Exam, the CMA Intermediate course, and the CMA Final course.

CMA Foundation Registration fees: INR 6,000/-

Paying the CMA foundation registration fees is where you will start your journey in CMA, India. Registration for the CMA foundation exam 2027 remains open for the whole year. Applicants just need to pay the CMA registration fees and they will be eligible to sit in the CMA foundation exams.

The required fee for the CMA India is around 6000/- INR and the fees for the CMA India do not vary with the professional status of the candidate as they do in the CMA USA examination.

CMA Intermediate exam fees: INR 23,100/-

After you have passed the CMA foundation examination, you have to prepare for the intermediate examination. The CMA registration fee for the intermediate examination is around 23,100 rupees only. The candidates have to pay these fees to sit in the examination.

The intermediate examination is the second stage of the CMA India certification and is much tougher than the CMA foundation exam. Hence, it is recommended to consider joining the best CMA course like that of NorthStar Academy.

CMA Final examination: INR 25,000/-

Now comes the final examination of the CMA India certificate. The exam is considered one of the toughest of all; hence, the candidates need to put in a lot of effort to clear the examination. You can only take the CMA final examination if you have first cleared the foundation and intermediate examinations.

The CMA registration fee for the final examination is 25,000 rupees. The candidate needs to pay this fee to take the CMA final examination.

After you have cleared this level of the CMA India. You will be granted the CMA India certification and you will become a professional cost and management accountant. I hope you get a well-paying job with this certification.   

How to Pass the CMA USA Exam in your First Attempt?

If you are planning to do CMA USA, enrolling in CMA coaching is the ultimate CMA exam roadmap. To complete the CMA USA course, one must be 12th grade or hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college and hold 2 years of professional working experience. 

To pass the CMA exam one must go through rigorous preparation for about 6-9 months and have an end-to-end understanding of the CMA USA Subjects.

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Conclusion

The CMA certification obtained in India is a prestigious credential in the field of managerial accountancy. If you want to work in India only, then the CMA India will be the best option for you and if you want to work abroad as an accountant, you will require the CMA USA certification. The CMA US certification costs you around USD 849 to USD 1,325 (INR 66000 to INR 1 lakh). While the CMA India costs somewhat less.  The first step of the CMA US certification is to buy the membership of the IMA, while for CMA India the first step is to pay the CMA foundation registration fees. There are also some hidden charges you might have to pay for getting any of these two certifications. It is also recommended that the candidates should buy some study materials to clear the CMA examination and the cost of study materials also adds up to the cost of certification. The examination center can be far away from your location (sometimes, the exam centers can be in a different country) so you need to travel to that particular location, which will further add up to the cost of this certification. Passing the CMA examination is no easy nut to crack. You need to have an intensive knowledge of the subject. The CMA USA course by NorthStar Academy can help you crack this examination easily. Our top mentors like M Irfat Sir at NSA will guide you through the path of acquiring the CMA certification. Connect with us and we will provide you with the best solution possible for your CMA journey. We also offer free demo classes for the students to experience the classes first and then make the choice to join the CMA US training. So, do consider booking a free demo class with NorthStar Academy and grasp the significance of these courses for your career.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I pay my CMA Foundation exam fees?

You have to pay the CMA foundation registration fees after you have filled out the examination form on the official website. CMA foundation registration fees can be paid via both online and offline methods.
Online mode - Candidates can use Net Banking / Debit Cards / Credit cards to pay the CMA foundation registration fees.
Offline mode - with the help of a demand draft, candidates can pay the CMA foundation registration fees.
The total CMA foundation registration fee is roughly 6000/- INR, which does not change with the professional status of the examination.

What is the fee for the CMA course?

In India, the applicants can pursue two different CMA courses, which are - CMA USA and CMA India. The fee structure and total fees for both of them vary.
Generally, both the CMA costs approx. 2,00,000 INR overall.
You can contact us at NorthStar Academy to get a personalized quote for the fees for the CMA course, specially designed for your preparation for the upcoming CMA examination.

How do I register for the CMA Foundation?

The CMA foundation is the first step toward the CMA India certification. you will have to clear this examination to even start your career in CMA India.The registration process for the CMA Foundation 2025 is written down below in a step-by-step manner:

Step 1: Visit the official website of ICMAI, email.in. ICMAI is the authority responsible for rewarding the certification to all deserving candidates.

Step 2: On the website, you will find the student option. Click here.

Step 3: Find the online admission button and click on it.

Step 4: You will see the option to apply to all three of the examinations. Click on the foundation exams, and you will get a form.

Step 5: Now fill in all the required details to complete the registration process for the CMA foundation exam.

Step 6: Upload all the required documentation to the form. Please make sure that all the documents are correct and in the right size and format.

Step 7: Now click apply and pay the CMA foundation registration fees for the examination.You will only have to pay the CMA registration fees for the foundation exam for now

What is the salary of US CMA in India? Can I get a better salary after the CMA certification?

Pursuing CMA USA opens door for Indian accounting professionals who have the CMA US certification get better compensation for their services than an individual without the CMA. In the year 2021, the CMA holders in India got an average total compensation of around $31,600 USD/per yr (24 lakh/per yr). The salary you received after achieving this certification, well pays for the cost of the certification.

Is there any recurring cost associated with the CMA US certification?

Even after you have cleared the CMA USA certification, you still need to annually pay a certain amount to maintain the validity of the certification. For most applicants, it means paying the professional membership fee ($245 annually) of IMA membership.
Other than paying the annual fees, the CMAs still need to complete a minimum of 30 hours of continuing education every year.

Can I get the CMA US designation without needing to leave India?

Yes, you can easily earn the CMA US certification, entirely from India, without even requiring to travel or work abroad.

How long does it take to complete the US CMA examination?

The US CMA can be completed in a minimum of 6-9 months if you enroll in the NorthStar Academy CMA course. We provide the best mentorship and study material to organize your study plans. However, the IMA provides the candidates with a total of 3 years to clear all the examinations, counted after the day of registration.

Who is eligible to take the CMA exam?

The CMA course eligibility criteria involve having a 12th pass certificate or a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. Begin preparing for the CMA exam study right after your 12th and clear CMA by passing both the CMA papers in a year with NorthStar Academy.