CMA course details depend on which CMA you mean. CMA India is the Cost and Management Accountant qualification from ICMAI, a statutory body, with three levels and about Rs 54,100 in course fees. US CMA is the Certified Management Accountant credential from the US-based IMA, with two exams priced in dollars. Both suit commerce students, but they lead to different jobs.
Last updated: October 2026. Facts below come from the ICMAI prospectus (September 2025 edition) and fee schedule, and from IMA's official CMA pages.
CMA course full form: two different qualifications
CMA India: Cost and Management Accountant, awarded by The Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI), set up by Parliament under the Cost and Works Accountants Act, 1959, under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
US CMA: Certified Management Accountant, awarded by the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), a professional body based in the United States.
Search results mix the two all the time, so check which one a course, coaching class or job listing actually means.
CMA course details in India (ICMAI)
ICMAI runs the course in three levels under its Syllabus 2022. Each paper carries 100 marks, and you pass a level with at least 40% in each paper and 50% in aggregate.
Foundation: 4 papers
Intermediate: 8 papers in two groups of four
Final: 8 papers in two groups, including one elective chosen from Strategic Performance Management and Business Valuation, Risk Management in Banking and Insurance, or Entrepreneurship and Start-up
Exams are held twice a year, in June and December. The cut-off to register for the June exam is 31 January, and for December it is 31 July. Before the Final exam you must complete 15 months of practical training, along with skills training at the Intermediate and Final stages and an industry-oriented training programme. Registration is valid for seven years.
CMA course eligibility in India
Foundation: you can join after passing Class 10, but you must pass Class 12 before you sit the Foundation exam.
Direct entry to Intermediate: graduates of any recognised university (except fine-arts subjects such as music, dancing or painting), CA Intermediate passes, CS, CA, CIMA or ACCA finalists, CAIIB holders and engineering students who have completed their third year can skip Foundation.
Final: open to students who have passed Intermediate.
The full list of entry routes is on ICMAI's course eligibility page. A graduate who enters directly at Intermediate saves a full level.
CMA course fees in India
Foundation course fee: Rs 6,000
Intermediate course fee: Rs 23,100, which can be paid in two instalments
Final course fee: Rs 25,000, which can also be paid in two instalments
Exam fees per sitting: Rs 1,500 for Foundation; Rs 1,500 for one Intermediate group or Rs 2,800 for both; Rs 1,800 for one Final group or Rs 3,200 for both
These course fees have applied since February 2021 and are subject to GST. Adding them up, a student who goes from Foundation to Final and passes every exam at the first attempt pays about Rs 61,600 in course and exam fees, before GST, books and coaching. ICMAI also runs fee waivers, including a 50% waiver for students from the North-Eastern states, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh from the December 2025 term.
US CMA course details (IMA)
Two exams, taken in any order: Part 1, Financial Planning, Performance and Analytics; Part 2, Strategic Financial Management.
Each part is four hours: 100 multiple-choice questions, then a written section. IMA has announced that case-based questions replace essays in English exams in most regions from the September/October 2026 window, with exam length and pricing unchanged.
Testing windows: January/February, May/June and September/October, at Prometric test centres.
You must pass both parts within three years, and IMA says most students finish both exams in 12 to 18 months.
US CMA eligibility
You can take the exams before you meet every requirement, but to earn the credential you need a bachelor's degree (or a related professional certification), two continuous years of experience in management accounting or financial management, completed before or within seven years of passing, and an active IMA membership. The requirements are set out on IMA's CMA steps page.
US CMA course fees
IMA membership: USD 295 a year for professionals; the student rate is USD 49
CMA entrance fee: USD 300 (USD 225 for students)
Exam fee: USD 545 per part (USD 407 per part for students)
By our arithmetic, a student pays about USD 1,088 in IMA fees to sit both parts once (49 + 225 + 407 + 407), and a working professional about USD 1,685, before study material and coaching. IMA lists no rupee pricing, so convert at the day's exchange rate.
CMA India or US CMA: which should you choose?
Choose CMA India if you want a career in cost accounting, costing and pricing roles in Indian manufacturing and services companies, or practice as a cost accountant. It costs far less and is the statutory Indian qualification.
Choose US CMA if you are aiming at finance and planning roles in multinational companies and shared-service centres, want a shorter two-exam route, and can manage dollar fees.
Already a graduate and working: both routes let you skip early levels, so compare time and money, not just the name.
Our pages on CMA India and the US CMA list current preparation options. If you are still choosing between professional routes, compare these CMA course details with the ACCA qualification and our guide on what to do after B.Com. For risk-focused careers, read our FRM course guide. Students who have not started their degree yet can pair CMA with an online B.Com.
Frequently asked questions
What is the full form of CMA?
In India, CMA means Cost and Management Accountant, awarded by ICMAI. Internationally, CMA means Certified Management Accountant, awarded by the US-based IMA.
Can I do CMA after 12th?
Yes, CMA India starts at the Foundation level, which you can join after Class 10 and sit after passing Class 12. US CMA needs a bachelor's degree to earn the credential, so it suits graduates and final-year students.
What is the CMA course fee in India?
ICMAI's course fees are Rs 6,000 for Foundation, Rs 23,100 for Intermediate and Rs 25,000 for Final, plus exam fees and GST. US CMA fees are charged in US dollars by IMA.
Can a graduate skip CMA Foundation?
Yes. Graduates from a recognised university, except in fine-arts subjects, can register directly for CMA Intermediate.
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