CPA vs CMA
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CPA Exam Basics
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Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) and Certified Management Accountants (CMAs) are both certified accountants and more highly regarded than regular accountants. On a basic level, a CPA is responsible for taxes and audits, while a CMA is in charge of management accounting. Choosing the right path is one of the most difficult decisions an aspiring accountant must make. There are some key differences between a CPA and a CMA, which we will discuss here.
What exactly are CPA and CMA?
CPAs and CMAs are accounting professionals who specialize in different areas of accounting. While a CPA handles taxes and audits, a CMA focuses on management accounting. Both the CPA and CMA qualifications are gained by passing an examination, but only the CPA is required to be licensed. To become a CPA, you must complete 150 credit hours of an undergraduate program, and pass the CPA exam administered by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).
A CMA, on the other hand, is an accounting expert who specializes in budget or asset management, as the name implies. A CMA holds the skills needed to make financial decisions for an organization that are primarily management-focused. To become a CMA, you need a bachelor's degree in either business, accounting, or economics, and become a member of The Institute of Management Accountants (IMA).
Now, let's understand the differences between a CPA and a CMA in depth.
What is the difference between a CPA and a CMA?
Read the chart below to learn the key differences between CPA and CMA to make an informed choice for your career goals.
| Differences between CPA and CMA | ||
|---|---|---|
| Section | CPA | CMA |
| Council | American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA®) | Institute of Management Accountants (IMA®) |
| Exam Pattern | 4 Exams:
|
2 Exams:
|
| Timeframe | Must be completed within 1.5 years (18 months) | Must be completed within 3 years (36 months) |
| Exam Fees (approx.) |
|
|
| Topics to Cover |
|
|
| Pass Rate % | ~ 50% as of 2021 | ~ 45% as of 2021 |
CPA vs CMA Exam
Passing the exams is the most challenging part of obtaining either a CPA or CMA license. Each organizing body carefully details the content of each set of exams (the AICPA for CPAs and the IMA for CMAs). Although the difficulty of the CPA or CMA exam is subjective, the exam format and objectives are some of the major differences between the two. Let's look at these differences between the CPA and CMA exams as outlined by the IMA and AICPA.
The CMA exam is divided into two parts: Part 1 and Part 2, covering 12 broad competencies as outlined by the IMA. Part 1 covers financial planning, performance, and analytics, and Part 2 covers strategic financial management. Let’s understand the subject breakdown of the two parts below:
| Part 1: Financial Planning, Performance, and Analytics | Exam Distribution |
|---|---|
| External Financial Reporting Decisions | 15% |
| Planning, Budgeting, and Forecasting | 20% |
| Performance Management | 20% |
| Cost Management | 15% |
| Internal Controls | 15% |
| Technology and Analytics | 15% |
| Part 2: Strategic Financial Management | Exam Distribution |
|---|---|
| Financial Statement Analysis | 20% |
| Corporate Finance | 20% |
| Decision Analysis | 25% |
| Risk Management | 10% |
| Investment Decisions | 10% |
| Professional Ethics | 15% |
The CPA exam is structured into four parts, with a time frame of four hours.
- Auditing and Attestation (AUD)
- Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR)
- Regulation (REG)
- Business Environment and Concepts (BEC)
The AICPA blueprint outlines the competencies covered in the CPA exam. Since the AICPA issues new blueprints about every six months, make sure to understand and study with a program mapped to the most recent blueprint.
Each of the four exams is divided into five testlets: two multiple-choice testlets having 60 to 72 multiple-choice questions and three testlets containing up to eight simulation questions. You have 18 months from the date you took your first exam to pass all four parts.
The CPA exam’s layout is shown in the table below by section, section length, and question type:
| AUD | BEC | FAR | REG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome / Launch | 5 mins | 5 mins | 5 mins | 5 mins |
| Confidentiality | 5 mins | 5 mins | 5 mins | 5 mins |
| Testlet 1 | 50 mins 36 MCQs | 50 mins 31 MCQs | 50 mins 33 MCQs | 50 mins 38 MCQs |
| Optional Break (Timer runs) | 5 mins | 5 mins | 5 mins | 5 mins |
| Testlet 2 | 50 mins 36 MCQs | 50 mins 31 MCQs | 50 mins 33 MCQs | 50 mins 38 MCQs |
| Optional Break (Timer runs) | 5 mins | 5 mins | 5 mins | 5 mins |
| Testlet 3 | 50 mins 2 TBSs | 50 mins 2 TBSs | 50 mins 2 TBSs | 50 mins 2 TBSs |
| Standard Break (Timer paused) | 15 mins | 15 mins | 15 mins | 15 mins |
| Testlet 4 | 50 mins 2 TBSs | 50 mins 2 TBSs | 50 mins 2 TBSs | 50 mins 2 TBSs |
| Optional Break (Timer runs) | 5 mins | 5 mins | 5 mins | 5 mins |
| Testlet 5 | 50 mins 3 TBSs | 50 mins 3 WCTs | 50 mins 3 TBSs | 50 mins 3 TBSs |
| Survey | 5 mins | 5 mins | 5 mins | 5 mins |
Source: AICPA
CPA and CMA Syllabus Overlaps
You can expect approximately a 30–35% overlap between the CPA and CMA syllabuses.
- CPA Exam sections FAR and REG and Part 1 of the CMA exam, involve external financial reporting.
- CPA Exam BEC section and CMA Part 1 share planning, budgeting, and forecasting, performance management, and cost management in common.
- Internal controls are addressed in both the CMA exam Part 1 and the CPA Exam AUD section.
Let’s understand the overlaps in the syllabus in detail from the table below:
| CPA Syllabus | Overlap with CMA Part 1 Syllabus |
|---|---|
| FAR and REG (Tax Implications) | External Financial Reporting Decisions (15%) |
| BEC | Planning, Budgeting, and Forecasting (30%) |
| BEC | Performance Management (20%) |
| BEC | Cost Management (20%) |
| AUD | Internal Controls (15%) |
| CPA Syllabus | Overlap with CMA Part 2 Syllabus |
|---|---|
| FAR and AUD (Analytical Review) | Financial Statement Analysis (25%) |
| BEC | Corporate Finance (20%) |
| BEC | Decision Analysis (20%) |
| BEC and possibly AUD (Audit Risk) | Risk Management (10%) |
| BEC | Investment Decisions (15%) |
| AUD | Professional Ethics (10%) |
Furthermore, holding both the CPA and the CMA requires continuing professional education (CPE) hours. CPA credits are points that professionals receive for participating in specialized activity. Candidates can meet CPE requirements for both qualifications by completing a range of continuing education courses.
CPA vs CMA Exam Difficulty
Determining whether a CPA or CMA is easier depends on your skillset, preferences, and exam preparation. But, to attain a CPA, you must complete 16 hours of exams spread across four sections of the examination. In comparison, the CMA exam is divided into two parts, with a total timeframe of eight hours.
Historically, the CMA exam has a slightly lower pass rate of around 45% for Part 1, Part 2 combined, compared to close to 50% for the combined CPA exam.
Candidates for the CMA have three years to pass both parts of the exam. The clock starts ticking from the date you were accepted into the CMA program. For the CPA exam, however, you have 18 months to pass all four parts from the time you take the first exam.
CPA vs CMA Exam Cost
CPA certification costs around $1,500 on average, which includes exam fees, application expenses, and license fees. The CMA certification, on the other hand, costs around $1,000, including all expenses. Here are other costs associated to the CPA Exam that you should aware of:
| 2022 CPA Exam Fees | 2022 Related CPA Exam Costs |
|---|---|
| Application Fees | $30-200 |
| Examination Fees | $700-950 |
| CPA Exam Retake Fee | $50-200 |
| CPA Review Course | $1200-3600 |
| Total | $1780-4950 |
To understand all the costs involved in a CPA exam plus the licensure, read our A-Z guide on CPA Costs and Fees.
CPA vs CMA Requirements
If you want to become a CPA, plan on investing eight-plus years to get there. To begin, you'll need 150 hours of undergraduate credits, which is equivalent to a bachelor's degree and sometimes a Master’s degree. If your state requires work experience, it will take an additional two years. Given the extremely low first-time pass rate for the CPA exam (across the four sections), which is roughly around 45-63%, the AICPA lets you pass all four exams once you've passed your first within a timeframe of 18 months. CPA requirements often vary by state or jurisdiction. For example, in Nebraska, the state requires you to have a prior work experience of at least 4000 hours to be eligible for licensure. To learn more about the state-specific requirements, read about every state’s requirements for CPA licensure.
In comparison, becoming a CMA can take nine-plus years. To become a CMA, you must first get a bachelor's degree, which may take three to four years. Next is the mandatory two-year work requirement, which can be an internship or a part-time job you can do while in college. Given the difficulty of the CMA exam and the low first-time pass rate, the IMA allows CMA candidates a three-year exam window. As a result, CMA tests typically take longer to pass, which may impact a candidate's morale.
Pay Grade Differences
Certified Public Accountants earn 10-15% more than non-certified ones. Salaries can be higher than average in industries experiencing a lot of growth, like financial technology or software. As a CPA, you can work in auditing, taxation, quality assurance, or advisory services for the top accounting firms, like the Big Four, well-known global companies, or smaller local firms. In recent years, certain industries, like hospitality, healthcare, and EdTech have been growing and looking to hire CPAs.
On the other hand, getting the CMA certification can provide you with numerous options in both the regional and global markets. It will help you improve your financial, accounting, and management skills, which will enhance your job opportunities and help you stand out from the pack.
A CPA's average compensation throughout the course of their career is around $120,000, while a CMA's typical salary is around $100,000. According to the AICPA's survey, the average newly licensed CPA in the United States earns $66,000 annually. However, with 20 years of expertise, one can expect more than $160,000.
CPA Average Salaries from entry-level to experienced
| Licensed CPA Salaries | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tax Services | 25% | 50% | 75% | 95% |
| Senior Manager / Director | $114,250 | $137,500 | $165,000 | $217,000 |
| Manager | $88,500 | $107,000 | $127,000 | $167,750 |
| Senior | $62,000 | $73,250 | $87,250 | $115,500 |
| 1 to 3 Years | $49,000 | $59,750 | $70,500 | $93,500 |
| Up to 1 Year | $40,500 | $49,000 | $57,250 | $75,750 |
| Audit/Assurance Services | 25% | 50% | 75% | 95% |
| Senior Manager / Director | $112,500 | $134,750 | $161,000 | $212,000 |
| Manager | $76,250 | $93,500 | $110,000 | $145,250 |
| Senior | $54,250 | $66,750 | $78,500 | $103,500 |
| 1 to 3 Years | $45,000 | $54,550 | $64,250 | $82,250 |
| Up to 1 Year | $40,500 | $49,000 | $57,750 | $76,500 |
CPA Average Salary by profession
| Designation | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Financial Analyst | $83,660 |
| Management Accountant | $60,968 |
| Senior Accountant | $69,372 |
| Cost Accountant | $57,382 |
| Financial Risk Manager | $102,325 |
| Corporate Controller | $101,370 |
| Chief Financial Officer (CFO) | $137,121 |
Why CPA Might Be A Better Choice?
So, now that you know the major differences between a CPA and a CMA, it's time to make a choice. What you choose will depend on a number of factors and can also be determined by your preferences. However, in our opinion, getting a CPA would be a better choice for an accounting professional. Here’s why:
Raised Entry BarrierThe AICPA and NASBA have advocated for a common CPA prerequisite in all states—the so-called "3E" CPA requirements need 150 credit hours with a focus on accounting, as well as one to two years of experience validated by an active CPA licensee. Because the entry barrier is so high, becoming a CPA is a prestige that few can obtain, making the qualification extremely valuable.
Suitable for All Accounting PositionsThe CPA credential is highly recognized, and you can earn it no matter where you work in finance and accounting, whether in public or non-public accounting. The CMA, on the other hand, is solely useful for individuals who want to work and stay in the corporate world.