Exam Procedures and Registration

The CMA exams are computer-based and administered in hundreds of testing facilities worldwide. With three testing windows each year, you can sit for an exam part at a time and place convenient for you.

• 1

  Join IMA

• 2

  Pay the CMA Certification Entrance Fee

• 3

  File an Exam Registration Form selecting the exam(s) you wish to take and pay the indicated fees.

• 4

  Receive a Registration acknowledgment form which provides your authorization number(s), testing window(s), the Instructions for Candidates, and access to the CMA Exam Support Package.

• 5

  Schedule your exam appointment(s) with Prometric.

• 6

  Appear for your scheduled exam appointment(s) with the required identification documents.

We urge you to schedule your appointment as soon as possible to avoid a lapse in your authorization number. Your authorization number is only valid for the testing window you select; there are no extensions and no refunds/credits for exam registrations.

Exam Locations

Exams are administered through the worldwide network of Prometric Testing Centers and are available in accordance with local customs. There are many locations throughout the U.S. and internationally. To locate a Testing Center and schedule exam appointments, visit www.prometric.com/ICMA.

Exam Sessions

Exams are offered according to the following schedule:

1. January and February
2. May and June
3. September and October

To schedule exam appointments, visit www.prometric.com/ICMA.

Tips on Scheduling Your Exam Appointments

To ensure your first choice of date, time, and location, it is best to schedule your appointment at least four weeks in advance. All exam appointments must be scheduled at least 72 hours in advance of the exam date. Once you are registered, you must take the exam part during your assigned testing window. If for any reason you are unable to schedule an exam appointment during the assigned testing window, you will need to pay for a new registration.

If you are unable to keep a scheduled exam appointment at Prometric, you must cancel 72 hours prior to your appointment date. To cancel an exam appointment, call Prometric at (800) 479-6370, Monday through Saturday, or go to www.prometric.com/ICMA. If you do not comply with this cancellation policy, you will be considered a "no-show" and will need to re-register with ICMA and pay the registration fee.

Registration Fee Refund Policy

After 30 days from the date of registration, examination fees are not refundable. Within 30 days of the registration date, an examination fee may be refunded if no test appointment has been set. A $25 processing fee will be deducted from the refund. We do not offer extensions of exam parts; you must sit in the testing window for which you purchased a registration.

If you purchase both parts 1 and 2 for the same testing window you are eligible for a $100 discount. To receive the discount, you are required to take both exams in the same testing window. If you are unable to, and you request a refund of one part within 30 days of purchase, you will receive a refund of $225. After 30 days, there are no refunds. (Refund calculation: $600 paid less $350 for the exam part you plan to take, less $25 processing fee equals a refundable amount of $225.)

Exam Retake Policy

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

Expiration of Exam Parts

All CMA candidates have three years to pass Part 1 and Part 2 of the exam. The time period will begin with the date of your entry into the CMA program. If you do not complete the two-part exam within three years, credit for the part passed will expire and you will have to retake the exam.

Instructions to Candidates

• Read the complete instructions for candidates
• If you enrolled for the four-part exam CMA program prior to February 28, 2010, click here for important information.