CMA after graduation in mind, or CFA, ACCA, or CIMA? Confused with the choices available. In a highly competitive world of financial management and accounting, graduates have numerous options to continue with specialized educational qualifications.
It is generally known as “choice overload”, Have you heard of it? With so many options available after graduation, it becomes overwhelming for them to decide on the right specialization. So, one of the most promising choices for graduates is doing CMA after graduation. The US CMA course duration typically takes 12 to 18 months per part, depending on your preparation time and study pace. This flexibility allows you to balance your career while pursuing this valuable qualification.
Table of Contents:
An Overview of CMA After Graduation
Doing CMA after graduation is a focused pathway that will equip you with critical skills in demand worldwide. CMA certification gives your career global exposure aligned with the dynamic needs of the financial industry.
What is CMA?
The Certified Management Accountant (CMA) is a professional certification. It is awarded by the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) in the United States and is recognized globally in more than 150+ countries.
CMA qualification focuses on financial management and strategic business skills, including areas like financial analysis, budgeting, planning, decision support, and risk management.
It can take up to 2 years to be a professional at max, which remains the same for graduates. The US CMA course duration after graduation in India ranges from 12 to 18 months. Some students are quick learners so they can finish it earlier as compared to their peers.
Why Choose CMA After Your Graduation?
Choosing to pursue CMA after your graduation can be a game changer for those who want to build their career in accounting, finance, and management. A specialized US CMA Course equips you with the expertise needed to excel in these fields. Hence, making you a standout candidate for employers seeking skilled professionals for managerial roles.
Step-by-Step Guide to Pursue CMA Course After Graduation in India
After completing your graduation, you shall pursue CMA and to do that, you shall follow this step-by-step guide.
Step 1: Check Your CMA Eligibility after Graduation
To be eligible for CMA, one must have a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, economics, and general business from a recognized university or any professional certification.
There is one more conditional requirement of having two years of professional experience in management accounting or financial management which can be completed before or within seven years of passing the CMA exam.
Step 2: IMA Membership
After meeting the CMA eligibility after graduation requirements, you must pay IMA to register yourself as a permanent member. IMA offers different memberships to professionals, students, and academics for which the cost also differs.
IMA Professional membership is for those who already have a career in accounting or finance costing $295 for the first year, then $280 annually.
The IMA Student membership costs only $49 per year for current students in accredited universities. They have an option of choosing a one- or two-year membership.
Step 3: Find and Join the Right CMA Course Provider
It is considerably an important decision to take. Researching and finding a reliable institute to enroll yourself in and start your CMA journey. It may depend on various factors like flexibility to learn, experienced mentors, fees, study material, success rate, and many more depending upon individuals.
Similarly, if you google, you will find the best CMA USA Coaching center located in Delhi, India. edZeb is founded by CAs and CMAs with an aim and passion towards delivering the best professionals into the management and accounting industry. Apart from quality education at an affordable fee in an institute providing the best learning ecosystem, our students under expert guidance pass with high rates. Would you like to know about our mentors?
CA Amit Jugia, our CMA mentor is also one of our Co-founders at edZeb. A distinguished mentor and an accomplished professional having 20 years of experience in this field. His prestigious ranks include All India Rank 20 in CA, All India Rank 4 in CMA Final, and All India Rank 1 in CIMA. He is an Ex. PwC professional, from where he gained a wealth of practical knowledge and industry insights. His lectures include all this making him an expert and trusted mentor who has trained over 10,000 students aspiring to be finance and accounting professionals.
We also have CA Akhil Iyer. A professional with over 21 years of experience in the finance and accounting domain. He achieved an All India Rank of 34 in CA. He has worked with global organizations like Google, American Express, the British Council, GE, and EY. His industry background provides students with a deep understanding of real-world financial practices and strategic insights. With a passion for teaching, he has successfully trained over 10,000 students, empowering them with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in their careers.
We, at edZeb, stand out in the industry. We offer practical skills and industry-relevant training. It helps in empowering our students to excel in their careers. Our CMA course will help you with upskilling, using an interactive Learning Management System encouraging flexible learning and placement services. The company uses KICN (Knowledge Integrated with Corporate Needs) teaching methodology, and our mentors with over 75 years of collective experience, believe in giving personalized attention. We offer comprehensive career solutions for both Indian and international job markets.
Step 4: Plan Your Exam Preparation
It is undoubtedly important to be aware of the CMA US exam structure. It includes 2 parts:
Part 1: Financial Planning, Performance, and Analytics
Part 2: Strategic Financial Management
Each part is 3 hours long with 100 multiple-choice questions. It represents 75% of the exam score. However, the second section is essay writing representing the remaining 25%, for which you will be given 30 minutes to write each of the two essays.
According to the syllabus and the subjects of the CMA US, plan a schedule prioritizing your CMA preparation maintaining a balance of personal and professional obligations.
Step 5: Schedule Your Exams
The CMA US exams are conducted thrice a year within the three testing windows: January–February, May–June, and September–October. It is recommended to schedule at least a month in advance.
Step 6: Fulfill the Work Experience Requirement
CMA, Certified Management Accountant Course requirements also include the work experience of staff accountants or CFOs in various roles like financial analyst and senior accountant. It can be completed before or within seven years of passing the CMA exam. It simply means that college students and professionals are allowed to sit for the exam even without two years of accounting experience.
Certified Management Accountant requirements prefer consecutive years of experience, and each CMA membership is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Academics with at least 60% of their courses being accounting and corporate financial management courses above the fundamental level meet the experience qualification.
Step 7: Apply and Maintain Your CMA Certification
After passing your CMA exams and fulfilling the experience requirement, you can apply for the certification through the IMA for which you have to submit your proof of education, experience, and exam scores.
Then, fulfill continuing education requirements (30 hours annually) and maintain your IMA membership to keep your certification active.
Benefits of Pursuing a CMA Course After Graduation
Here are some of the reasons why a CMA course after graduation is an excellent choice for many seeking management and accounting professions.
Improved Career Prospects
You will learn advanced skills like cost accounting, reporting skills, mentoring, budgeting, and forecasting to make informed management decisions for business growth. These skills enhance your employability locally as well as globally.
Global Recognition
CMA certification provides the much-needed credibility to build an international career. It signifies your high level of expertise being valued by management employers.
Faster Entry into the Workforce
Graduates with CMA are highly demanded due to their specialized knowledge directly entering mid-level or senior positions in the industry.
Higher CMA Salaries
Graduates with CMA have gained expertise and specialize in their field leading to highly competitive salaries as compared to their peers with no such credentials. So, a CMA graduate salary ranges from INR 6 to 10 lakhs per annum, often reaching INR 15 to 20 lakhs per annum or more for senior roles. Globally, CMA graduate salary is even higher, varying from USD 70,000 to 120,000 per year, reflecting the global demand for their skills and expertise.
Future Professional Growth
No doubt CMA after graduation enhances your immediate career prospects but it also lays the foundation for future certifications. It shows your dedication to constant learning and career advancement.
Flexibility
CMA Course offers flexible learning and exam schedules so that graduates study at their own pace while gaining practical experience. It allows you to balance studies with work and other obligatory commitments.
Specialized Knowledge
By gaining CMA certification, you will specialize in management accounting making you an ideal choice for various management roles. Any leadership role in the management and accounting sectors expects you to have expertise in corporate finance, consulting, or strategic planning.
CMA Course After Graduation: Bcom, BBA, BAF and BSc Finance
Graduating in different fields of study makes you eligible to do CMA. So let us quickly go through which course of studies is suitable to continue CMA after graduation in India that aligns with the CMA course.
CMA after Bcom
After passing B.Com, students can enroll in the CMA US certification program. The most suitable course after B.Com. It offers international acceptance as CMA is globally recognized and provides attractive employment opportunities. Choosing CMA after Bcom equips graduates with a comprehensive understanding of various financial and management accounting disciplines.
CMA after BBA
BBA lays the foundation for business principles, so doing CMA after BBA will equip students with specific skills needed to become successful in their careers. A dual qualification like this one, CMA after BBA widens the scope of career opportunities. CMA professionals work mainly in financial, corporate, and cost accounting domains but with BBA they can also provide services to other related businesses, and perform roles such as internal auditor, financial risk manager, and many more.
CMA after BAF
Graduates in BAF are aware of accounting, taxation, and financial management concepts which is why they are well-prepared for the CMA program and confidently sit in the CMA exams. This dual qualification allows professionals to work in strategic roles in corporate finance.
CMA after BSc Finance
To enhance your strategic financial planning and analysis, students can opt to do CMA after BSc Finance to stand out and increase their worth for potential employers. This combination opens up various job opportunities in financial corporations, consulting firms, and government agencies. You can take up a management accountant, financial analyst, financial controller, finance manager, and chief financial officer roles. But before doing it, you should significantly pay attention to your career goals and personal resources to determine if a CMA credential will help you achieve your goals.
Conclusion
CMA after graduation provides significant advantages to build a robust career in management, finance and accounting. CMA is a recognized qualification in more than 100 countries proving to be the right pathway offering enhanced skills for those aiming for advanced management and accounting roles. It is suggested to follow the necessary steps and land yourself in a reliable CMA course provider’s institute to not waste time and effort. It will considerably save you time and you can also carefully consider all your requirements being fulfilled by your institute to build a successful career.
FAQ’s
What Is The CMA Course Duration After Graduation in India?
Considering the CMA duration after Bcom is the same as the course duration, which is 12 to 18 months.
Is CMA after Qualifying BBA a Good Option Or Not?
No doubt, a dual qualification opens up numerous job opportunities, so a CMA after graduation, especially a BBA, enhances you with the advanced skill set to excel in management and accounting domains.
Is CMA Bigger Than CA?
CMA is comparatively a short-term course than CA. CA is a professional course that takes a minimum of 5 years to complete while CMA can be done in 2 years approximately.
What Is The Highest Salary For CMA?
CMA professionals earn handsome salary packages including incentives and perks exclusive of their basic salary. The highest salary for CMAs is up to 50 lacs in India but it tends to vary slightly depending upon the economic upheavals in the market.
Is CMA Recognized Globally?
Yes, CMA is recognized widely. CMA professionals can find work in almost 100 countries. It offers lucrative job opportunities in management and accounting domains globally.
