You need to complete specific accounting and management topics at the university level to be eligible to take the CMA Entrance Examination. These prerequisite studies topics cover a wide range of business disciplines and provide the foundation knowledge that is essential for advanced business studies in the CMA Strategic Leadership Program.

You can complete the CMA prerequisite studies topics as part of your university degree studies or through:

• additional university courses taken after you have graduated
• CMA Ontario's Accelerated Program
• a Combined CMA/Masters Program at an Ontario university
• the CMA Executive Program

CMA Ontario will evaluate your university transcripts and let you know which prerequisite studies topics you have successfully completed and which topics you still need to complete to be eligible for the CMA Entrance Examination.

The 17 prerequisite studies topics are:

Management Studies Management Accounting:  Introductory Management Accounting: Intermediate Management Accounting: Advanced Corporate Finance Operations Management Information Technology Strategic Management International Business Human Resources Marketing

General Accounting Studies Financial Accounting: Introductory Financial Accounting: Intermediate Financial Accounting: Advanced Taxation Internal Control Related Studies Economics (Macro and Micro) Statistics

You must get a minimum grade of 60% in each undergraduate course and 70% in each graduate course to qualify to take the CMA Entrance Examination.

Mutual Recognition Agreements

CMA Ontario has mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) with the following international accounting bodies:

• the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
• the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA)
• CPA Australia (CPAA)

If you are eligible for advanced standing under a mutual recognition agreement, you are required to complete only a CMA-approved university course in Canadian taxation to meet the prerequisite studies requirement. See Your Path to Becoming a CMA for eligibility requirements.

Professional Advanced Standing Policies

CMA Ontario has professional advanced standing (PAS) policies for members of the following international accounting bodies:

• the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
• the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan (ICMAP)

If you are eligible for advanced standing under a PAS policy, you are exempted from the prerequisite studies requirement. See Your Path to Becoming a CMA for eligibility requirements.

Your degree is from a recognized university

If you have a university degree from a recognized university, but you are not eligible under an MRA or a PAS policy, CMA Ontario will assess your university transcripts and let you know which prerequisite studies topics you have already completed and which ones you need to complete.

If your degree is from a recognized university, you have several options for completing the prerequisite studies topics that you still need to complete based on your transcript evaluation. You can take:

• approved courses at a recognized university on a full-time or part-time basis
• the CMA Accelerated Program
• a Combined CMA/Masters Program
• the CMA Executive Program

a) Take approved courses at a recognized university on a full-time or part-time basis

Most Ontario universities offer courses that cover the CMA prerequisite studies topics. Review a list of Ontario and online university programs that cover the CMA prerequisite studies.

You must achieve a minimum grade of 60% in each course at the undergraduate degree level and a minimum grade of 70% in each course at the graduate degree level.

b) Take the CMA Accelerated Program

The CMA Accelerated Program is an intensive bridging program consisting of 22 lessons delivered over a seven-month period. The program is designed to help you qualify more quickly for the CMA Entrance Examination and to prepare you to write the exam.

The program covers the following prerequisite studies topics:

• Intermediate Management Accounting
• Advanced Management Accounting
• Intermediate Financial Accounting
• Advanced Financial Accounting
• Corporate Finance
• Operations Management
• Information Technology
• Strategic Management
• International Business
• Human Resources
• Marketing
• Taxation
• Internal Control

To be eligible for the CMA Accelerated Program, you must have:

• a degree from a recognized university
• a minimum grade of 60% in university-level courses in Introductory Management Accounting, Introductory Financial Accounting, Economics (Macro and Micro), and Statistics
• advanced communication skills in spoken and written English

It is also recommended that you:

• be currently employed in a business position or have two years previous business experience
• be familiar with the use of computers in business

You can attend full-day Saturday lectures in some Ontario cities or take the program by distance learning. In addition to the time you spend attending lectures or viewing DVDs of lectures, you will need to spend at least 15 to 20 hours a week studying and completing assignments.

There are four tests in the Accelerated Program, which you must write in Ontario. You must achieve an overall minimum grade of 60% to qualify for the CMA Entrance Examination.

To apply for the Accelerated Program, contact the CMA Accreditation Department.

c) Take a Combined CMA/Masters Program

Many Ontario universities offer programs in which you can earn your CMA designation and a Masters degree at the same time. In each of these programs, you can complete the CMA prerequisite studies to qualify for the Entrance Examination. These programs also include the professional studies component of the CMA Strategic Leadership Program. However, you must still complete the CMA Case Examination and CMA Board Report components of the Strategic Leadership Program through CMA Ontario. You must achieve a minimum grade of 70% in each course and be awarded your Masters degree.

Review a list of the Ontario universities that offer Combined CMA/Masters Programs. 

d) Take the CMA Executive Program

If you have a university degree and at least five years of senior-level experience in strategic financial management, you may be eligible to earn the CMA designation through the CMA Executive Program. In year one of this two-year, part-time program, you will complete the CMA prerequisite studies. Year two is an executive version of the CMA Strategic Leadership Program. If you complete this program, you are exempted from the CMA Entrance Examination, the CMA Strategic Leadership Program, and the 24-month practical work experience requirement. You must achieve a minimum grade of 60% to pass this program.

Your degree is from a non-recognized university

If your university is not recognized by CMA Ontario, you will need to complete all 17 prerequisite studies topics through a recognized university. If you are eligible for CMA Ontario’s mature student policy, you will be exempted from the degree requirement. If you are not eligible for the mature student policy, you will also have to earn a university degree from a recognized university.

Most Ontario universities offer courses that cover the CMA prerequisite studies topics.

Review a list of Ontario and online university programs that cover the CMA prerequisite studies.

You must achieve a minimum grade of 60% in each course at the undergraduate degree level and a minimum grade of 70% in each course at the graduate degree level.