{"id":3679,"date":"2025-03-23T16:03:07","date_gmt":"2025-03-24T00:03:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mcclatchymhstg.wpenginepowered.com\/sabe-careers-education\/?p=3679"},"modified":"2026-06-16T15:36:16","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T23:36:16","slug":"how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\/","title":{"rendered":"How Long It Takes to Become a CMA: Career Timeline"},"content":{"rendered":" <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Becoming a Certified Management Accountant is a smart investment in your future, but it&#8217;s not something you can do overnight (until scientists make the matrix, anyway).<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, how long does becoming a CMA <em>actually<\/em> take?<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this guide, I\u2019ll walk you through every step, give you an estimated timeline, and even show you different timelines depending on your starting point. By the end, you&#8217;ll have an exact idea of the road ahead and be able to decide if the CMA journey is the right fit for you.<\/p> <p class=\"custom_key wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list custom_underline\"> <li><strong>The Total Timeline Varies: <\/strong>Depending on your education and experience, becoming a CMA can take one to seven years.<\/li> <li><strong>Education Is Required:<\/strong> To qualify for CMA certification, you need a bachelor&#8217;s degree in any major or an approved certification.<\/li> <li><strong>Exam Takes 6\u201312 Months:<\/strong> Most candidates take about a year to study and pass both parts of the CMA exam.<\/li> <li><strong>Work Experience Can Overlap:<\/strong> You can complete the two-year work experience requirement before, during, or after passing the exam.<\/li> <li><strong>Fast-Track Options Exist:<\/strong> If you already have a degree and experience, you can become a CMA in as little as one to two years.<\/li> <\/ul> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-long-does-it-take-to-earn-a-cma-certification\"><strong>How Long Does It Take to Earn a CMA Certification?<\/strong><\/h2> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-1-join-the-ima-amp-pay-the-cma-entrance-fee-time-a-few-days-to-a-week\"><strong>Step 1: Join the IMA &amp; Pay the CMA Entrance Fee (Time: A Few Days to a Week)<\/strong><\/h3> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before you can even register for the CMA exam, you need to:<\/p> <ul style=\"padding-left: 1.6em;text-align: left;--ub-list-item-icon-top: 3px;--ub-list-item-icon-size: 1.4em;);--ub-list-item-fa-li-top: 3px;--ub-list-item-spacing: 0px;column-count: 1;--ub-list-mobile-column-count: 1\" class=\"wp-block-ub-styled-list ub_styled_list\" id=\"ub_styled_list-00acf92e-0b82-4981-9f40-5335bda5a54f\"> <li class=\"ub_styled_list_item\" style=\"--ub-list-item-icon-top: 3px; --ub-list-item-icon-size: 1.4em; --ub-list-item-background-image: url('data:image\/svg+xml;utf8,&lt;svg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 512 512&quot;&gt;&lt;path fill=&quot;%2300d084&quot; d=&quot;M470.6 105.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-256 256c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0l-128-128c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0L192 338.7 425.4 105.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0z&quot;&gt;&lt;\/path&gt;&lt;\/svg&gt;'); \" id=\"ub-styled-list-item-36d4c5a6-58d4-4ea0-bd54-861b83231d2d\"> <div class=\"ub_list_item_content\"> <span class=\"ub_list_item_icon\"> <svg width=\"1.4em\" height=\"1.4em\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path fill=\"#00d084\" d=\"M470.6 105.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-256 256c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0l-128-128c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0L192 338.7 425.4 105.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0z\"><\/path><\/svg> <\/span> <span class=\"ub_list_item_text\">Become an active member of the Institute of Management Accountants (expect to pay between $49 and $295 for your first year)<\/span> <\/div> <\/li> <li class=\"ub_styled_list_item\" style=\"--ub-list-item-icon-top: 3px; --ub-list-item-icon-size: 1.4em; --ub-list-item-background-image: url('data:image\/svg+xml;utf8,&lt;svg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 512 512&quot;&gt;&lt;path fill=&quot;%2300d084&quot; d=&quot;M470.6 105.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-256 256c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0l-128-128c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0L192 338.7 425.4 105.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0z&quot;&gt;&lt;\/path&gt;&lt;\/svg&gt;'); \" id=\"ub-styled-list-item-a8b58af0-2214-4cf6-b9bf-955572eb0e1b\"> <div class=\"ub_list_item_content\"> <span class=\"ub_list_item_icon\"> <svg width=\"1.4em\" height=\"1.4em\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path fill=\"#00d084\" d=\"M470.6 105.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-256 256c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0l-128-128c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0L192 338.7 425.4 105.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0z\"><\/path><\/svg> <\/span> <span class=\"ub_list_item_text\">Pay the CMA entrance fee ($225 for students\/academics or $300 for professionals)<\/span> <\/div> <\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The entrance fee gives you access to CMA program materials, gets your education and experience reviewed, and puts your name on the IMA\u2019s list of CMAs once you\u2019re certified.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc49 <strong>Timeline Tip:<\/strong> This step is quick\u2014just a bit of paperwork and payment. It shouldn\u2019t take more than a few days to a week.<\/p> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-2-meet-the-education-requirements-time-4-years\"><strong>Step 2: Meet the Education Requirements (Time: 4 Years)<\/strong><\/h3> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To earn your CMA, you need <strong>at least a bachelor\u2019s degree<\/strong> from an accredited college or university. If you\u2019re already in school, great\u2014you\u2019re on the right track!<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>You need a bachelor&#8217;s degree from an accredited college or university. However, you don&#8217;t need a CMA-centric major like Finance or Economics; <strong>any bachelor&#8217;s degree will do!<\/strong><\/li> <li>If you<strong> live in the U.S.<\/strong> and have one of the following certifications, you either don&#8217;t need a Bachelor&#8217;s Degree or can access an alternative education requirement path: <strong>CFA\u00ae, CIA, CFE, or CTP.<\/strong><\/li> <li>If you live <strong>outside of the U.S.<\/strong>, you can access the full list of eligible countries via a link in the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.imanet.org\/ima-certifications\/cma-certification\/cma-handbook\/\"> CMA Handbook<\/a>.<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc49 <strong>Timeline Tip:<\/strong> If you\u2019re still in college, consider taking CMA prep courses in your junior or senior year to speed things up! See <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/best-cma-prep-courses\/\">how these courses compare here<\/a>. Plus, you can take your exams while in college, so prep early for a head start\u2014just submit the proof within 7 years of passing the exams.<\/p> <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/03\/Become-a-CMA-info-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"CMA timeline\" class=\"wp-image-3680\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/03\/Become-a-CMA-info-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/03\/Become-a-CMA-info-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/03\/Become-a-CMA-info-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/03\/Become-a-CMA-info-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/03\/Become-a-CMA-info-280x280.png 280w, https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/03\/Become-a-CMA-info.png 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-3-gain-relevant-work-experience-time-2-years-can-be-before-or-after-exam\"><strong>Step 3: Gain Relevant Work Experience (Time: 2 Years, Can Be Before or After Exam)<\/strong><\/h3> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You need <strong>two consecutive years of work experience<\/strong> in management accounting or financial management to get your Certified Management Accountant certification.<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>The good news? You can get this before, during, or after taking the CMA exam.<\/li> <li>Jobs like <strong>financial analyst, accountant, cost accountant, or internal auditor<\/strong> usually count.<\/li> <li>If you work <strong>part-time<\/strong>, you&#8217;ll need 4 years of experience to qualify.<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc49 <strong>Timeline Tip:<\/strong> If you\u2019re already working in the field, you\u2019re ahead of the game. If not, you can pass the exam first and then work on getting the experience.<\/p> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-4-prepare-for-and-pass-the-cma-exam-time-6-12-months\"><strong>Step 4: Prepare For and Pass the CMA Exam (Time: 6\u201312 Months)<\/strong><\/h3> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The CMA exam is the biggest hurdle in earning your certification. It has <strong>two parts<\/strong>, and most people take them several months apart.<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Part 1:<\/strong> Financial Planning, Performance, and Analytics<\/li> <li><strong>Part 2:<\/strong> Strategic Financial Management<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most candidates study for <strong>300\u2013400 hours total<\/strong>, which takes about <strong>6\u20139 months<\/strong> if you\u2019re studying part-time. Some fast-track it and finish in <strong>3\u20134 months<\/strong>, but that\u2019s intense and best suited for professionals with a lot of experience.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once you\u2019re ready, you\u2019ll take each exam during a <strong>testing window<\/strong> (January\/February, May\/June, or September\/October). Most people schedule their exams for separate testing windows, meaning it takes about <strong>6\u201312 months<\/strong> to finish both. However, you can take both parts in the same window.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc49 <strong>Timeline Tip:<\/strong> If you study aggressively and take both exams back-to-back in a single testing window, you could finish in <strong>6 months or fewer<\/strong>. If you need more time, expect closer to a year.<\/p> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-step-5-maintain-your-certification-ongoing-30-hours-per-year\"><strong>Step 5: Maintain Your Certification (Ongoing: 30 Hours Per Year)<\/strong><\/h3> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Congrats, you\u2019re a CMA! \ud83c\udf89 But to keep your CMA certification basics valid, you need Continuing Professional Education (CPE)\u2014<strong>30 hours per year<\/strong>, including <strong>2 hours of ethics training.<\/strong><\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma-a-summary\"><strong>How Long It Takes to Become a CMA: A Summary<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Becoming a CMA takes <strong>anywhere from 1 to 7 years<\/strong>, depending on your background. Here\u2019s precisely how long it will take based on where you&#8217;re starting.<\/p> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-if-you-re-starting-from-scratch-no-degree-no-experience\"><strong>1. If You\u2019re Starting From Scratch (No Degree, No Experience)<\/strong><\/h3> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc49 <strong>Total Time: 6\u20137 Years<\/strong><\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&#8217;re entirely new to accounting and finance, here\u2019s the real timeline:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Bachelor\u2019s Degree (4 years)<\/strong> \u2013 Required before you can get certified.<\/li> <li><strong>Join the IMA &amp; Pay the Entrance Fee (A Few Days to a Week)<\/strong> \u2013 Must be done before registering for the exam.<\/li> <li><strong>Prepare for &amp; Pass the CMA Exam (6\u201312 months)<\/strong> \u2013 Most people take a year to study and pass.<\/li> <li><strong>Gain 2 Years of Work Experience (2 years, can be before or after the exam)<\/strong> \u2013 You have up to 7 years after passing the exam to complete this.<\/li> <li><strong>Apply for Certification (A Few Weeks)<\/strong> \u2013 Once everything is done, you submit your paperwork.<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2705 <strong>Fastest Possible Time:<\/strong> <strong>6 years<\/strong> (if you work during college and pass the exam quickly)<br>\u23f3 <strong>More Likely Time:<\/strong> <strong>7 years<\/strong> (if you pass the exam first and do work experience after)<\/p> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-if-you-already-have-a-degree-but-no-work-experience\"><strong>2. If You Already Have a Degree (But No Work Experience)<\/strong><\/h3> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc49 <strong>Total Time: 2\u20133 Years<\/strong><\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you already have a bachelor\u2019s degree, you\u2019re halfway there. Here\u2019s your timeline:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Join the IMA &amp; Pay the Entrance Fee<\/strong> (A Few Days to a Week)<\/li> <li><strong>Prepare for &amp; Pass the CMA Exam <\/strong>(6\u201312 months)<\/li> <li><strong>Gain 2 Years of Work Experience<\/strong> (2 years, unless you\u2019ve already started in accounting\/finance)<\/li> <li><strong>Apply for Certification <\/strong>(A Few Weeks)<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2705 <strong>Fastest Possible Time:<\/strong> <strong>2 years<\/strong> (if you pass the exam quickly while working)<br>\u23f3 <strong>More Likely Time:<\/strong> <strong>2.5\u20133 years<\/strong> (if you take more time studying or switch careers)<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc49 <strong>Total Time: 1\u20132 Years<\/strong><\/p> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-if-you-have-both-a-degree-amp-work-experience\"><strong>3. If You Have Both a Degree &amp; Work Experience<\/strong><\/h3> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you already have a bachelor\u2019s degree and 2+ years of work experience, you\u2019re really close to certification. Here\u2019s your timeline:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Join the IMA &amp; Pay the Entrance Fee (A Few Days to a Week)<\/strong><\/li> <li><strong>Prepare for &amp; Pass the CMA Exam (6\u201312 months)<\/strong><\/li> <li><strong>Apply for Certification (A Few Weeks)<\/strong>\u2014Since your experience is already complete, you can apply right after passing the exam.<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2705 <strong>Fastest Possible Time:<\/strong> <strong>1 year<\/strong> (if you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/how-to-pass-cma-exam\/\">pass the CMA exam<\/a> in 6 months)<br>\u23f3 <strong>More Likely Time:<\/strong> <strong>1.5\u20132 years<\/strong> (if you take your time studying)<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-final-thoughts-how-long-does-it-take-to-become-a-cma\"><strong>Final Thoughts: How Long Does it Take to Become a CMA?<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The time it takes to earn your CMA certification depends entirely on where you&#8217;re starting from. For some, it&#8217;s a long-term investment that takes up to seven years; for others, it\u2019s a fast-track career boost that can be done in just one to two years.<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>If you&#8217;re starting from scratch<\/strong>, expect to spend <strong>6\u20137 years<\/strong> earning your degree, gaining experience, and passing the exam.<\/li> <li><strong>If you already have a degree<\/strong>, you\u2019re looking at <strong>2\u20133 years<\/strong> to finish the exam and work experience.<\/li> <li><strong>If you have both a degree and experience<\/strong>, you could be certified in <strong>just 1\u20132 years<\/strong> after passing the exam.<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No matter where you&#8217;re starting, the CMA is one of the fastest and most rewarding accounting and finance certifications out there. If you&#8217;re looking for higher earning potential and career advancement in financial management, the time investment is absolutely worth it.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-faqs\"><strong>FAQs<\/strong><\/h2> <div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1742539859771\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>How long does it take to get your CMA?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">It takes one to seven years, depending on your background. If you have a degree and experience, it can take as little as a year.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1742539865888\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Can you pass CMA in 3 months?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">It\u2019s challenging but possible. Candidates with strong industry experience and full-time study may pass quickly, but most take six to twelve months.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1742539873620\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Is CMA harder than CPA?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">It depends on your strengths. The CPA covers more topics, while the CMA focuses on management accounting and strategy.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1742539880498\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Is it hard to become a certified management accountant?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">It\u2019s challenging but manageable. The biggest hurdle is passing the exam, which requires 300-400 hours of study time.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1742539887588\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Can I take the CMA exam without going to school?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Yes, but you won\u2019t be certified until you earn a bachelor&#8217;s degree or an approved certification.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Becoming a Certified Management Accountant is a smart investment in your future, but it&#8217;s not something you can do overnight (until scientists make the matrix, anyway). So, how long does becoming a CMA actually take? In this guide, I\u2019ll walk you through every step, give you an estimated timeline, and even show you different timelines [&hellip;]<\/p> ","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":3695,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,241],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3679","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-careers-education","category-accounting"],"acf":{"external_author":[129],"external_editor":"","select_template":"default","not_show_feature_image":false,"hide_toc":true},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/03\/How-Long-It-Takes-to-Become-a-CMA-768x428.png","author_info":{"display_name":"","author_link":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/author\/"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.7 (Yoast SEO v27.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How Long It Takes to Become a CMA: Career Timeline<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn everything you need to know about how long it takes to become a CMA to make a plan thats right for you.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How Long It Takes to Become a CMA: Career Timeline\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn everything you need to know about how long it takes to become a CMA to make a plan thats right for you.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Sacramento Bee - Careers &amp; Education\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-03-24T00:03:07+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-06-16T23:36:16+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/03\/How-Long-It-Takes-to-Become-a-CMA.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1002\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"\",\"@id\":\"\"},\"headline\":\"How Long It Takes to Become a CMA: Career Timeline\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-03-24T00:03:07+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-06-16T23:36:16+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1457,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/6\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/How-Long-It-Takes-to-Become-a-CMA.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"Careers &amp; Education\",\"Accounting\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":[\"WebPage\",\"FAQPage\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\\\/\",\"name\":\"How Long It Takes to Become a CMA: Career Timeline\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/6\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/How-Long-It-Takes-to-Become-a-CMA.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-03-24T00:03:07+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-06-16T23:36:16+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"\"},\"description\":\"Learn everything you need to know about how long it takes to become a CMA to make a plan thats right for you.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"mainEntity\":[{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\\\/#faq-question-1742539859771\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\\\/#faq-question-1742539865888\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\\\/#faq-question-1742539873620\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\\\/#faq-question-1742539880498\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\\\/#faq-question-1742539887588\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/6\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/How-Long-It-Takes-to-Become-a-CMA.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/6\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/How-Long-It-Takes-to-Become-a-CMA.png\",\"width\":1800,\"height\":1002,\"caption\":\"How Long It Takes to Become a CMA\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"How Long It Takes to Become a CMA: Career Timeline\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/\",\"name\":\"Sacramento Bee - Careers &amp; Education\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\\\/#faq-question-1742539859771\",\"position\":1,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\\\/#faq-question-1742539859771\",\"name\":\"How long does it take to get your CMA?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"It takes one to seven years, depending on your background. If you have a degree and experience, it can take as little as a year.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\\\/#faq-question-1742539865888\",\"position\":2,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\\\/#faq-question-1742539865888\",\"name\":\"Can you pass CMA in 3 months?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"It\u2019s challenging but possible. Candidates with strong industry experience and full-time study may pass quickly, but most take six to twelve months.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\\\/#faq-question-1742539873620\",\"position\":3,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\\\/#faq-question-1742539873620\",\"name\":\"Is CMA harder than CPA?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"It depends on your strengths. The CPA covers more topics, while the CMA focuses on management accounting and strategy.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\\\/#faq-question-1742539880498\",\"position\":4,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\\\/#faq-question-1742539880498\",\"name\":\"Is it hard to become a certified management accountant?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"It\u2019s challenging but manageable. The biggest hurdle is passing the exam, which requires 300-400 hours of study time.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\\\/#faq-question-1742539887588\",\"position\":5,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\\\/#faq-question-1742539887588\",\"name\":\"Can I take the CMA exam without going to school?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes, but you won\u2019t be certified until you earn a bachelor's degree or an approved certification.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How Long It Takes to Become a CMA: Career Timeline","description":"Learn everything you need to know about how long it takes to become a CMA to make a plan thats right for you.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How Long It Takes to Become a CMA: Career Timeline","og_description":"Learn everything you need to know about how long it takes to become a CMA to make a plan thats right for you.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\/","og_site_name":"Sacramento Bee - Careers &amp; Education","article_published_time":"2025-03-24T00:03:07+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-06-16T23:36:16+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1800,"height":1002,"url":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/03\/How-Long-It-Takes-to-Become-a-CMA.png","type":"image\/png"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\/"},"author":{"name":"","@id":""},"headline":"How Long It Takes to Become a CMA: Career Timeline","datePublished":"2025-03-24T00:03:07+00:00","dateModified":"2026-06-16T23:36:16+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\/"},"wordCount":1457,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/03\/How-Long-It-Takes-to-Become-a-CMA.png","articleSection":["Careers &amp; Education","Accounting"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":["WebPage","FAQPage"],"@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\/","url":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\/","name":"How Long It Takes to Become a CMA: Career Timeline","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/03\/How-Long-It-Takes-to-Become-a-CMA.png","datePublished":"2025-03-24T00:03:07+00:00","dateModified":"2026-06-16T23:36:16+00:00","author":{"@id":""},"description":"Learn everything you need to know about how long it takes to become a CMA to make a plan thats right for you.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\/#breadcrumb"},"mainEntity":[{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\/#faq-question-1742539859771"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\/#faq-question-1742539865888"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\/#faq-question-1742539873620"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\/#faq-question-1742539880498"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\/#faq-question-1742539887588"}],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/03\/How-Long-It-Takes-to-Become-a-CMA.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/03\/How-Long-It-Takes-to-Become-a-CMA.png","width":1800,"height":1002,"caption":"How Long It Takes to Become a CMA"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How Long It Takes to Become a CMA: Career Timeline"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/","name":"Sacramento Bee - Careers &amp; Education","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":""},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\/#faq-question-1742539859771","position":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\/#faq-question-1742539859771","name":"How long does it take to get your CMA?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"It takes one to seven years, depending on your background. If you have a degree and experience, it can take as little as a year.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\/#faq-question-1742539865888","position":2,"url":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\/#faq-question-1742539865888","name":"Can you pass CMA in 3 months?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"It\u2019s challenging but possible. Candidates with strong industry experience and full-time study may pass quickly, but most take six to twelve months.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\/#faq-question-1742539873620","position":3,"url":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\/#faq-question-1742539873620","name":"Is CMA harder than CPA?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"It depends on your strengths. The CPA covers more topics, while the CMA focuses on management accounting and strategy.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\/#faq-question-1742539880498","position":4,"url":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\/#faq-question-1742539880498","name":"Is it hard to become a certified management accountant?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"It\u2019s challenging but manageable. The biggest hurdle is passing the exam, which requires 300-400 hours of study time.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\/#faq-question-1742539887588","position":5,"url":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/how-long-it-takes-to-become-a-cma\/#faq-question-1742539887588","name":"Can I take the CMA exam without going to school?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes, but you won\u2019t be certified until you earn a bachelor's degree or an approved certification.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"first_category":{"name":"Accounting","url":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/accounting\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"attributes":[],"href":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3679"}],"collection":[{"attributes":[],"href":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"attributes":[],"href":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"attributes":{"embeddable":true},"href":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"attributes":{"embeddable":true},"href":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3679"}],"version-history":[{"attributes":{"count":1},"href":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3679\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"attributes":{"id":11531},"href":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3679\/revisions\/11531"}],"acf:post":[{"attributes":{"embeddable":true},"href":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/external-author\/129"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"attributes":{"embeddable":true},"href":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3695"}],"wp:attachment":[{"attributes":[],"href":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3679"}],"wp:term":[{"attributes":{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true},"href":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3679"},{"attributes":{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true},"href":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3679"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}