Professional Designations and Certifications

The CIA is the primary professional designation offered by The IIA. The CIA designation is a globally recognized certification for internal auditors and is a standard by which individuals may demonstrate their competency and professionalism in the internal audit field. In order to earn the CIA, one must possess a U.S. college degree or equivalent academic qualification from another country (work experience cannot be substituted for the degree), have a professional reference, pass a four-part exam (exemptions may be secured from part four via other relevant professional qualifications), and complete 24 months in the internal audit profession.

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The title Certified Management Accountant is a professional designation awarded by various professional bodies around the world. The CMA designation is a post-nominal award issued to individuals who have achieved a peer-based criteria of professional competency in the field of Management Accounting. Management accounting qualifications differ from those such as the ACA or CPA "Chartered" or "Public" accounting qualifications in a number of ways. Management accountants are primarily focused on internal cost measures and accounting for management review, whereas ACA/CPA specialists are focused on reporting financial results to external bodies such as tax departments, capital markets, investors and others.

The CMA qualification is offered in Australia, Canada, the United States, and many other developed countries. CMAs are granted a certificate from a professional body like the Institute of Certified Management Accountants (ICMA), the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), provided that they pass a rigorous examination, and meet the necessary educational and practical experience requirements. Due to their non-statutory status in the United States, CMAs in that country generally provide their services directly to their employers rather than to the public. American CMAs may also provide services to the public, but do so to a much lesser extent than a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

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Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) is a designation awarded by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). The ACFE is a 41,000 member-based global association dedicated to providing anti-fraud education and training.
In order to become a Certified Fraud Examiner one must meet the following requirements:

- Be an Associate Member of the ACFE in good standing
- Meet minimum academic and professional requirements
- Be of high moral character
- Agree to abide by the Bylaws and Code of Professional Ethics of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners ...

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Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is the statutory title of qualified accountants in the United States who have passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination and have met additional state education and experience requirements for certification as a CPA. In most U.S. states, only CPAs who are licensed are able to provide to the public attestation (including auditing) opinions on financial statements. The exceptions to this rule are Arizona, Kansas, North Carolina and Ohio, where although the "CPA" designation is restricted, the practice of auditing is not.

Many states have a lower tier of accountant qualification (below that of CPA), usually entitled "Public Accountant" (with designatory letters "PA"). However the majority of states have closed the designation "Public Accountant" to new entrants, with only about 10 states continuing to offer the designation. Many PAs belong to the National Society of (Public) Accountants ...

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Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) is an international professional designation offered by the CFA Institute of USA (formerly known as AIMR) to financial analysts who complete a series of three examinations. Candidates must have a bachelor's degree (or equivalent), be in the final year of their bachelor's degree program, or have at least four years of qualified, professional work experience in order to take the exams. In order to become a "CFA Charterholder" candidates must pass all three exams, agree to comply with the code of ethics, pay member dues, and have four years of work experience deemed acceptable by the CFA Institute. CFA charterholders are also obligated to adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and Standards governing their professional conduct ...

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