IMA Announces Record Growth for CMA Credential; Reaches Milestone with 50,000 Certificate Holders

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Jul 25, 2016, 08:47 ET

MONTVALE, N.J., July 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- IMA^® (Institute of Management Accountants), the association of accountants and financial professionals in business, today announced record-breaking growth of its flagship certification, the CMA^® (Certified Management Accountant) credential in fiscal year (FY) 2016, ending June 30.

After its sixth consecutive year of significant growth, the premier global management accounting certification reached a milestone of 50,000 holders since the program was created in 1972. In FY 2016, 3,838 CMAs earned the credential; a record number for any fiscal year. In addition, 18,761 new candidates enrolled in the program – a 20 percent jump from 2015 – which brings the number of candidates who chose to join the program in the past five years to 70,000.

"This rise in numbers – as well as respect and influence – confirms that the CMA continues to be the leading global management accounting credential in the world," said Jeff Thomson, CMA, CAE, president and CEO of IMA. "For more than 40 years, we have been building a professional certification program that is a true reflection of the global management accounting profession. We pride ourselves in providing a certification that represents credibility and competence in all of the most crucial management accounting skill sets."

The CMA's growth is all the more impressive due to its rigorous testing methodology and high standards to earn the credential. Passing the CMA exam ensures every certificate holder has education, experience and mastery of the 11 most vital practice areas in management accounting including financial planning and analysis, control, decision support and professional ethics.

"IMA believes that the best means for employers to be confident they have secured the most competent management accounting workforce is to pursue a rigorous and relevant certification, earned through work experience, testing and continuing education," said Dennis Whitney, CMA, CFM, CAE and ICMA (Institute of Certified Management Accountants) senior vice president. "The CMA is the only global management accounting certification that can guarantee every single certificate holder meets these criteria."

The CMA is also the only U.S.-based management accounting credential to include both multiple choice and essay testing formats, ensuring high reliability and validity of knowledge at a mastery level. For more information on the CMA, please visit:www.imanet.org/cma.

About IMA^® (Institute of Management Accountants)
IMA^®, the association of accountants and financial professionals in business, is one of the largest and most respected associations focused exclusively on advancing the management accounting profession. Globally, IMA supports the profession through research, the CMA^® (Certified Management Accountant) program, continuing education, networking and advocacy of the highest ethical business practices. IMA has a global network of more than 80,000 members in 140 countries and 300 professional and student chapters. Headquartered in Montvale, N.J., USA, IMA provides localized services through its four global regions: The Americas, Asia/Pacific, Europe, and Middle East/Africa. For more information about IMA, please visit www.imanet.org.