Candidates must be an active* CISA, or a CPA or CA from one of the following qualified accounting bodies:

• CPA license from any US State Board
• Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
• Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ)
• Chartered Accountants Ireland Institute
• Chartered Professional Accountants Canada (CPA Canada)
• CPA Australia
• Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA)
• Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Ireland (CPA Ireland)
• Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)
• Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI)
• Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS)
• Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU)
• Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA)
• Koninklijke Nederlandse Beroepsorganisatie van Accountants (NBA)
• Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA)
• Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA)
• Registro Oficial de Auditores de Cuentas (ROAC)
• Saudi Organization for Certified Public Accountants (SOCPA)
• South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA)
• State of Israel Ministry of Justice-Board of Accountants

*Former members and students are ineligible

Important Note: The CIA Exam syllabus has been updated to reflect the new Global Internal Audit Standards™. However, the CIA Challenge Exam will remain unchanged through February 2026. The registration deadline for the current CIA Challenge Exams is September 30, 2025.

There are three Parts in the CIA Challenge Exam syllabus for CPAs and CAs:

1. Essentials of Internal Auditing (35%)
2. Practice of Internal Auditing (43%)
3. Business Knowledge for Internal Auditing (22%)

There are three Parts in the CIA Challenge Exam syllabus for CISA holders:

1. Essentials of Internal Auditing (50%)
2. Practice of Internal Auditing (30%)
3. Business Knowledge for Internal Auditing (20%)

These Sections are the same as the three Parts on the standard CIA exam. However, for the Challenge Exam there are fewer questions than on the full CIA Exams and some topics in each Part are not tested on the Challenge Exams. Though some topics on the CIA Exams are not included on the Challenge Exam, most topics are included. In fact, over 70% of the syllabus for the CIA Exams is on the CIA Challenge Exams.

As with the regular CIA exams, all questions are split into two levels of proficiency:

• Basic (marked with a B in the exam syllabus). These questions require basic knowledge. Candidates must be informed about these topics, but in-depth knowledge is not required.
• Proficient (marked with a P in the exam syllabus). Candidates must have a deep knowledge of these topics and should be able to apply this knowledge to practical situations.

The syllabus for the first two Sections of the Challenge Exam is built on the International Professional Practices Framework and Standards. On the Challenge Exam, there are 150 multiple-choice questions, and candidates have three hours to complete the exam. Unlike the CIA exams that are offered in many different languages, the Challenge Exam is available only in English.

Candidates have to get 600 points out of 750 to pass the exam on a scaled scoring system. This means 600 does NOT translate to 70%. The points are given based on the number of correct answers and based on the difficulty of the questions.

• Application window: April - September
• Testing Windows: June, August, November, and February

Exam fees (paid to The IIA)

The IIA offers a CIA Challenge Exam bundle that includes the application fee, registration fee, study guide, and access to the Standards. The price of the bundle is $1,255 for IIA members and $1,625 for non-members. Membership in The IIA is a good investment to get the reduced pricing.

If you don't pass the exam on the first attempt, the retake costs $795 USD for IIA members and $945 USD for non-IIA members.

The HOCK CIA Challenge Exam Prep Materials (paid to HOCK)

Check out information and pricing on HOCK materials for the CIA Challenge Exam here.

Note: Prior to submitting an application, candidates are required to obtain a letter of good standing from their local accounting body.

The application window for the CIA Challenge Exam is April - September. To apply for the exam, follow these steps:

1. Create a profile on the Certification Candidate Management System (CCMS).
2. Select “Apply for Certified Internal Auditor.”
3. Select “Accounting body challenge exam.”
4. After you make the payment, upload a letter of good standing from the qualified accounting body and a government-issued ID.
5. Complete the electronic character reference.

You can register and schedule your CIA Challenge Exam after your application is approved. There is no specific registration window, but you can only take the exam during the exam windows (see above). Also, after you register, you have 180 days to schedule and sit for the exam.

To register for the exam, follow these steps:

1. Log in to the Certification Candidate Management System (CCMS)
2. Select “Manage my program
3. Select "CIA"
4. Select "Register"

To schedule the exam, select "Access PearsonVUE" and follow the instructions.

We recommend studying 1-2 hours at a time, three to five times a week, which will prepare you to take the exam after 2-3 months of studying. Of course, you will need to adjust the time based on your education, experience, and other time commitments.

Candidates receive a "CIA Challenge Exam Study Guide for Qualified CAs / CPAs" and practice questions included within a customized CIA Learning System with their registration for the Challenge Exam, but this is not the normal materials that candidates use to pass the CIA Exams. Complete preparation materials will make your studies both more effective and more efficient.

The HOCK CIA Challenge Exam materials cover the exam syllabus and are made up the three types of materials:

1. Online Textbook
2. Test Bank
3. Video Lectures

The HOCK Team is always here to answer your questions about the CIA exams. Send us an email at support@hockinternational.com and we will be happy to support you in your CIA journey!