CIA Exam Information

The CIA certification is a professional credential offered by The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) that verifies a person’s knowledge in assessing a variety of business functions and corporate governance.

Internal Auditors are relied upon for assessments of an organization’s business processes. Their independent and objective evaluations of financial operations, business activities, and corporate governance are crucial in assessing efficiency, adhering to procedure, and assuring compliance with legal requirements. Additionally, their post-audit recommendations to management help set the course for legal and ethical compliance with both the governing laws and outside regulations.

CIAs are highly valued for their expertise in the objective assessment of business operations. Certification opens doors for those interested in expanding their opportunities throughout an organization’s structure. Professionals with the CIA Certification are more likely to be offered advancement into strategic corporate planning and leadership roles within the internal audit activity.

According to The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), certification increases earning potential by as much as 51%.

The total cost to become a CIA includes both 1) exam registration fees and 2) exam prep materials.

1) Exam Registration Fees

The costs to become a Certified CIA professional depend on your membership status or if you are a full-time University student.

2) Exam Prep Materials

While many CIA review providers charge $1,000–$2,000 or more for study materials alone, HOCK offers a complete CIA Membership for $59.99 per month with our current 50% discount.

HOCK CIA Membership includes complete CIA study materials, professional development courses, digital badges, and access to the HOCK Circle community - all in one place.

You can study at your own pace, take as long as you need, and cancel anytime.

In order to become certified, individuals must meet one of the following combinations of education and experience.

1. A Master’s degree and one year of professional experience as an internal auditor.
2. A Bachelor’s degree and two years of professional experience as an internal auditor.
3. No degree and five years of professional experience as an internal auditor.

The CIA exam has 3 Parts, each covering topics relevant to Internal Auditing:

CIA Part 1

1. Foundations of Internal Auditing – 35%
2. Ethics and Professionalism – 20%
3. Governance, Risk Management, and Control – 30%
4. Fraud Risks – 15%

CIA Part 2

1. Engagement Planning – 50%
2. Information Gathering, Analysis, and Evaluation – 40%
3. Engagement Supervision and Communication – 10%

CIA Part 3

1. Internal Audit Operations – 25%
2. Internal Audit Plan – 15%
3. Quality of the Internal Audit Function – 15%
4. Engagement Results and Monitoring – 45%

• CIA Part 1 - Internal Audit Fundamentals | 125 multiple-choice questions | 150 minutes
• CIA Part 2 - Internal Audit Engagement | 100 multiple-choice questions | 120 minutes
• CIA Part 3 - Internal Audit Function | 100 multiple-choice questions | 120 minutes

The CIA exam registration is done through the IIA, and exams are taken in person at Pearson Vue Testing Centers located in major cities worldwide.

Based on the difficulty of the questions randomly selected for your exam and the number of questions that you got correct, you are given a “scaled score” between 250 and 750. A 600 score is required to pass the exam.

Note: 600 does NOT translate to 70%. It is simply a score and not a percentage of anything.

Once you have your CIA certification, you must earn the required 40 CPE every year.

You can earn CPE by attending webinars, many of which are free. Failure to maintain CPE will result in your removal from The IIA's records of certified members.

CPE requirements are listed here.

While every student will study at a different pace, it usually takes about 2-3 months of study per Part. Our PassMap Learning Management System lets you customize your learning experience. By simply entering your target exam date into PassMap, you will have a weekly study schedule to stay on track for your target exam date.

Explore our FREE CIA exam resources:

• Join HOCK Free Membership for sample materials, free MCQs, and more
• Download CIA Exam Guide
• Download CIA Exam Study Tips
• Test Your Knowledge with a Free CIA MCQs Quiz
• Watch Your Guide To The CIA Certification - webinar with Brian Hock

For in-depth articles about choosing a certification, preparing for exams, and professional development, visit the free HOCK Resource Library.

If you have any other questions about the exam or studying for the exam, please get in touch, andwe will be glad to help.