CMA US vs CMA India – What Is the Difference?
CMA US or CMA India - which one is better? Both CMA US and CMA India are professional accounting and finance certifications that can help you advance your career. Although there are many similarities between the two, let's take a look at the differences first.
Designation
CMA US - Certified Management Accountant
CMA India - Cost Management Accountant
The Examining Body
Eligibility Requirements
CMA US - Bachelor's degree and two years of professional experience
CMA India - Class 12
Study Time
CMA US – 8-18 months
CMA India – 3 – 4 years
Recognition
CMA US – Global
CMA India – India only
Accounting Standards
CMA US – US GAAP and IFRS
CMA India – IND AS (Indian GAAP)
Now, let's take a closer look at the exams.
CMA US - 2 Exams
Part 1. Financial Planning, Performance, and Analytics
- External Financial Reporting Decisions
- Planning, Budgeting, and Forecasting
- Performance Management
- Cost Management
- Internal Controls
- Technology and Analytics
Part 2. Strategic Financial Management
- Financial Statement Analysis
- Corporate Finance
- Decision Analysis
- Risk Management
- Investment Decisions
- Professional Ethics
CMA India - 20 Exams (Papers)
CMA Foundation
- Paper 1: Fundamentals of Economics and Management
- Paper 2: Fundamentals of Accounting
- Paper 3: Fundamentals of Laws and Ethics
- Paper 4: Fundamentals of Business Mathematics & Statistic
CMA Intermediate
- Paper 5: Financial Accounting
- Paper 6: Laws, Ethics and Governance
- Paper 7: Direct Taxation
- Paper 8: Cost accounting and financial management
- Paper 9: Operation Management Information System
- Paper 10: Cost and Management Accounting
- Paper 11: Indirect Taxation
- Paper 12: Company Accounts & Audit
CMA Final
- Paper 13: Corporate Laws and Compliance
- Paper 14: Advanced Financial Management
- Paper 15: Business Strategy & Strategic Cost Management
- Paper 16: Tax Management and Practice
- Paper 17: Strategic Performance Management
- Paper 18: Corporate Financial Reporting
- Paper 19: Cost and Management Audit
- Paper 20: Financial Analysis & Business Valuation
Analysis
As you can see, there are a lot of similarities in the topics tested in the exams. There are more exams in the CMA India certification, and it takes longer to become certified. The CMA India certification benefits are focused on IND AS (Indian GAAP) and knowledge of Indian Corporate Law, which means it can be more applicable for Indian residents and candidates working for Indian companies.
The CMA US certification benefits are global recognition, and it only takes 8-18 months to become certified. If you are planning to work outside of India or for an international company, the CMA US is definitely the preferred option.
HOCK international offers the most comprehensive CMA US materials and unlimited teacher support. The HOCK CMA video lectures include English subtitles to make the study process easier for our non-native English-speaking candidates. The payment plan is available worldwide, has no interest rate, and makes the materials the most affordable on the market. Start studying today!
