Financial and Managerial Accounting Associate certification
Your Entry Point into Management Accounting, Awarded by IMA® Entry-Level Credential for Finance and Accounting Careers
is an entry-level certification offered by IMA (Institute of Management Accountants), through its ICMA credentialing body.
Purpose: It's designed to help individuals differentiate themselves as certified professionals and demonstrate they meet the global standard of financial and managerial accounting fundamentals. It targets students and early-career professionals looking to break into accounting and finance, and it's positioned as a first step that can lead toward the more advanced CMA (Certified Management Accountant) credential later on.
FMAA Exam — Five Content Domains:
Domain | Weight | Focus |
|---|---|---|
A. General Accounting & Financial Management | 25% | Core accounting principles, the accounting cycle, financial management basics |
B. Financial Statement Preparation & Analysis | 25% | Recognition and valuation in financial statements, preparing and interpreting balance sheets, income statements, cash flow statements |
C. Planning & Budgeting | 20% | Budget preparation, forecasting, financial planning processes |
D. Cost Management & Performance Metrics | 20% | Cost behavior, cost allocation, performance measurement and KPIs |
E. Professional Ethics | ~10% | IMA's Statement of Ethical Professional Practice, ethical decision-making in accounting/finance |
Each domain is tested at "Level A" (introductory knowledge) or "Level B" (thorough understanding/application) — no domain requires the deepest "Level C" analysis found on higher-level exams like the CMA.
For the exact breakdown of sub-topics under each domain, IMA publishes a detailed Content Specification Outline (CSO) and Learning Outcome Statements (LOS).
Exam requirements:
No prerequisites — no required education, experience, or IMA membership.
2-hour, computer-based exam with 80 multiple-choice questions.
Covers five content domains: general accounting & financial management, financial statement preparation and analysis, planning and budgeting, cost management and performance metrics, and professional ethics.
Scored on a 0–300 scale; a score of 200 is required to pass.
Recommended ~50 hours of study time.
Taken in-person at Prometric Testing Centers globally (some regions may offer online proctoring).
Maintenance requirements : 15 hours of continuing professional education (CPE) per year, including 1 hour of ethics.
What's Included
A. General Accounting & Financial Management |
B. Financial Statement Preparation & Analysis |
C. Planning & Budgeting |
D. Cost Management & Performance Metrics |
E. Professional Ethics |
Who Is This For?
FMAA is designed for:
Students in accounting/business majors, including those at vocational schools
Early-career professionals with titles like Junior Accountant, Specialist, Analyst, or Manager
Career-changers or professionals in non-finance roles (Marketing, HR, Operations) who want to build foundational finance/accounting literacy
Business owners who want to better understand their own financials
Anyone without a formal accounting background — since there are no education, experience, or membership prerequisites, it's especially useful for those without a bachelor's degree who still want a recognized credential to enter the field
Course FAQs
Who is FMAA for?
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FMAA is ideal for individuals starting their careers in accounting and finance who want to build a strong foundation and demonstrate their business knowledge to current or potential employers. It is also suitable for professionals in management roles outside accounting and finance who want to strengthen their accounting and finance skills and prepare for higher levels of management.
What are the FMAA exam eligibility requirements?
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There are no prior education, qualification, or work-experience requirements to take the FMAA exam. This makes the certification accessible to students, early-career professionals, and business professionals from a wide range of backgrounds.
