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There are three main steps to getting your CIA certification:
To start the process of registering for the CIA exam, you have an easy task: make an account in The IIA’s Certification Candidate Management System (CCMS) Opens in new window. You will apply for the program, view your exam score reports, and check on your certification status through the CCMS, so you can think of it as your home base. Additionally, you will use this system to report your Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits after you have earned your certification.
On the homepage, there will be an option to create your account under “Don’t have an account yet?” Click on this option and fill out the required information. Once you have completed this step, you’ll be brought back to the homepage and will be able to sign in. Finish filling out your profile before continuing.
After logging in, you will see your personal information on the left and a list of certifications to which you can apply on the right. Click on “Apply for Certified Internal Auditor.”
Three payment options are available to pay for the application. There is a form to pay by credit card and instructions to send wire transfers. If your employer or someone else other than you is paying for the fee and you need to get approval, there is a “Quote Me” option available. Once you are ready to proceed, you can turn the quote into an order and pay.
| CIA Application fees | |
|---|---|
| IIA Member | $115 |
| Non-IIA Member | $230 |
| Student/Professor | $65 |
You will then be prompted to fill out the required information for the other CIA Requirements. The first step is to confirm whether you have been convicted of a federal offense, felony, or indictable offense. If you select “Yes,” you will be prompted to describe the nature of your conviction.
Next, you will submit proof of education and photo identification through a designated document upload portal on The IIA’s website.
| Proof of Education | Photo Identification | Character Reference Form |
| A copy of your degree or official transcripts. | A copy of your official passport or national identity card. | A character reference evaluation by an IIA-certified person, your supervisor, or your professor. |
Last, you will have the option to request special accommodations per a documented disability that limits your ability to complete the exams. You will be required to upload this documentation and any other supporting documentation.
You have a limited time after submitting your application to get all of your documents approved. You will receive an email notice when your application has been approved. You must be approved into the CIA certification program before registering for the CIA exams. If one or more of the documents aren’t approved by The IIA within the 90-day period, your application will be denied, and you will have to start the process over again, including having to pay another application fee.
The IIA doesn’t mention how long it takes to approve documents, so play it safe and have all of your documents ready to go the same day you submit your application.
In order to earn your CIA certification, you must also provide proof of your experience; however, this requirement can be submitted at anytime during your time in the program. Be sure to upload this documentation as soon as you qualify! You don’t want to miss getting your CIA certificate because you forgot to provide this information.
After you have uploaded your documents and they are approved, you can register for the CIA exam. It may appear that you need to register and take the three parts of the CIA exam in order since they are listed in order on the sidebar. You can still take the CIA exam parts in any order; simply click on the CIA part you wish to sit for.
You are expected to pay the CIA exam fee at the time of registration. Be confident in your registration process. Once you have submitted payment, you cannot undo or transfer the registration of one exam to another.
Once your payment is complete, your window to sit for the exam is 180 days or until your program expiration date, whichever comes first. You must schedule and sit for your exam before your exam window expires.
Note: If you believe the price shown during your registration is incorrect for any reason, do not complete your registration, and open a case within CCMS.
See a complete list of CIA exam fees on our fees resource page.
After registering for the CIA exam, you will be able to schedule your exam date through CCMS. Your Exam Details page will be displayed, and you will proceed to the Test Center Search page. You can check up to three test centers for availability. Strongly consider taking advantage of this feature. Test Centers have limited availability, and it’s better to go to a test center a little farther away if you can get a date that better fits your schedule.
The Test Center Search page will display available dates and times. Most Pearson VUE test centers are open 6 days a week, but third party test centers may have different operating hours. Appointments are often offered every 15 minutes (8:00 a.m., 8:15 a.m., 8:30 a.m. etc.), but again, your local test centers may vary due to availability.
Note: You will want to arrive at the test center 30 minutes early, so be sure you are accounting for travel and check-in time when selecting your exam appointment.
Once you have selected your date and time, you will be brought to your “cart.” Check that all of the information is correct, including your appointment time, date, and test center. The price at this point should be $0. Click Proceed to Checkout to move on.
You’ll be prompted to agree to The IIA’s Polices. Your order details will display once you accept. Take the time to check your appointment again. If you need to make any changes, be sure you either cancel the order and submit a case in CCMS, or navigate back to change an option.
You will then get the confirmation page to show you are booked for your exam at your selected time and test center.
Note: You will now see “Scheduled” next to your registered exam on the CCMS home page.
During the global COVID-19 pandemic, The IIA teamed up with Pearson VUE to offer the CIA exam online for candidates for a limited time. Our CIA exam changes page goes over the details to help you make the decision between taking the exam at a test center or online.
If you must reschedule your exam, you will need to contact Pearson VUE at least 24 hours prior to your scheduled appointment. There will be a USD $75 rescheduling fee per reschedule. If you do not reschedule before the 24-hour mark, or if you do not appear for your exam, you will be considered a no-show, your registration will be voided, and you will forfeit your exam fee. If this happens, you must register for the CIA exam again in order to sit for it.
You will receive your preliminary exam results at the test center (or after your online exam). These results will say “unofficial,” but your score will seldom change from these unofficial results. Your score will be posted in your CCMS account about 48 after completing the exam, and you will receive an email notification. For more information on CIA pass rates, check out our CIA Pass Rate page.
The IIA will also send you an email once you have passed all parts of the CIA exam. Your certification status will then be displayed in CCMS, along with your reporting period for CPE and how many credits you have earned in the current cycle. From CCMS, you will be able to download a PDF of your certificate and order a printed certificate to honor all of your hard work!
Once you’re a CIA, make sure you take the steps to maintain your CIA certification and use it to boost your career!