Financial and Managerial Accounting Associate Certification

The Financial and Managerial Accounting Associate (FMAA) is a foundational certification that equips young professionals with the necessary knowledge and skills to begin a career in accounting or finance.

There are many great reasons to earn your FMAA certification:

• Gain confidence in foundational accounting and finance topics.
• Develop the necessary skills you’ll use in your career.
• Demonstrate your dedication to growth to potential employers.
• Differentiate yourself from your non-certified peers.

If you’re early in your career and are trying to enter the workforce, the FMAA can help you get your foot in the door of the accounting and finance industry. The FMAA is also a good way to establish a path for growth and move up in your career. Because there are no educational or experience requirements, the FMAA is perfect for students and young professionals looking to propel their careers forward. 

For the March 2024 testing window, IMA requires a $249 fee to sit for the exam. After March 2024, the introductory IMA fee will increase to $299. Once certified, IMA requires FMAAs to pay a $49 annual renewal fee. You are not required to pay for IMA membership to take the FMAA exam.

The FMAA is an achievable and cost-effective certification intended to help young professionals start their careers strong. This investment in your career will pay off quickly since you’ll be equipped to begin your career with a certification already under your belt.

You can register now to sit for the FMAA exam in the March 2024 testing window. Hurry, registration closes March 25th! Go to IMA’s FMAA page Opens in new window to enroll.

When you register, you’ll be required to pay the exam fee. You don’t need to be an IMA member to sit for the exam, but you’ll need to create an account with IMA to register for it. 

On FMAA exam day, you should plan to arrive at the test center at least 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment time. When you arrive, you’ll be required to sign into the log book and show valid identification before you can go into the exam room.

You’re required to prove your identity to take the FMAA exam, and you can either show one form of primary ID or two forms of secondary ID. The name on your ID must exactly match the name on your authorization letter, your photo must look like you, and your signature must match the test center roster. All identification must be current and original—expired IDs and photocopies will not be accepted. 

These are the accepted forms of ID:

On exam day you’ll have the option to use the calculator within the exam software, but you’re also allowed to bring a calculator to your exam as long as it meets IMA’s requirements. It must be a non-programable six-function (or fewer) calculator that is battery or solar-powered. 

Here is a list of approved calculators:

• Texas Instruments’ BA II Plus
• HP 10bII+
• HP 12c
• HP 12 c Platinum
• HP 10BII

We recommend studying with the same calculator that you’ll bring to the test center on exam day so that you’re already comfortable using it. Don’t forget to put in new batteries before your exam day!

Your FMAA exam results will be emailed to you and posted to your profile 6-8 weeks after the end of the month that you tested in.

If you fail the FMAA exam, you’ll receive a performance report email from Prometric around 14 days after exam results are posted. The report will note what areas your performance was satisfactory, marginal, or unsatisfactory in.

You cannot sit for the FMAA exam twice in the same testing window. So if you fail, you’ll have to schedule your re-take in the next testing window. 

Once you pass the exam and have your FMAA certification, you’ll need to meet IMA’s requirements for maintaining it. These requirements include:

• Paying an annual $49 renewal fee
• Completing 15 hours of CPE (including 1 hour in ethics) each year
• Complying with IMA’s Statement of Ethical Professional Practice Opens in new window