The CMA
Accreditation
Process
®
2012
becomeacma.com
Earning the CMA Designation
Step 1
Degree with all required topics
Graduate from accredited program
FREE Transcript Evaluation
post secondary Degree
Step 2
More Topics Required — Complete
through Part-time Studies
CMA Accelerated Program
Entrance Examination
Preparation Program
Step 3
AND
CMA Entrance Examination
Spring or fall
SLP Phase I: Development
Blue indicates
necessary steps
Red indicates
optional steps
CMA Case Examination
SLP Phase II: Application
Step 4
CMA Strategic
Leadership
Program™ and
Practical Experience
CMA Board Report
TM
What is the first step in earning the CMA designation?
The first step in earning the CMA designation is to complete a post secondary degree with required topics. These topics
cover a wide range of business disciplines and provide the foundation of knowledge that is essential for advanced
business studies in the CMA Strategic Leadership Program™.
The required topics for the post secondary degree consist of the following subject areas:
Management Studies
General Accounting Studies
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Management Accounting:
• Introductory*
• Intermediate
• Advanced
Financial Management
Operations Management
Information Technology
Strategic Management
Human Resources
Marketing
Financial Accounting:
• Introductory*
• Intermediate
• Advanced
Taxation
Internal Control
Related Studies
• Economics (Macro and Micro)*
• Statistics*
• Canadian Business Law**
* Available online through CMA Ontario
**Not required for June 2012 Entrance Examination. Bridging available at no extra cost for October 2012 Entrance Examination and 2012 Accelerated Program entrance.
Your Path to Becoming a CMA
Why should I pursue the CMA designation?
The CMA designation opens the door to a competitive income, a broad range of career opportunities and exciting
workplace challenges. CMAs provide employers with the ideal balance of three essential and interdependent business
disciplines: accounting, management and strategy. This powerful combination of skills defines the CMA’s unique value
to an organization and makes the CMA the designation of choice for accounting professionals in management.
CMAs are able to apply contemporary and emerging best practices in a wide array of business functions, including
accounting and finance, sales and marketing, operations, strategic planning and analysis, information technology and
human resources. They bring a strong market focus
to strategic management and resource deployment,
synthesizing and analyzing financial and non-financial
information to develop total business solutions,
identify new market opportunities, and maximize
shareholder value.
The CMA understands the business formula for
delivering value to the customer, arriving at strategies
for identifying, developing, marketing and evaluating
a product or service throughout its entire lifecycle.
The CMA is able to assess all aspects of a product
or service: its quality, performance, cost, and
responsiveness to customer needs and expectations.
The CMA profession draws equally from the
disciplines of accounting, management and strategy.
CMAs do more than measure value
– they create it.
The CMA Competency Map™ is a conceptual framework
that presents CMA competencies within the context that
they are practised. They are the competencies CMAs
acquire, hone and ultimately master over the course of their
careers.
The Creating Value quadrant focuses on strategy, including
the design and formulation of strategies, policies, plans,
structure, and initiatives. The second quadrant, Enabling
Value, comprises the execution of strategy and the planning,
implementing, monitoring, and improving of supporting
processes. Preserving Value involves the protection
of value against strategic and operational risks. Finally,
Reporting Value represents the traditional accounting role
– the transparent communication of the delivery of value to
stakeholders and the general public.
The CMA Competency Map™
Required Topics
Can I get exemptions for my post secondary degree courses, and, if so, which ones?
Students enrolled in business, commerce or accounting programs can typically cover the required topics as part of their
degree course requirements – but it is critical to choose course electives carefully. For candidates who have already
graduated, part-time study programs are available to enable them to complete the required topics.
What part-time programs are available to help me complete outstanding required
topics?
Candidates who are required to complete outstanding required topics have one of two options:
• Complete the required courses at any of the institutions listed at: www.cmaontario.org/coursechart
• Register for the CMA Accelerated Program, if eligible
The CMA Accelerated Program enables candidates to proceed more quickly to the CMA Entrance Examination. The
following CMA required topics are covered in the program:
CORE TOPICS
Management TOPICS
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Intermediate Financial Accounting
Advanced Financial Accounting
Intermediate Management Accounting
Advanced Management Accounting
Financial Management
Taxation
Operations Management
Information Technology
Strategic Management
Human Resources
Marketing
Internal Control
The topics are covered in 22 lessons plus four tests over a seven-month period split into two segments. The program is
available by full-day Saturday lectures in selected centres, or Sundays in downtown Toronto, and by online study.
For a more flexible learning schedule, a 14-month Extended Accelerated Program is available. The Extended Program is
offered via lecture in downtown Toronto on weekday evenings and by online study with test centres throughout Ontario.
Candidate evaluation is based on two three-hour tests worth 20 marks each and two four-hour tests worth 25 marks each,
and quizzes worth 10 marks. A minimum grade of 60% is required in each segment to pass the program. The candidates
must also write and pass six online tests on the management topics covered through online self-study.
After enrolling, candidates are provided with access to an interactive web-based learning environment. This website contains
detailed lesson notes, reinforcement problems with solutions, and related materials. All students receive access to online
videos of lecture sessions. Online students can pose specific questions about the material to an instructor via an online
discussion board, whereas lecture students will be able to attend classes and ask questions directly to their instructor in
person or online. Additionally, all students will be provided with a Financial Accounting primer to review prior to beginning the
program to assist in reinforcing the Introductory Financial Accounting material.
The lesson notes and related reinforcement problems and solutions have been designed to assist candidates in developing a
good understanding of the topics. It is recommended that candidates allow for 20 or more hours of study time, on average,
per week of the program material in addition to the in-class or online lectures.
Eligibility:
To be eligible for the Accelerated Program, candidates must:
✓Have a post secondary degree; and
✓Have achieved a minimum grade of 60% in an undergraduate course or 70% in a graduate course counting towards the following CMA required topics:
• Introductory Financial Accounting
• Introductory Management Accounting
• Economics (Macro and Micro)
• Statistics
• Canadian Business Law*
To determine your eligibility for the Accelerated Program, which begins in September or January, mail, email, or fax a copy of
your transcripts to CMA Ontario’s Accreditation Department for a free evaluation. In order for an evaluation to be completed on
transcripts, the transcript must include the institution name, courses completed, grades achieved, year in which the course was
completed, and the date of degree conferral. A transcript evaluation form can be obtained at: www.cmaontario.org/transcript
*Bridging available for Canadian Business Law at no extra charge for 2012 Accelerated Program.
After You’ve Completed the Required Topics
Pre-requisite courses to qualify for the CMA Accelerated Program
CMA Ontario offers the pre-requisite courses required to qualify for the Accelerated Program online. In addition to
Introductory Financial Accounting and Introductory Management Accounting, CMA Ontario now offers Economics and
Statistics. Canadian Business Law will be available in January 2012. Students will receive CMA credit as a pre-requisite for the
Accelerated Program upon successful completion of the course. Successful completion of Introductory Financial Accounting
is a pre-requisite for entrance into Introductory Management Accounting.
Students must achieve a minimum grade of 60% to pass the course. The course fee includes a textbook, online quizzes
(worth 40% of the overall grade), and a final exam (worth 60% of the overall grade). Students will also receive lesson notes
outlining the objectives of each chapter. Final exams are available in centres across Ontario, eight times per year to fit your
schedule. Each course must be completed within six months of registration. To register and for more information, please visit:
www.cmaontario.org/APqualify
For more information on the Accelerated Program, visit: www.cmaontario.org/accelerated
Language Assistance
Registered candidates who speak English as a second language can participate in a free online English language selfassessment at: http://english.thinkpass.com
When you register for the assessment, you will receive, free of charge, a CMA ESL “Lecture Ready” Accelerated Program
workbook, developed by Language Education for Accounting Professionals (LEAP). This will assist you throughout the
program with definitions, study coaching and more. CMA Ontario will also provide you with online support from an
experienced CMA instructor. The Accelerated Program online lecture videos are closed captioned to enhance understanding.
If candidates discover that additional English language skills are required, they can participate in a series of courses provided
by LEAP at: www.leapesl.ca
What do I do after completing the required topics?
Once you have completed the required topics, either through a post secondary degreee or successful completion of the CMA
Accelerated Program, you are ready to prepare for and write the CMA Entrance Examination.
What is included in the CMA Entrance Examination and Preparation Program and
when are they offered?
CMA Ontario’s Preparation Program assists candidates in preparing for the multiple choice Entrance Examination. It is
available through in-class lectures or online study. Registering for the Entrance Examination automatically enrolls you in the
Preparation Program. The CMA Entrance Examination Preparation Program will prepare you with examination writing skills
and techniques to be successful on the CMA Entrance Examination. The program includes two mock Entrance Examinations
and feedback as to how you performed relative to your peers across Ontario.
The primary objective of the CMA Entrance Examination is to evaluate whether candidates have mastered the technical skills
in management accounting, financial accounting, financial management, taxation and internal control. Please refer to the CMA
Competency Map Entrance Requirements at www.cmaontario.org/EntranceExam for a full listing of required topics.
The Entrance Examination is held twice each year, in mid-June and mid-October. The examination is four hours in duration
and is comprised of approximately 100-120 multiple choice questions.
The pass mark for the examination is 60%. Candidates must pass the Entrance Examination to proceed into the Strategic
Leadership Program.
Note: University students who qualify for exemption under the CMA Canada University Accreditation Program are not required to write this
examination. Please visit www.cmaontario.org/postsecondary for further details.
The Strategic Leadership Program (SLP)
What is the content of the Strategic Leadership Program?
After successfully completing the Entrance Examination, candidates progress through the two-year Strategic Leadership
Program concurrent with full-time employment in the field of the management accountant. CMA Ontario’s Strategic
Leadership Program equips the prospective CMA with the strategic management capabilities demanded by today’s leading
enterprises.
Enabling Competencies
✓Problem-Solving and Decision-Making
✓Leadership and Group Dynamics
✓Professionalism and Ethical Behaviour
✓Communication
The foundation of the program is the CMA Competency Map. In the SLP, Candidates learn to Create Value in organizations
by learning best practices in strategy and governance. They learn to Enable Value through the implementation of strategy for
achieving sustainable value, and the planning, monitoring, and improvement of supporting processes.
They learn to Preserve Value, which is the protection of a sustainable value strategy against strategic and operational risks.
Finally, they learn to Report Value, which is the transparent communication of the delivery of sustainable value to
stakeholders and the general public.
Throughout the SLP they develop the Enabling Competencies which are distributed throughout the Competency Map.
The Strategic Leadership Program is presented in two phases. Year One is the Development Phase and will consist of an
orientation session and three modules. Cases will be assigned for each module and will focus on different industry sectors
including manufacturing, services, government and not-for-profit. The majority of the assessments in this phase will be
individually-based.
At the heart of the SLP are two-day interactive sessions during which candidates exchange views and experiences on
program aspects under the guidance of moderators with extensive business experience. Each of the program modules
include a two-day interactive session. Candidates also complete a series of individual assignments applying the concepts to
their own organizations.
Upon completion of the SLP Development Phase (Year 1), candidates will be required to write the CMA Case Examination.
This four-hour exam will test a candidate’s understanding of the competencies and the higher order skills of strategic thinking,
analysis, integration, judgment and written communication introduced thus far in the program. This exam is offered twice
each year, in May and August.
Candidates will then enter the SLP Application Phase (Year 2), consisting of three modules within a team environment,
focusing on communication, leadership, decision-making, professionalism, ethics, and problem-solving skills, in preparation for
the CMA Board Report.
The final evaluation component of the SLP is the CMA Board Report. Here candidates will demonstrate, both orally and
through a written submission, their mastery of the knowledge and competencies required to join the profession – and
become Certified Management Accountants™.
Note: If your employment takes you outside of Canada, you are still required to complete all of the Strategic Leadership interactive weekend
sessions in Canada in order to meet the designation’s requirements.
What are the requirements for Practical Experience?
Practical experience in a management accounting environment, concurrent with the CMA Strategic Leadership Program,
is an essential component of becoming a CMA. The candidate must demonstrate competency through verifiable work
experience. Candidates must be able to apply the acquired knowledge and skills from the CMA Competency Map at an overall
Professional Proficiency.
The duration of work experience will be 24 months, at least 12 of which should be concurrent with the SLP. Up to 12 months
of applicable and verifiable experience can be obtained prior to beginning the SLP, either in co-op or full-time employment.
CMA Ontario will recognize up to 12 months of recent work experience, going back up to three years, within or outside of
Canada as long as it can be verified by the employer. To verify work experience, all candidates submit an online Practical
Experience report outlining the nature, duration and time of the practical experience completed, which is verified by the
candidate’s employer. For more information, visit: www.cmaontario.org/work
Other Paths to the CMA Designation
The following programs describe how the designation can be obtained through alternate channels:
Combined Programs – earn your CMA concurrently with your Masters/MBA degree
This alternate path to the designation is a unique opportunity for qualified candidates to pursue the CMA designation while
earning their Masters/MBA degree, resulting in a significant saving in cost and time. Combined programs are available through
the following university programs:
Brock University
MBA (Full-Time, Part-Time)
Sprott School of Business, Carleton University
MBA
DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University
MBA (Full-Time, Part-Time or Co-op), AMBA (Accelerated)
Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa
Executive MBA, MBA
Queen’s University
Accelerated MBA, Executive MBA, MBA, Queen’s-Cornell
Executive MBA
Joseph L. Rotman School of Management, University
of Toronto
Executive MBA
Royal Military College
MBA
University of Toronto - Mississauga
Masters of Management and Professional Accounting
(MMPA)
University of Waterloo
Bachelor of Accounting and Financial Management with
Masters of Accounting
Wilfrid Laurier University
MBA (Part-Time, Weekends, Accounting Stream)
Schulich School of Business, York University
MBA (Full-Time and Part-Time), IMBA
For details concerning each of the programs listed above,
visit: www.cmaontario.org/combinedcma
CMA for MBAs
Candidates who have completed an MBA program have the opportunity to fast-track their learning. To qualify, MBAs must
meet the program requirements to be eligible for the SLP. Candidates will then complete a CMA program designed specifically
with MBAs in mind. The CMA Case Examination, the CMA Board Report, and eligible practical experience are also required
components in this condensed pathway to the CMA designation.
For more information, visit: www.cmaontario.org/cmaformbas
CMA Executive Program
Executive Program candidates have an opportunity to earn their CMA designation through up to two years of part-time study
in a program commensurate with the challenges and achievements of a senior-level executive. Delivered through independent
learning and interactive sessions, this program carefully balances the benefits of interaction with peers with the demanding
schedule of a senior executive. The Foundation Phase, the first year of the program, is available through online study. The
Application Phase, the second year of the program, is offered through in-person sessions.
2012 is the final intake for the Executive Program. Completed applications are due by February 29, 2012. For more information,
visit www.cmaontario.org/executive, or contact Bryan Jacobs, CMA, at 905-709-3652 or bjacobs@cmaontario.org.
CMA/PFA Program
CMA Canada has designed a program for the Canadian public service sector in conjunction with the Chartered Institute of Public
Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). This unique Public Finance Accountant (PFA) program reinforces a government-led initiative
to ensure professionally qualified managers are at the core of public service financial services, providing the right mix of skills
and expertise to perform their responsibilities in an accountable manner. The dual CMA/PFA credential will create opportunities
for career advancement in Canada while providing portable qualifications that will open doors to public finance management
positions around the world.
For more information, visit: www.cmaontario.org/pfa
Take Your First Step to the CMA Designation
Submit your transcripts to CMA Ontario for a free evaluation. Complete the cover sheet at
www.cmaontario.org/transcript and submit it by mail, fax or email to the coordinates below.
Become a CMA Student for exclusive discounts, access to career resources and more. Request
an application when you submit your transcripts for evaluation. If you are in the workforce and
have already graduated, please request the CMA Pre-Professional Student application. If you are a
full-time student, please request the CMA Associate Student application.
For more information on the CMA accreditation programs and enrollment fees,
please visit www.cmaontario.org, call CMA Ontario at 416 204 3102, or toll-free at 1 866 999
3102, or email us at info@cmaontario.org.
Contact Us
CMA Ontario
25 York Street, Suite 1100
Toronto, ON M5J 2V5
416 204 3102 or 1 866 999 3102
Fax: 416 977 2128
info@cmaontario.org
www.cmaontario.org
Regional Representatives
Southwestern Ontario
877 318 2422
Deborah Clarke, MBA, CMA
dclarke@cmaontario.org
Greater Toronto Area
905 709 3652
Bryan Jacobs, CMA
bjacobs@cmaontario.org
Mid-Western Ontario & Niagara
647 828 8303
Dana Gies, MBA, CMA
dgies@cmaontario.org
GTA West, Halton and Peel Regions
416 738 7865
Melissa Gansham, CMA
mgansham@cmaontario.org
Northern and Eastern Ontario
613 898 0834
Marcie Chase, CMA, PFA
mchase@cmaontario.org
GTA East, York, Durham and Liftlock Regions
905 604 3644
Lori Dalton
ldalton@cmaontario.org
GTA Universities
416 482 5556
Mira Sirotic, CMA
msirotic@cmaontario.org
becomeacma.com
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®/™ Registered Trade-Marks/Trade-Marks are owned by The Society of Management Accountants of Canada. Used under license.
01/2012