Getting Certified: Which is for you?
CMA - Certified Management Accountant
CFM – Certified Financial Manager
Complete the
certification information section on the IMA application and register for the
CMA or CFM examination.
Be a member of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA).
Pass all four parts of the CMA or
CFM examination.
Satisfy the experience
requirement (two years experience within seven years of passing exam).
Comply with the Standards of Ethical Conduct.
Details at: http://www.imanet.org/content/Certification/Requirements/Certification_Information.htm
CFP - Certified Financial Planner
Certain degrees and professional certification, along with three years
of relevant work experience, will automatically allow you to sit for CFP
Board's CFP® Certification Examination without having to
verify educational topic coverage.
http://www.cfp-board.org/cert_main.html
CFA - Chartered Financial Analyst
Over the CFA Program's 35-year history, more than
27,000 charters have been awarded to individuals who have completed the
curriculum and met the professional experience requirements for the charter.
The program is designed for professionals who are currently practicing in the
financial industry, or other individuals, including students, who would like to
become investment professionals.
To pass, candidates take three sequential exams. Exams for Level I, Level II, and Level III are administered by AIMR. Candidates for the charter must pass each sequential test before advancing to the next level. A candidate who is making excellent progress can finish all three levels and be awarded the charter in three years. Candidates may take up to seven years to complete the program without reregistering.
http://www.allenresources.com/cfainfo/
CFE - Certified Fraud Examiner
The
Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, established in 1988, is based in
Certified Fraud Examiners come from various professions, including auditors, accountants, fraud investigators, loss prevention specialists, attorneys, educators, and criminologists. CFEs gather evidence, take statements, write reports, and assist in investigating fraud in its varied forms. CFEs are employed by most major corporations and government agencies, and others provide consulting and investigative services.
In order to gain the CFE designation, you must pass the CFE Exam. The 500 question exam is designed to measure your academic as well as practical knowledge in four main areas: Criminology and Ethics, Financial Transactions, Legal Elements of Fraud and Fraud Examination and Investigation. Like other tests, the difficulty can vary widely, based upon individual circumstances such as experience and preparation.
CIA - Certified Internal Auditor
CANDIDATES MUST POSSESS a degree or a professional qualification with a minimum of two years working experience in internal auditing to be eligible to sit for the exam. Upon acceptance, candidates will be given a two year eligibility period to sit for at least one part of the exam. This eligibility is extended to another two years every time a candidate sits for a part or parts of the exam.
THE EXAM TESTS CANDIDATE’S KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITY with respect to the current practice of internal auditing. The CIA exam is divided into four parts. Each part consists of 80 multiple-choice questions.
http://www.iiam.com.my/cia.htm
CPA - Certified Public Accountant
License to sign independent audit opinions.
National exam given in Nov/May each year.
Changing to on-line continuous examinations in two years.
Changing to include business simulations and less rule based material.
Requires two years public or five years private experience under a licensed CPA (varies by state).
http://www.cpa-exam.org/ (to get newsletter and particulars)
CPCU - Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter
Professional Designation
This is for property-casualty and risk management professionals. Requires 6 hour exam, certain courses and experience. Link for details on preparing for exam: http://www.aicpcu.org/flyers/cpcuindex.htm or http://www.iea.to/programs/cpcu.asp.