US CMA Exam Registration Guide for Indian Students 2026
Step-by-step US CMA exam registration guide for Indian students: IMA membership, exam registration fees, Prometric test centres in India, and the complete application process in 2026.
How to Register for the US CMA Exam from India
Registering for the US CMA exam involves several steps through the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA). Here's the complete process for Indian candidates in 2026.
Step 1 — Join the IMA
You must be an IMA member to sit the CMA exam. Membership types and fees:
| Membership Type | Annual Fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| Professional Member | $295 |
| Academic Member (students/faculty) | $49 |
| Young Professional (under 30) | $149 |
Join at imanet.org. Indian students and recent graduates typically qualify for the Academic or Young Professional rate.
Step 2 — Register for the CMA Program
After joining the IMA, pay the CMA Program entrance fee:
| Candidate Type | Entrance Fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| Professional member | $250 |
| Academic/Student member | $188 |
This gives you a three-year window to complete both parts.
Step 3 — Pay the Exam Fee
| Member Type | Exam Fee per Part (USD) |
|---|---|
| Professional member | $460 |
| Academic/Student member | $345 |
You pay separately for each part when you're ready to schedule it.
Total Cost Summary (USD)
| Cost Item | Professional | Academic/Student |
|---|---|---|
| IMA Membership (annual) | $295 | $49 |
| CMA Entrance Fee | $250 | $188 |
| Part 1 Exam Fee | $460 | $345 |
| Part 2 Exam Fee | $460 | $345 |
| Total | $1,465 | $927 |
At current exchange rates (~₹83–84/USD), the total cost is approximately ₹77,000–₹1,23,000 depending on membership type — before study materials.
Step 4 — Schedule at a Prometric Centre in India
Once your exam registration is approved, schedule at a Prometric test centre via prometric.com. Prometric centres for the US CMA exam in India are available in:
- Mumbai
- Delhi / New Delhi
- Bangalore / Bengaluru
- Hyderabad
- Chennai
- Kolkata
- Pune
Exam Windows
The CMA exam is available during three six-week windows per year:
- January 1 – February 28
- May 1 – June 30
- September 1 – October 31
Schedule as early as possible within your chosen window — popular cities fill up quickly, especially in the Jan–Feb window.
Education and Experience Requirements
You can sit the exam before meeting the requirements, but must fulfil them within 7 years of passing:
- Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution (B.Com, B.Sc, B.Tech, etc. from a recognised Indian university qualifies)
- Experience: Two years of continuous professional experience in management accounting or financial management
Further Reading
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