Yes, the CIA is the only globally accepted designation for internal auditors.

CIA candidates must meet eligibility requirements for education, character, work experience, and identification. For complete details, visit https://www.theiia.org/en/certifications/cia/eligibility-requirements/.

With the exception of a few designated countries, CIA requirements are the same for all candidates.

Whether a candidate is still in the process of attaining their CIA or they are already certified, the requirements are the same globally. For additional information on the countries where exceptions may apply, please visit: https://www.theiia.org/en/certifications/cia/eligibility-requirements/

No. Candidates may sit for the CIA exam prior to completing the Education and Work Experience requirements. All requirements must be completed within the 3 or 4 year program time limit (starting from your CIA application approval date) prior to being issued their CIA certification. CIA candidates approved after September 1, 2019 have 3 years to complete the program rather than 4 years.

The IIA follows the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) guidelines on defining accredited universities.

The CIA program does allow students to enroll as candidates, sitting for all exam parts. However, final certification can only be attained once a Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent has been completed. For additional information on student candidates, please review the Certification Candidate Handbook.

Provided the candidate holds the minimum education requirement of a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent, their prior experience can be submitted. A statement of the candidate’s work history must be attested to by the candidate’s former or current manager, or someone holding an active IIA Global Certification.

The CIA exam is offered year-round through Pearson VUE testing centers. Most centers are open five or six days per week during normal business hours (based on local conditions) throughout the year.

For a limited time, Person VUE and The IIA are offering online-proctored exams. For details, visit https://www.theiia.org/en/certifications/currently-enrolled/certification-online-testing/.

The exam is offered at Pearson VUE Testing Centers worldwide. For a list of locations, please visit http://vue.com/iia/.

To support the continued professional development of certification candidates around the world and in response to mass Pearson VUE test center closures, The IIA has adopted online testing to enable candidates to take the Certified Internal Auditor® (CIA®) exam from home. We are partnering with Pearson VUE to offer this testing option for a period of 3 months starting 29 April 2020 (At the end of the 3-month period, The IIA will evaluate and decide whether to continue or suspend this online testing offer.) For details, visit https://www.theiia.org/en/certifications/currently-enrolled/certification-online-testing/

The CIA exam is available in multiple languages. For details, visit https://www.theiia.org/en/certifications/currently-enrolled/exam-language-offerings/

Yes, candidates can toggle from the language to the English version.

After you apply to the CIA program and receive acceptance, you can register for one or more exam parts via CCMS. Once you register for an exam part, you will have 180 days to schedule a time with Pearson VUE and sit for that exam part.

You can take the exam parts in any order, based on your personal preference and experience.

CIA instructors often recommend that experienced auditors begin with Part 1 or Part 2. Students, recent graduates, and those new to the profession may wish to start with Part 3.

Yes, you are allowed to take all 3 exams in one day, however it’s not recommended.

Although the difficulty level of questions may vary depending on the topic for which they are written, each scored question is equally weighted throughout the entire exam and does change per section. The candidate’s overall score determines whether or not a passing grade is received.

Your raw score is calculated based on the number of questions that you answer correctly and then converted to a reporting scale that ranges from 250 – 750 points. A score of 600 or higher on this scale is required to pass the exam.

Given the reporting scale process, there is no set “passing score”. However, a passing score generally falls between 70% and 80% or 600-750 points.

The 2023 global CIA exam rates are 41% for Part 1; 44% for Part 2; and 50% for Part 3. These pass rates are reflective of all computer-based exams delivered in all countries and all languages. Typically, pass rates are higher in countries where exam preparation materials are readily available in the local language.

For more information, visit https://www.theiia.org/en/certifications/new-to-certification/certification-program-pass-rates/

Candidates approved before September 1, 2019 have 4 years to complete the three exams and all other program requirements from the date of application approval. Candidates approved on or after September 1, 2019 have 3 years to complete the program.

Candidates approved before September 1, 2019 will have 4 years from the date of the application approval to complete all program requirements (documentation and examination requirements) and become certified. Candidates approved on or after September 1, 2019 will have 3 years to complete the program.

If you do not complete the program requirements in the allotted 3- or 4-year time frame, you will forfeit all passed parts and fees and must re-apply into the program as a new candidate.

Part 1 = 125 questions
Part 2 = 100 questions
Part 3 = 100 questions

No, no parts of the CIA exam can be waived. Candidates must pass all three parts of the exam.

Periodically, The IIA partners with other global credentialing bodies to offer CIA Challenge Exams. Successful applicants holding specific certifications have the opportunity to earn the CIA through only one exam For more details, visit https://www.theiia.org/en/promotions/certifications/qab/qab-cia-challenge-exam//.

It is recommended that you schedule your exam at least 45 days in advance. Exam center schedules are based on a first come, first served basis.  The IIA is not the only client using Pearson VUE test centers so it is best to schedule as soon as possible to ensure your first choice for your exam appointment.

You can reschedule your exam through Pearson VUE’s online system or by contacting their customer service team. There are fees associated with this and limits. Please visit:  https://www.theiia.org/en/certifications/new-to-certification/eligibility-pricing/

Unofficial results are available at the test center immediately after taking the exam. The unofficial score report will provide your score in numeric value if you did not pass the exam. If you passed the exam the score report will reflect “PASS” and no other information. This report is unofficial until the data is transmitted to The IIA and uploaded into your CCMS record. This generally takes 24–72 hours to complete. Once loaded into your CCMS record your results become your official results.

There is a 60-day waiting period that applies to all exam retakes to protect the integrity of the exam. Please reference the Candidate Handbook for additional information on this policy.

There is no limit to the number of times and exam part can be taken.

No, the exam will not be the same.

Yes you can. The CIA exam is a global exam and you can take that exam if more than 500 locations worldwide.

No, you do not have to be a member of The IIA to take the certification exam or to become certified. Please note however, that members can save significantly on exam and course fees. Membership requirements may differ in countries where the exams are administered through agreements with global IIA Affiliates. For more information, check the map and listings on https://www.theiia.org/en/certifications/new-to-certification/steps-to-certification/

Basic level items are testing general knowledge of a topic, whereas proficiency level items are testing the ability to understand and apply concepts.

Please access the following link: https://www.theiia.org/en/certifications/cia/exam-prep-resources/exam-syllabus/ to view the content of each exam part.

For proficiency level items, candidates should understand the IPPF and be able to apply the concepts; for basic level items related to the IPPF should have a general understanding.

No, scores are not displayed.

CIA exam fees are changing on July 1, 2024. Please see the following link for the most current information: https://www.theiia.org/en/certifications/new-to-certification/eligibility-pricing/.

Unfortunately, the fees do not change based on country. However, we do advise you to contact your local IIA Institute (for Nigeria, visit http://www.iianigeria.org/contact-us/) and ask if any financial support is available in your region.

Not necessarily. Individuals would need to be part of a qualifying audit group or have individual membership.

Exam costs are based on many things from the development cost, number of questions and how much time is allocated to sit for that exam part. Part 1 has 125 questions and an exam time of 2.5 hours and Parts 2 and 3 have 100 questions and 2.0 hours of seat time.

Candidates submit their application via the Certification Candidate Management System (CCMS) and once the application is submitted it should be approved within 3-5 days. Candidates will receive an e-mail with the applications status once the application has been processed.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact Customer Relations at [email protected].

Certification candidates who are nearing the end of their three-year or four-year program eligibility window now have an opportunity to apply for an extension before their exam part(s) expire. This extension allows participating candidates who haven’t yet successfully completed their exam(s), or who have been accepted into the program but have not yet taken their exam(s), an opportunity to extend their program eligibility 12 months.

Candidates can take advantage of The IIA’s one-time Certification Candidate Program Extension* by completing the Program Extension form in CCMS and paying the applicable fee. To view the fee, visit the Pricing Structure page.

Note: This offer may not be valid in all affiliate countries. Candidates in these countries should contact their local IIA representatives.

Yes, you can apply for an extension for the 180-day exam registration. There are fees associated with this. Please visit https://www.theiia.org/en/certifications/new-to-certification/eligibility-pricing/ for the most complete and current details.

No, you do not have to pay the application fee again as long as you have not expired from the program However, an exam part registration fee is due with each exam part that is submitted. Visit https://www.theiia.org/en/certifications/new-to-certification/eligibility-pricing/ for registration fees.

In order to show “verified experience” the current employer needs to submit a letter of recommendation, and the candidate needs to submit a resume showing job description/history.

No, your reference does not have to hold a CIA or other IIA designation. The reference should be either your supervisor, your professor, or an IIA-certified individual.

Acceptable experience includes experience in audit/assessment disciplines, external auditing, quality assurance, compliance, and internal control. Visit https://www.theiia.org/en/certifications/cia/eligibility-requirements/ for more information.

Yes, internship hours do count for the CIA experience requirement.

To be eligible for an IIA certification, an applicant must exhibit high moral and professional character and agree to abide by The IIA’s Code of Ethics. Please download the Certification Candidate Handbook for all the details at:  https://www.theiia.org/en/content/certifications/certification-candidate-handbook/

Candidates may apply to the CIA program and sit for the CIA exam prior to submitting the Character Reference Form, but will not be certified until all program requirements have been met.

Yes, scanned versions are acceptable.

In order to change your name in the CCMS system, please log an incident in your CCMS record and provide a government issued form of ID that shows the new name.

No, you do not need to resubmit this information. However, we ask that you submit a request to the Certification staff to apply your supporting documentation from one program to another by submitting and incident in your CCMS record.

CPE is earned on a calendar year cycle and must be reported by December 31^st of the candidate’s reporting year. Practicing CIAs must complete 40 hours of CPE every year. For complete details visit https://www.theiia.org/en/certifications/cia/cpe-requirements/.

You will automatically earn 40 hours of CPE the year you become a CIA. You will also receive 40 hours of CPE the following year. You must self-report your CPEs and keep your documentation in case you are audited.

You do not receive CPEs for completing an individual CIA exam part. You will earn 40 hours of CPE the year you become a CIA. You will also receive 40 hours of CPE the following year.

If you do not report your required CPEs, your certification status will be moved to “inactive” for a grace period. If your status is inactive for less than 12 months, you must complete the prior years’ CPE reporting form and report the appropriate number of CPE hours to reinstate. If your status is inactive for more than 12 months, you must report the necessary hours of CPE and pay a reinstatement fee.

If it has been less than one year, please complete the prior year’s CPE reporting form which can be found inside your CCMS record by clicking on the COMPLETE A FORM link. If it has been more than one year that your designation has been inactive please complete the REINSTATEMENT form.  Please visit https://www.theiia.org/en/certifications/already-certified/cpe-requirements/cpe-reporting-steps/ for all the details

Visit LearnCIA.com/may20 to get complete details. This offer ends 31 May 2024.

For complete pricing, visit https://store.partnerrc.com/iia/.

Please note, IIA members save $30 on individual parts or $100 on full kits (parts 1-3).

Volume pricing is also available on purchases of 2+ programs. Contact Mike Downs for details at +1-651-905-2609 or [email protected].

The program is available as “Online Only” for those who prefer to read and study on a device and don’t require printed materials. All reading materials are available via an online e-reader and may be downloaded to your device. This option also saves shipping costs.

Yes, you can add printed books to your program as long as your online access is still valid. Follow these links to place your order:

Full Kit ($100 + taxes & shipping)
Part 1 ($40 + taxes & shipping)
Part 2 ($40 + taxes & shipping)
Part 3 ($40 + taxes & shipping)

Customers in the U.S. can choose PayPal Credit for their purchase. This gives you 6 months to pay, interest-free. For details, visit https://store.partnerrc.com/iia/payment-plan.html. Unfortunately, this option is not currently available outside the U.S.

Yes, if you own the Learning System and your online account is still valid, you can qualify for a reduction in the cost of your Online Seminar registration fees. Please contact The IIA’s Customer Relations team at +1 (407) 937-1111 for details.

No, CIA application, registration and exam fees are NOT included in the price of the review materials.

No, the flashcards are part of the entire Learning System and are not available separately.

No other study tool aligns The IIA’s professional knowledge, training, and certification expertise. Other providers do not have access to the wide range of expertise and resources that The IIA has access to.

• Personalized Study Experience: Leverage an individualized study plan that prioritizes content based on your personal knowledge gaps and follows your progress through quiz scores and activities.
• Microlearning: Focus on smaller content segments, with estimated study times, to make the most efficient use of your available time and ensure you have a clear understanding of each topic.
• Convenience: Travel light with online access via any mobile device, tablet, or computer. Just log in and continue where you left off. Take advantage of downtime with study tools that are accessible 24/7.
• IIA Member Benefit: IIA members can click-through to members-only recommended guidance directly from the Learning System’s online study tools!

Yes, Versions 6.0 and 7.0 are both based on the current CIA exam syllabi and are valid and excellent preparation resource for the current CIA exam. Version 7.0 was redesigned to provide more focused, personalized, and efficient exam preparation.

A new IPPF was recently announced, projected to impact the CIA exam in May 2025 or later. We are currently reviewing the implications of the new IPPF on the CIA Learning System. If you are concerned about not completing your CIA exam prior to the syllabus change, we encourage you to only purchase study materials for single parts, rather than all three. Updated information about the CIA Learning System will be available in the coming months.

Those who purchase a full kit (parts 1-3) can access the online tools for 2 years from purchase. Individual part purchasers have access for 1 year.

If your online access has expired, 6 month extensions can be requested and may be granted for special circumstances. Visit LearnCIA.com/extension to learn more or apply for an extension.

Version 7.0 is currently available in English only.

Candidates in China wishing to study in Simplified Chinese should contact IIA China.

More than 2,600 online test questions are available. New questions were added with the release of Version 7.0. All questions were written specifically for CIA exam preparation as opposed to other review programs that contain may contain CPA and CMA review questions.

Yes, the questions on the CIA exam and those found in The IIA’s CIA Learning System are different from one another. International certification guidelines require strict separation between the CIA exam and exam prep providers. Our subject matter experts follow the same Standards (IPPF) and the same methodology as CIA exam question writers, however there is no overlap in writers. The IIA’s CIA Learning System does, however, include retired CIA exam questions in addition to questions written specifically for the Learning System therefore some questions will feel very similar to those on the actual CIA exam.

The basic and proficient references have to do with the type of item that is written for the CIA exam and not the difficulty of the subject matter.  There was the perception that basic topics are easier or less rigorous but that isn’t the case.  While preparing for the exam, all of the material needs to be studied and learned, regardless of the syllabus basic/proficient label.

The IIA’s CIA Learning System offers optional printed reading materials. Printable flashcards can be downloaded and printed for offline study. However, the quizzes and tests are offered exclusively online to allow for progress tracking and immediate feedback.

An update may or may not happen every year. The program will be updated when there is a CIA syllabi update. Version 7.0, released in November 2020, was updated to to provide a more flexible, personalized and efficient study experience. It was not prompted by a syllabi change. This version is suitable for the CIA exam until the exam is updated, which is currently projected to occur in May 2025.

We are currently reviewing the implications of the new IPPF on the CIA Learning System. If you are concerned about not completing your CIA exam prior to the syllabus change, we encourage you to only purchase study materials for single parts, rather than all three. Updated information about the CIA Learning System will be available in the coming months.

If you complete quizzes multiple times, you will see new questions until you exhaust the test bank. Eventually, you will see repeat questions.

The questions you receive in the Practice Exam will be new questions that you have not encountered in the quizzes.

If you have printed books, simply look in the page footer to find your version. If you still have an active online license, your version number is displayed on your product selection page after login.

Yes, due to the crossover of terminology, Parts 1, 2, and 3 of The IIA’s CIA Learning System utilize the same glossary. However, the flashcards reflect only the part-specific terms to ensure maximum study efficiency.

No, the online CIA Practice Exam questions are not scaled. You will receive a percentage score (0% – 100%).

This is a SYSTEM of learning. The reading materials teach the concepts, principles and exam syllabi. The interactive online tools and tests reinforce those concepts through application. Since the CIA exam tests your ability to apply concepts, the online components are extremely important. The online tests also help prepare you for the computer-based CIA exam.

The most successful candidates are those who study the reading materials thoroughly, complete all of the online quizzes, tests, flashcards, and Practice Exam.

No, since we can’t control study behavior, we do not guarantee success.

We encourage you to research the pass guarantees offered by other providers. There are very strict requirements in order to receive a refund. Please visit our website for more information on our return policy.

While The IIA does not publish the official pass rates of individual course providers, our independent surveys have shown that The IIA’s CIA Learning System’s pass rate is, on average, significantly higher than the published global pass rate.

No, audio recordings and video lectures are not available with The IIA’s CIA Learning System study tools. If you are interested in video lectures, The IIA and several global education partners offer online courses and seminars. Find an online course now.

Completing the self-study course does not qualify for CPE credit, however you may earn CPE credit by completing an instructor-led course through an accredited college/university or The IIA. Check with the course provider for details.

Study times vary on years of experience, accounting and IT expertise, how quickly you read, how recently you’ve graduated from college, and the study method you choose. However, we suggest you budget a minimum of the following hours to your CIA studies:

• Part 1: 40 hours
• Part 2: 40 hours
• Part 3: 50 hours

Yes, many candidates choose to review the study material before committing to the CIA exam.

It is recommended that you register for and schedule your exam early into your study process to curb the urge to procrastinate. If you’re committed to earning the CIA, schedule your exam, set a study schedule and stick with your plan.

Your first study step will be to assess your strengths and weaknesses with a 50-question online pre-test. Following the pre-test, you will be given a summary of your scores by topic.

An instructor-led course would give you access to an expert instructor who could answer your accounting questions as class time allows. However if you have no accounting education or experience, we advise that you enroll in an Accounting 101 course.

First, you should schedule your exam early in your studies to give yourself a goal to work towards. This will help you avoid procrastination and stay motivated.

You should work toward getting 80-95% on the quizzes and tests before taking the CIA exam.