Contact Us : 800.874.5346 International: +1 352.375.0772
Wondering if the Certified Internal Auditor® (CIA®) is right for you but not sure where to start? Don’t worry—we’ll break down the CIA exam basics for you. Here’s what you need to know before you get started.
If you’re pursuing a career in internal audit, the CIA certification is a great stepping stone. The CIA is the only globally recognized certification in the internal audit and compliance industry. It equips you with auditing skills and expertise that can unlock a world of career opportunities and advancement, including higher earning potential. Read about more reasons to become a CIA in our blog.
The CIA exam is offered by the Institute of Internal Auditors® ( IIA®) to certify professionals who possess the knowledge and skills to effectively perform internal audit responsibilities in any organization and industry, anywhere in the world.
Many organizations rely on internal auditors to maintain the financial health of the organization. The role of an internal auditor becomes more valuable to organizations the more experience and knowledge an internal auditor has.
According to The IIA, by earning the CIA, “individuals demonstrate their professionalism in the internal audit field,” and gain “educational experience, information, and business tools that can be applied immediately in any organization or business environment.”
The IIA is a global organization that provides internal audit professionals worldwide with authoritative guidance in the Global Internal Audit Standards Opens in new window and International Professional Practices Framework (IPPF).
Becoming a member of The IIA isn’t required to sit for the exam, but it is strongly recommended because of the money IIA members save on the exam fees.
Other benefits of being an IIA member include access to tools and resources to advance your career. Plus IIA Chapters and affiliated institutes around the world hold regular meetings, seminars, and conferences that encourage members to network with peers, develop professional contacts, and stay informed about current issues and practices in internal auditing.
To earn the CIA designation, you first have to meet all the necessary CIA requirements and pass the CIA exam. Here’s an overview of the CIA exam basics you need to know before you get started.
CIA candidates must meet The IIA’s requirements for Education, Ethics, Examination, and Experience. You have to satisfy the education and ethics requirements before you can take the exam, but you can meet the experience requirement after. Get a detailed breakdown of all the CIA requirements in our guide.
The CIA is a three-part exam, and each part tests you on key internal auditing concepts and skills.
It’s comprised of only multiple-choice questions, and you will have 2-2.5 hours to take the exam depending on the part.
Learn more about the topics tested in each exam part in our guide to the CIA exam parts.
| CIA Exam Part | Exam Part Title | Number of questions | Testing Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | Internal Audit Fundamentals | 125 | 2.5 hours |
| Part 2 | Internal Audit Engagement | 100 | 2 hours |
| Part 3 | Internal Audit Function | 100 | 2 hours |
The CIA exam is created by The IIA’s Professional Certification Department, which is comprised of the Professional Certifications Board (PCB) and the Exam Development Committee (EDC), to reflect current knowledge and practices in the internal auditing profession.
Together, these entities write the syllabus and questions, grade the exams, and ensure the integrity of the exam process.
The exam is non-disclosed to provide every candidate an equal chance of passing the exam. This means the actual test questions are not released to review providers or the public until they are retired and no longer included on the exam.
To maintain the CIA exam’s integrity and non-disclosed status, the Professional Certification Department does not provide additional exam details to any one review course. This means that no review provider has “insider” knowledge or additional insight over the others. Each review provider, including Gleim, generates its own study materials, including practice questions and exams.
Once CIA exam questions are retired and released to the public, we quickly incorporate them into our review materials. They are important for practice and familiarity with the CIA exam, and we know how valuable it is for CIA candidates to receive these practice materials as soon as possible.
However, just testing these questions is not enough. Gleim also uses the released questions as blueprints for writing additional practice questions. We believe that the more practice questions candidates have, the more familiar they’ll become with potential tricks and common mistakes made while taking the test.
Our CIA review materials are always up to date with the content you need to pass. Our team of experts analyzes the CIA exam syllabus each time a new one is published to ensure candidates are studying the correct material to pass the exam.
With all the perks of becoming a CIA, including the value you will bring to your organization, it’s important to choose the right CIA exam review provider for your studies. We created the very first CIA review course in 1980, and we put our 45 years of experience to work for you.
Our CIA Review System is designed to help you pass the first time. With our SmartAdapt™ guided review course, thousands of multiple-choice questions, and realistic practice exams, we focus on ensuring our candidates are prepared for any question or topic on the exam!
