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Contact Us : 800.874.5346 | International: +1 352.375.0772

There are several steps you’ll need to take to make sure you’re putting all of your hard work to work. After you pass your CIA exam, you’ll need to get your CIA certificate, get listed on The IIA’s Certification Registry, meet your annual CIA CPE requirements, and more! We’ll break it down and walk you through it so you’re ready to leverage your new certification as you take the next steps in your career.

How to use your CIA Certification to impact your career

1. Get your CIA certificate

When you leave your testing center or finish your remote exam, you’ll know with some certainty how you did because you’ll receive an unofficial score report. If you passed, you can’t do much (besides celebrate!) until you receive your official score report from The IIA. So the first thing you need to do after you pass all three parts of the CIA exam is be patient and sit tight. The same is true if you took the CIA Challenge exam instead—you’ll be able to get your certificate after passing that one-part exam and waiting for your official score report.

Once your official score report is available, you’ll receive an email letting you know to check your score in the CCMS. You should receive your official report in about 1-2 days, and once you get it you’re eligible to receive your CIA certificate (provided you’ve met the other CIA certification requirements).

Once you’re eligible, you’ll receive an email telling you to log into the CCMS, where you can either download a PDF of your certificate or order a printed one. Getting your printed certificate takes a bit longer, but we think it’s worth it. Earning your CIA is a big accomplishment—you should display your certificate proudly!

If you passed, you won’t see your score—you’ll only see that you passed. If you failed the CIA exam, your score report will show you your scaled score between 250 and 599 and you’ll also get a breakdown of which sections you need to improve on that you can use to help study for your retake.

2. Get listed on The IIA Certification Registry

The IIA Certification Registry Opens in new window is a list of people with active IIA certifications. It’s routinely updated and serves as evidence of your certification, which potential employers and the public can refer to.

You’ll have multiple opportunities to opt in to the registry. The easiest way is to opt in when you complete the certification program or when you’re reporting your annual CPE, but you can also ask to be listed by submitting a case from your CCMS account.

3. Promote yourself

You’ve got a new credential to list after your name! That’s an exciting accomplishment to celebrate, and you should prominently display it. Widely promoting your CIA will ensure you gain all the benefits of your new certification.

Here are some ways you can promote yourself and your new credential:

  • Update your professional social media profiles to list your CIA credential
  • Put out a celebratory post announcing your certification
  • Add a badge to your social profiles that highlights your certification and expertise

Your peers will be excited to cheer you on, and this gives you a chance to extend your network further and interact with more CIAs.

4. Look for a career step up

Now’s a good time to update your resumé and look for new jobs that you qualify for now that you have your CIA! Your certification signals your expertise and your commitment to growing professionally. Companies are motivated to hire certified employees, so your certification can help you get a bigger bonus, higher salary, and other benefits!

If you like where you are and want to stay, your certification should open up the opportunity for advancement (and a higher salary), so you should begin that conversation if you haven’t already.

5. Maintain your CIA certification

Along with all the benefits that come with holding the CIA certification, you also need to maintain it by meeting The IIA’s CIA CPE requirements. As a practicing CIA, to keep your certification active you must complete 40 hours of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) every year and complete the certification renewal process attesting that you’ve completed your hours. Two of these hours must be in ethics each year.

Keep reading to learn more about the CIA CPE requirements and how to complete annual certification renewal. You’ve already put in all the hours to earn your certification, don’t let it expire! 

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CIA CPE Requirements

The amount of CPE hours you’re required to complete depends on if you’re practicing (40 hours) or nonpracticing (20 hours). Each year, you’ll need to complete the required amount of hours and then complete the Annual Certification Renewal process within the CCMS to renew your certification and attest that you’ve completed your hours.

How to complete CIA certification renewal

Certification renewal opens on October 1 each year, so you don’t have to wait until December 31 to complete your renewal. Once you’ve completed the CIA CPE requirements hours, you can renew your certification through the CCMS.

You’ll follow different certification renewal steps depending on whether your certification status is Active, Grace, or Revoked. You can check your certification status in the CCMS.

It sounds confusing, but don’t worry! We’ve broken down what each certification status means and the steps for each status.

The Annual Certification Renewal fee you’ll have to pay varies based on location, membership status, and the certification you have.

Active Status

If your CIA certification status is active, you’re required to renew your certification annually by December 31 after completing your required CPE hours. Renew your certification by logging into the CCMS, selecting “Renew” and following the instructions to submit your renewal.

With active status, you can list your certification after your name and take advantage of the benefits of having the CIA designation.

Grace Status

If you don’t complete certification renewal by the deadline, your status will change from Active to Grace for a 12-month period. 

If you’re in the Grace period your certification is inactive. To return to Active status, you’ll be required to complete certification renewal for the current year and the previous year that you missed. In the CCMS you’ll be able to select “Renew Prior Year” or “Renew Current and Prior Year.” 

While you’re in Grace status, you won’t be allowed to list your certification after your name or take advantage of the benefits of being a CIA.

Revoked Status

If you don’t complete certification renewal for three consecutive years, your certification will expire and you will enter Revoked status. If this happens, you’ll be required to reapply, retake the exams, and pay all the fees to become certified again.

To begin the process of recertifying, log into CCMS, select “Recertify” for the program you want to return to Active status for, and follow the instructions. You’ll then be required to register for and complete the required exams.

If your certification expires and you’re in Revoked status, you can’t list your certification after your name or take advantage of the benefits of being certified.

Get started

Start working on your CPE hours! We recommend chipping away at your CIA CPE requirements as early as you can so that the December 31 deadline doesn’t sneak up on you. Check out the CIA CPE courses in our course catalog to help you fulfil your requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many CIA CPE hours do I need to complete?

If you’re a practicing CIA, you must complete 40 hours of CPE (including 2 hours of ethics) each year by December 31 and complete certification renewal within the CCMS. If you’re no longer practicing, you must complete 20 hours of CPE (including 2 hours of ethics) annually.

When do I need to start completing CPE and certification renewal?

For newly certified CIAs, the first renewal period begins on the date you become certified and ends on December 31 of the following year. 

Do my CPE hours count toward multiple certifications?

If you have multiple certifications, CPE hours earned for CSCA, CFSA, CRMA, and QIAL can be applied toward CPE hours for the CIA. 

When do I get my CIA exam score?

You’ll receive an unofficial score report at the testing center. Your official score report will be made available in the CCMS about 1-2 days after your exam, and you’ll receive an email alerting you when it’s ready.

How do I get my CIA certificate?

Once you’re eligible, you’ll get an email with instructions for how to order your certificate. The instructions will let you know to log into the CCMS and either download a PDF of your certificate or order a printed one. You’ll be able to provide how you’d like your name to appear on your certificate and verify your contact information and address.

How has the CIA CPE policy changed?

Effective September 1, 2023, The IIA made these changes regarding CIA CPE:

  • “CPE Reporting Policy” is now referred to as “Annual Certification Renewal Policy.”
  • For the first time, you’re allowed to carry over surplus CPE hours to the following year’s reporting period. You can carry over up to 20 surplus hours.
  • The Grace period is extended from 12 months to 24 months.
  • If you fail to report the required CPE after the 24-month Grace period, you’re no longer able to reinstate your CIA designation. Your certification will enter Revoked status and you’ll be required to apply to the program, pass all three CIA exam parts, and pay all required fees again (effective January 1, 2024).

Refer to the table below for a comparison of the CPE Reporting Policy and the Annual Certification Renewal Policy effective September 1, 2023.

CIA CPE Policy
  CPE Reporting Policy Annual Certification Renewal Policy
(Effective September 1, 2023)
Reporting Period Starts calendar year after designation is earned. Starts calendar year after designation is earned.
CPE Hours Required 40 hours 40 hours
Ethics Hours Required 2 hours 2 hours
Surplus CPE No carryover allowed. A maximum of 20 surplus CPE hours earned during the calendar year may be carried over to the following reporting period.
Certification Reinstatement Those with Expired status can reinstate their designation by reporting required CPE hours and paying the fee. Reinstatement no longer be offered effective January 1, 2024. Those whose status becomes Revoked must re-apply into the program, pass all required exams, and pay all fees.
Grace Status 12 months 24 months