What you need to know about the CIA Challenge Exam

The Institute of Internal Auditors® (The IIA®) offers the CIA Challenge Exam as a way for qualified candidates to earn the Certified Internal Auditor® (CIA®) certification through an expedited process.

Normally, CIA candidates must pass all three exam parts to prove their understanding of the content. However, eligible candidates have the opportunity to take the CIA Challenge Exam, which streamlines the CIA content into one exam.

We’ve answered some of the most common questions to help you decide if this opportunity is right for you.

• Who is eligible to take the CIA Challenge Exam?
• When is the exam offered?
• How much does the CIA Challenge Exam cost?
• How do I apply?
• What do I need to study?
• How many questions are on the exam?
• What is the best way to prepare for the CIA Challenge Exam?
  

The IIA offers two exam options depending on what qualifying certification you already have.

1. Accounting CIA Challenge Exam
   For qualified Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) and Chartered Accountants (CAs).
2. Information Systems CIA Challenge Exam
   For Qualified Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) certification holders.

Candidates for the Accounting version of the exam must be a current member of one (or more) of the following accounting bodies to qualify. Before applying, you’ll need to contact your local accounting body to obtain a letter of good standing. 

The application window opens April 1, 2026. 

The testing windows are:

• February
• June
• August
• November

The exam is offered through Pearson VUE Opens in new window around the world, and candidates are expected to spend three hours completing the exam.

Follow these steps to apply:

1. Log in to the Certification Candidate Management System (CCMS) Opens in new window
2. Select “Apply for Certified Internal Auditor”
3. Select “CIA Challenge Program for Qualified Chartered Accountants and Certified Public Accountants” or “CIA Challenge Program for Qualified Information Systems Auditors”
4. Complete your application and payment
5. Upload proof of your government-issued ID and a letter of good standing
   1. Candidates for the Qualified Chartered Accountants and Certified Public Accountants exam must upload proof of good standing from their accounting body.
   2. Candidates for the Qualified Information Systems Auditors exam must upload proof of good standing from the public registry.

Once your application to the program is approved, you’ll be able to register for and schedule your exam. To do this, select “Manage my program” and then choose “CIA” and click “Register.” Once you application is accepted, you must sit for the exam within 180 days of your application being approved.

The IIA offers discounted fees to IIA members, while non-members have to pay a higher fee. The Challenge Exam costs $995 for IIA members and $1,625 for non-members. There is an additional cost if you have to retake the exam, so it’s important to go in prepared so that you can pass on your first try. 

See the table for a breakdown of each fee depending on your membership status. 

We recommend enlisting the help of a review provider to get everything you need to prepare. The exam is difficult, and there are limited opportunities to sit for it, so it’s important to master the topics so that you can pass on your first try.

You don’t have to worry about the details of the exam syllabus—we handle that for you by making sure our course always covers the content you need. Our CIA Challenge Exam Review Course has everything you need to pass with confidence.

The last opportunity to take the current version of the exam is the February 2026 testing window—as long as you applied by the October 15, 2025 deadline.

The current exam combines CIA Parts 1, 2, and 3 and removes all of the information tested on the exam for the certificate or license members already hold.

There are currently two CIA Challenge Exam syllabi, one for each version of the exam. The current exam syllabi list all three CIA exam parts, their domains, and the topics within those domains that are testable. For example, CIA Part 1 – Essentials of Internal Auditing, Domain 5 – Governance, Risk Management, and Control, includes 6 testable topics (instead of the normal 11 for CIA Part 1). The syllabus also lists the percentage of questions pulled from each part, listed below.

CIA Challenge Exam Syllabus for Qualified Accountants

• CIA Part 1 | Essentials of Internal Auditing — 35%
• CIA Part 2 | Practice of Internal Auditing — 43%
• CIA Part 3 | Business Knowledge for Internal Auditing — 22%

CIA Challenge Exam Syllabus for CISA™ Holders

• CIA Part 1 | Essentials of Internal Auditing — 50%
• CIA Part 2 | Practice of Internal Auditing — 30%
• CIA Part 3 | Business Knowledge for Internal Auditing — 20%

The IIA’s new exam syllabus, aligned with the latest Global Internal Audit Standards, is effective beginning June 1, 2026. 

For the new CIA Challenge Exam, there are no longer two separate syllabi for the Accounting and Information Systems versions of the exams. Going forward, there will only be one CIA Challenge Exam syllabus for both exams.

The CIA Challenge Exam has 150 multiple-choice questions based on the exam syllabus, and the examination time is up to 180 minutes.

For the current version of the exam, testable for the last time in February 2026, questions are divided into two categories based on proficiency:

• Basic, marked with a B on the syllabus, only require that candidates be aware of these topics.
• Proficient, marked with a P on the syllabus, demands that candidates have a deep understanding of, and the ability to apply, these concepts.

The 2026 version of the exam no longer has the Basic/Proficient levels in the syllabus. 

Candidates must earn 600 points out of a possible 750 to pass the exam. The exam is graded based on scaled scoring Opens in new window. The CIA Challenge Exam pass rate is 47% based on exams delivered in all countries globally. 

Candidates should use CIA Challenge Exam Review materials to help with their exam preparation. Having help from an experienced review provider can make the difference.

Additionally, candidates should plan their studies on a calendar or scheduler to help them stay on track. Our course comes with a Study Planner that you can personalize to your exam schedule and free time. The Challenge Exam covers a wide array of topics, and you need to be sure you’re meeting your goals in order to pass. 

It also helps to understand the interface and format of the exam. The exam is administered by Pearson VUE, so the interface is the same as the traditional CIA exam.

The CIA Challenge Exam is only offered in English. To best prepare, study and practice questions in English to make sure there are no translation issues on exam day.