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The CIA Challenge Exam is an opportunity for active CPAs, members of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), and other qualifying accounting bodies to earn their CIA certification through an expedited process.
Normally, CIA candidates must pass three exam parts to prove their understanding of the content. However, members of qualifying accounting bodies can take the CIA Challenge Exam, which contains only the CIA exam content that isn’t on their accounting body’s certification exam.
Each year we receive questions from candidates asking about the CIA Challenge Exam, as it is a unique opportunity to earn the CIA designation faster. We’ve answered some of the most common questions to help you decide if this opportunity is right for you!
Candidates must be a current member of one (or more) of the below organizations and be in good standing to qualify. You will need to contact your local accounting body to obtain a letter of good standing prior to submitting a CIA Challenge Exam application to The IIA. This document must be provided to complete the application process.
Even if you have already registered for the normal CIA program, you should be able to register for this special exam. However, if you have already passed a part or two, you will still need to pass the full Challenge Exam, so it’s often better to continue with the CIA program.
Potential CIA Challenge Exam candidates can apply for the programOpens in new window during the application window. Once you have been accepted you must sit for the exam within 180 days of your application being approved.
Once you have been approved for the CIA Challenge Exam, you will be able to register and schedule your exam through your CCMS account.
The CIA Challenge Exam is offered a few times each year, but candidates will usually only have one chance to pass the exam before having to pay another set of program fees. Candidates must applyOpens in new window in advance for the CIA Challenge Exam, which can be done through The IIA’s CCMS. Once accepted, candidates are then able to register for and schedule their first exam attempt.
The windows for candidates to apply, register, and schedule are:
The first attempt testing windows for candidates who apply in April 2023 are:
The first attempt testing windows for candidates who apply in September 2023 are:
Candidates are able to register for and schedule their retakes throughout the year, but they must retake their exam in these windows:
The exam is offered online and in-person through Pearson VUEOpens in new window around the world, and candidates are expected to spend three hours completing the exam.
To apply for the Challenge exam, you have to have your CPA or another qualifying certification as outlined above. Here are the steps:
When signing up for the Challenge Exam, candidates will be expected to pay all relevant fees upfront. The cost of the CIA Challenge Exam is $1,195 USD for IIA members and $1,545 USD for non-IIA members. If you have to reschedule your exam, there is a $75 fee from Pearson VUE.
The CIA Challenge Exam fees include the application and registration fees and access to the International Professional Practices Framework and the Standards.
Compared to the normal cost of $2,074 USD for IIA members and $2,264 for non-IIA members, the CIA Challenge Exam can save you a significant amount of money. These totals do not include any potential travel expenses, additional review courses, or other miscellaneous costs. If you only need to take one CIA Challenge Exam instead of the normal three parts of the CIA exam, you could save more!
The CIA Challenge Exam is designed for members who already hold a professional accounting certificate or license and want to earn their CIA certification. The 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.
The IIA provides a syllabusOpens in new window for candidates looking to see what topics they need to study. It shows what topics come from which CIA exam part, the proficiency needed in each tested topic, and the approximate number of questions from each section.
But knowing what will be on the exam isn’t enough to pass it. CIA Challenge Exam candidates should enlist the help of a review provider to get everything they need to prepare. The CIA Challenge Exam is difficult and there are limited opportunities to sit for it, so candidates should work to master all testable topics to the best of their ability.
We examine the CIA Challenge Exam syllabus so you don’t have to. Our CIA Challenge Exam Review Course, based on our industry-leading Premium CIA Review System, has everything you need to pass with confidence. It’s the first and only adaptive course built for the Challenge Exam.
The CIA Challenge Exam has 150 questions based on the exam syllabusOpens in new window and the examination time is up to 180 minutes. Questions are divided into two categories based on proficiency:
The syllabus lists all three 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 CIA Challenge Exam syllabus also lists the percentage of questions pulled from each part, listed below.
The CIA Challenge Exam still has scaled scoringOpens in new window, and candidates must earn 600 points out of a possible 750 to pass.
For more detailed information, check out the CIA Challenge Exam syllabusOpens in new window or the Gleim cross-reference.
CIA Challenge Exam candidates should get review materials to help with their exam preparation. Having help from an experienced review provider can make the difference!
Additionally, CIA Challenge Exam candidates should plan their studies on a calendar or scheduler to help them stay on track. The Challenge Exam covers a wide array of topics, and you need to be sure you are meeting your goals in order to pass.
It also helps to understand the interface and format of the exam. The CIA Challenge 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.
