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The Financial and Managerial Accounting Associate (FMAA) is a foundational certification from the Institute of Management Accountants that equips you with key accounting and finance knowledge. Earning the FMAA gives you important advantages that will help you launch your accounting career.
Studying for the FMAA exam is your opportunity to build a strong professional foundation, and the right study plan can make all the difference.
Keep reading to learn our best study tips, see sample study plans, and find out how the tools in our course set you up for success.
The Institute of Management Accountants Opens in new window recommends 50 hours of study time to prepare for the exam. The FMAA exam tests more than rote memorization. You’re expected to apply principles and analyze situations, all while answering 80 multiple-choice questions in the allotted two hours. Read our guide to learn more about the FMAA and what’s tested on the FMAA exam.
Everyone’s personal study needs are different, and no two study paths will look exactly the same. So it’s up to you to determine your level of familiarity with the content, study style, and schedule limitations.
You can start by asking yourself these questions:
If it’s been a while since you last studied these topics or if you’re switching career paths and this is your first introduction to accounting, you’ll most likely need to dedicate the full recommended 50 study hours. If you recently took accounting classes in college, the content should be fresher in your memory, so you may not need as much study time.
Before you create a study plan, assess your weekly time commitments and identify any dates or times you won’t be able to study. Your study plan has to work with your day-to-day life, so if you always go to the gym or go for a run after work, block off time for that when you’re making your plan. It’s important to be realistic and set up a schedule that you can stick to so that you’re making consistent progress.
We’ve put together a few example schedules to help you visualize how different study plans affect how long it takes to prepare for the exam.
Our FMAA Test Prep breaks up the FMAA exam topics into 9 bite-sized Study Units. You’ll find some Study Units more difficult than others, so don’t worry if some take you a little longer than others. Depending on your background knowledge, some topics will be easy for you, and some will take some extra study time.
Remember, these are only examples. Every person’s situation is different, so make sure to tailor your schedule to fit your needs.
If you’ve got a full course load or you’re balancing work and studying, this plan is a good way to fit studying into your weekly schedule without overwhelming you.
This is our recommended study schedule for most people. If you’re able to study 10 hours per week, you’ll be ready to pass the FMAA exam in just 5 weeks.
This more rigorous study pace will set you up to pass your exam sooner, but it could be hard to fit in so many weekly study hours if you’re working or going to school full-time.
If studying for the FMAA exam sounds overwhelming, here’s the good news: you don’t have to figure this out alone.
Our FMAA Test Prep is designed to help you study smarter, not harder. We’ve blended the most effective exam prep tools into one seamless package with tools like comprehensive video lectures, an extensive test bank, and an expertly written digital book.
Let’s break down exactly how you can use our study resources to maximize your learning and your results.
They’re the next best thing to a personal tutor. With 195+ brand new, instructor-led videos, you can watch Professor Amy Ford, CPA, CMA, FMAA, simplify complicated topics, break down challenging concepts, and walk you through practice questions. Plus, Professor Ford earned a perfect score on the FMAA exam when she took it, so you can rest assured that you’re learning from the best!
Why are question walkthrough videos so helpful? You get to see the problem-solving process in motion, not just the final answer. Hearing an expert explain and visualize each step bridges that critical gap between reading and understanding.
Our accounting experts streamlined the FMAA exam content into our digital book outlines that are designed to help you learn quickly while building a deep understanding of the material. Our book explains the essential topics in clear, direct language with diagrams and examples that make the details click.
While you read, remember to take short notes, make flashcards, or jot down questions to review later.
Understanding concepts is only half the battle. You’ve got to know how to tackle the kinds of questions you’ll face on exam day.
That’s where our industry-leading FMAA question bank comes in. You’ll get access to over 1,000 high-quality, exam-style multiple-choice questions. Plus, each question includes our signature answer explanations to make sure you understand why each answer choice is right or wrong.
Smart studying means focusing on your needs. Our platform provides a performance analysis that tracks your progress, how much time you’re spending per question across study sessions, and your overall grade report.
Use this analysis to focus your efforts on weaker areas and to revisit questions you’ve gotten wrong.
The FMAA exam interface, while intuitive, can still rattle your nerves if you see it for the first time on exam day. Our course lets you practice in a realistic simulation that mirrors the real exam experience, from navigation to timing.
The more comfortable you get with using it, the smoother your real exam will feel.
The bottom line? Passing the FMAA exam requires a blend of active learning, practical application, and targeted practice. Every element of our course is designed to support your success from the first study session to exam day. Our latest course enhancements, especially the video lectures, give you all the tools you need right at your fingertips—anytime, anywhere.
Follow our tips to create your study plan, and start studying with our FMAA Test Prep today!
