The Internal Audit Practitioner™ (IAP™) is a foundational certification from The Institute of Internal Auditors® (IIA®). It equips students and early-career auditors with the necessary knowledge and skills to begin a career in internal auditing. It’s a great way to demonstrate your knowledge and build a path to additional professional certifications, like the Certified Internal Auditor® (CIA®).

There are many great reasons to earn your IIA IAP certification.

• Gain confidence in foundational internal audit topics.
• Develop the necessary skills you’ll use in your career.
• Demonstrate your dedication to growth to potential employers.
• Differentiate yourself from your non-certified peers.

If you’re early in your career and are trying to enter the field of internal auditing, the IAP can help you get your foot in the door. Because there are no prerequisite educational or experience requirements, the IAP is perfect for students and young professionals looking to propel their careers forward. 

The IAP is also a great way to establish a path for growth and move up in your career. Once you pass the IAP by taking CIA Part 1, you’re already on track to continue advancing with the CIA. When you apply to the CIA program after already earning the IAP, you’ll get a waiver for passing Part 1 and will only need to pass Parts 2 and 3 to become a CIA—as long as you pass the remaining parts during your waiver eligibility period, which we cover in detail later on.

The IAP exam cost depends on if you’re a student and whether or not you’re a member of The IIA—so it ranges from costing $310 to $685 to complete the IIA Internal Audit Practitioner program. See the table for a breakdown of the IAP costs. 

Once you’re certified, The IIA requires IAPs to complete an annual certification renewal process, and the cost varies depending on where you’re located. 

The IAP is an achievable and cost-effective certification designed to help entry-level audit professionals start their careers strong. This investment in your career will pay off quickly since you’ll be equipped to begin your career with a certification already under your belt.

Internal Audit Practitioner candidates become certified by taking Part 1 of the Certified Internal Auditor exam. This exam covers Internal Audit Fundamentals by testing you on four key topic areas.

The exam is 2.5 hours long and has 125 multiple-choice questions. On average, you’ll need to study for about 75-85 hours over 7-9 weeks to prepare for the exam.

This table breaks down the content tested on the CIA Part 1 exam. Go to The IIA’s IAP Exam Syllabus page Opens in new window to see the detailed exam syllabus and topic breakdown.

*Available in Simplified Chinese starting September 28, 2026.

To become an IAP, you’ll need to have a government-issued ID, and you’ll have to submit an application to the IIA IAP Program. There aren’t any prerequisite education or experience requirements you have to meet before you can earn the IAP.

Once you have the Internal Audit Practitioner certification, The IIA will require you to complete 20 hours of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) annually beginning in 2026.

In order to maintain your certification status, you’ll also be required to complete The IIA’s Annual Certification Renewal process. 

The IAP CIA Part 1 exam is offered continuously, so you don’t need to wait for a specific testing window to take the exam.

Once your application for the Internal Audit Practitioner program is approved, you have two years to pass the exam before your program window expires.

1. Make sure you have the documents you need, including your ID
2. Create an account in The IIA’s Certification Candidate Management System (CCMS) Opens in new window
3. Select the program from the list of options
4. Submit your application and payment

When you’re ready to schedule your exam appointment, go to the CCMS and

1. Go to “Manage Program”
2. Register for the exam
3. Schedule your exam

As of April 1, 2026, The IIA has a new scoring policy in place. You will receive your official exam result within three weeks of taking the exam. You’ll be notified when your exam results are available. 

Once you become a certified Internal Audit Practitioner, the next step on your internal audit career path is to become a Certified Internal Auditor. You’ll already be ahead because you’ll have passed the CIA Part 1 exam to earn your IAP, so you’ll only need to pass CIA Parts 2 and 3 to complete the CIA exam.

IAPs receive a waiver for CIA Part 1 when applying to the CIA program, according to the following requirements.