CMA Course in the UAE
The CMA (Certified Management Accountant) is a US credential awarded by the Institute of Management Accountants for management accounting and corporate finance. Millennium Academy runs CMA training in Sharjah and live online, covering both exam parts, typically over six to nine months.
Earn the US Certified Management Accountant credential — the global benchmark for management accounting and corporate finance — with expert-led training built for working professionals in the UAE.
What's included
- Unlimited live classes until you pass
- Complete study material and question banks included
- Free demo session with a certified instructor
- Instalment payment plans available
- On-campus in the UAE or live online
Is this course right for you?
This programme is built for professionals who recognise themselves below.
Accountants and finance professionals ready to move from record-keeping into analysis, planning and decision-support roles.
Commerce or finance graduates who want a globally recognised credential to stand out in the GCC job market.
Auditors and bookkeepers aiming to transition into corporate finance, FP&A or management roles.
Ambitious professionals targeting controller, finance manager or CFO-track positions within 3–5 years.
Why earn CMA?
Stronger salary negotiation
The CMA is a recognised lever in pay conversations, often qualifying holders for higher bands within corporate finance teams.
Move into management accounting
Gain the exact skill set needed to step beyond entry-level bookkeeping into roles focused on internal business performance.
Practical financial analysis
Build a solid foundation in Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) so you can turn numbers into decisions leadership acts on.
Global professional credibility
A US CMA on your CV signals verified, standardised mastery of management accounting to recruiters worldwide.
Faster specialisation
For professionals not drawn to audit or tax, the CMA is the most direct route to specialise in corporate finance and cost management.
Wider job prospects
Many corporate finance roles list the CMA as a preferred qualification, helping your application clear the first screening.
Full curriculum
We show the complete syllabus up front — nothing hidden behind a form.
Part 1 — Financial Planning, Performance & Analytics
- AExternal Financial Reporting Decisions
- BPlanning, Budgeting & Forecasting
- CPerformance Management
- DCost Management
- EInternal Controls
- FTechnology & Analytics
Part 2 — Strategic Financial Management
- AFinancial Statement Analysis
- BCorporate Finance
- CDecision Analysis
- DRisk Management
- EInvestment Decisions
- FProfessional Ethics
How you get certified
To earn the credential you also need a bachelor's degree, active IMA membership and two years of relevant professional experience (which can be completed within seven years of passing).
- Two parts, taken in either order
- 100 multiple-choice questions + two 30-minute essay scenarios
- 4 hours per part
- Jan–Feb, May–Jun and Sep–Oct each year
- 360 out of 500 (scaled)
- Recognised globally; issued by the IMA (USA)
What you'll be able to do
- Confidently prepare and interpret management accounts and performance reports
- Build budgets, forecasts and variance analyses that inform real decisions
- Apply costing, internal control and risk frameworks in a corporate setting
- Position yourself for FP&A, controller and finance-manager roles
CMA vs ACCA vs CPA — how they differ
All three are respected finance credentials, but they lead to different work. This is how they compare on the points that usually decide it.
| Feature | CMA (US) | ACCA (UK) | US CPA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Awarded by | Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), USA | Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), UK | AICPA / NASBA and a licensing US state board |
| Best suited to | Management accounting and corporate finance roles inside a business — FP&A, cost management, finance manager and controller tracks. | Broad accountancy careers spanning audit, tax, advisory and reporting, with the widest international recognition. | Accountants working with US GAAP, US-listed groups or US-headquartered employers. |
| Typical duration | 6–9 months | 2–3 years | 6–12 months |
| Exam structure | Two parts, taken in either order | Up to 13 exams across 3 levels, plus an Ethics module | 3 Core sections + 1 Discipline section of your choice |
| When you can sit | Three windows a year: Jan–Feb, May–Jun, Sep–Oct | Four sessions a year: March, June, September, December | Continuous testing year-round across most state boards |
| Pass mark | 360 out of 500 (scaled), per part | 50% per paper | 75 out of 99 (scaled), per section |
| Experience requirement | Two years of relevant experience, completable within seven years of passing | 36 months of relevant supervised experience, can run alongside exams | Set by the licensing state board; varies by state |
| Recognition | Recognised globally; issued by the IMA (USA) | Recognised in 180+ countries | The benchmark credential in the US; widely recognised by US-linked employers in the UAE |
Flexible investment with instalment plans
Course investment is discussed on your free consultation call so we can tailor it to the parts you need and the schedule that fits you. Instalment plans are available. We keep pricing transparent — there are no hidden fees.
CMA — your questions answered
To sit the exams you only need IMA membership and to pay the one-time CMA entrance fee. No degree is required at that stage. The entrance fee gives you 3 years to pass both parts. To be awarded the credential you also need a bachelor's degree from an accredited university (or an approved professional certification) and two continuous years of professional experience in management accounting or financial management. You can complete the degree and experience before the exams, or within 7 years of passing them. That's why many people start studying straight away.
Most working professionals pass both parts in 6 to 9 months, taking one part per testing window. Part 1 covers financial planning, performance and analytics. Part 2 covers strategic financial management. You can take them in either order. Because we offer unlimited classes until you pass, a missed window or a retake doesn't mean paying for tuition again.
They lead to different careers. The CMA covers management accounting and corporate finance: budgeting, costing, performance, decision analysis and investment decisions. It takes 2 exams, usually over 6 to 9 months. ACCA is broader, covering audit, tax, IFRS reporting and strategy across up to 13 exams over 2 to 3 years. If you want FP&A, cost controller, finance manager or CFO-track roles inside a company, the CMA is the faster, more direct route. If you're heading for external audit, advisory or practice, ACCA fits better.
In 2026 there are three testing windows: 1 January–28 February, 1 May–30 June and 1 September–31 October. Registration closes on the 15th of the window's second month (15 February, 15 June and 15 October). The exams are computer-based and taken at Prometric test centres, including in the UAE. We plan your study schedule backwards from the window you choose.
Each calendar year you need 30 hours of continuing professional education (CPE), including at least 2 hours of ethics, and you must keep your IMA membership active. The ethics hours count within the 30, not on top. You can carry up to 10 extra hours into the following year.
Yes. IMA's fees (annual membership, the one-time CMA entrance fee and an exam fee for each part) are paid directly to IMA. Our tuition is separate and can be split into instalments. We walk you through both on your free consultation call, so you know the full cost before you start.
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