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How to Become a CRMA in 3 Months: Follow These 10 Steps
Many readers often ask about the CRMA certification. Therefore, I am going to dig deeper to present a macro view of this certification. The comment section below can also be used as a CRMA exam forum for those who have general questions.
What Is a CRMA?
The Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA) is one of the latest certifications offered by the IIA, or the Institute of Internal Auditors. The CRMA certificate was introduced in 2013.
As the name suggests, the certification covers the skills required for a professional to educate and counsel management and audit committees on risk management concepts. In short, the focus is on “risk” and “risk management.”
How to Become an IIA CRMA Certificate Holder
I don’t suggest jumping into the CRMA application procedure right away. Let’s take the time and ask the “why” first instead of the “how”:
1. Can you benefit as a CRMA?
Here’s the most important question: Why do you want to be a CRMA? Why go through the trouble to get this additional certificate?
First of all, in the past, CRMA candidates had to pass part 1 of the three-part CIA exam before they could sit for the CRMA exam. However, several significant CRMA changes will be implemented in mid-2021.
Since the new CRMA requirements started a couple of years ago, CRMA candidates must already have their CIA certificate. Therefore, to even sit for the CRMA exam, you must meet all the CIA requirements. And that means that you will already have a certain amount of education, experience, and knowledge that has advanced your career. With that in mind, one needs to consider whether this additional CRMA certification is worth the extra time, effort, and money.
2. Is it worth the time and effort? (CRMA exam difficulty and pass rate)
In other words, how difficult is the CRMA exam? And what are the odds of passing (quickly)?
Looking at objective measures such as historical pass rates, the good news is that the CRMA exam pass rate is considerably higher than the CIA exam:
- 2014: 63%
- 2015: 59%
- 2016: 56%
- 2017: 58%
- 2018: 58%
- 2019: 58%
- 2020: 41%
- 2021: 48%
*Note: The 2022 and 2023 CIA exam pass rates aren’t available yet.
So as you can see, over the past several years, the average pass rate has been a little over 55%. Even at 55%, the passing rate is considered pretty good when compared to other accounting-related certifications like the CPA.
If you’ve already passed the CIA exam, you should consider how that went for you. After all, some of the CIA exam topics have a lot of overlap with the CRMA exam, although the CRMA tests content at a higher level of proficiency. So if you did fairly well at studying for and passing the CIA exam, you could consider the CRMA.
3. Is it worth the money?
Before you decide to go for the CRMA certification, take a look at the costs. And keep in mind that the fees are different for IIA members vs. non-members. (The CRMA costs went up after the 2021 exam changes. The fees listed below are current for 2023.)
CRMA costs
| IIA Members | Non-IIA Members | |
| Application Fee | $95 | $210 |
| Exam Registration Fee | $445 | $580 |
If you want a complete and detailed breakdown of all of the costs to get your CRMA certificate, check out the links below:
- What you should expect to pay for the CRMA exam and certification
- IIA certification pricing structure
4. Check out the syllabus
The IIA has posted the CRMA exam syllabus online. The “new” (post mid-2021) syllabus is located here.
5. Fulfill the work requirements
In addition to passing the CRMA exam, you’ll need to fulfill certain work requirements. However, keep in mind that you can take the exam before or after you accumulate this experience. Your work experience must be in auditing or a controls-related business environment like risk management, quality assurance, or CSA.
The original CRMA requirements stated that candidates needed a certain amount of experience to get the certificate. However, those requirements changed in mid-2021. I’ve listed the original and the revised requirements below.
Work experience requirements (pre-CRMA changes in 2021)
- If you have a master’s degree or equivalent: 12 months
- If you have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent: 24 months
- If you have an associate degree or equivalent: 60 months
Work experience requirements for CRMA 2023 (after CRMA 2021 changes)
- At least 5 years of work experience, including a minimum of 2 years in internal auditing
6. Register for the exam
You can register for the exam year-round at any Pearson VUE center around the world. The registration process is exactly the same as the CIA exam. Here are the related articles for your info:
- CIA (and CRMA) exam registration process
- When to schedule for the CIA (and CRMA) exam, with tips
- Where to take the exam and what to expect at the testing center
7. Study with the best materials
For now, only one CRMA study guide from the IIA Research Foundation is available. You can click below for my review. My article also lists where you can get supplementary materials:
8. Take the exam
The original CRMA exam is a one-time, two-hour exam with 100 questions. However, in mid-2021, the exam changed formats. It is now a 150-minute exam with 125 questions. Please read the following article for all of the updates:
- CRMA Exam Changes: CRMA 2021 Updates (this link is current for 2023 and will explain all of the changes that have occurred to the CRMA exam since 2021)
How to do well on the CMRA exam? Basically, follow the same study path you used to pass your CIA exams. You can reference my study tips master page:
9. Get the results
The great thing about the IIA-administered exams is that you know the results immediately. You will get a “pass” or “fail.” The passing score is 600, but you receive the score only if you fail.
You must wait 90 days if you want to retake the CRMA exam.
Similar to the CIA exam, you have to complete the CRMA exam within a certain number of years from your registration date. The original timeline was 4 years. However, after the mid-2021 CRMA changes, candidates will have 2 years to apply to the program and pass the exam.
10. Satisfy the CRMA CPE requirements
A CRMA must fulfill CPE requirements to keep the certification valid.
The CRMA CPE hours are self-certified and should be recorded in the CCMS system by the end of each calendar year.
The required number of CPE hours are different based on your certification status:
- Practicing: 20 hours
- Non-practicing*: 10 hours
- Retired: 0 hours
* Non-practicing holders are those who do not actively perform internal audits or related activities.
New CRMAs are awarded 40 CPE hours as soon as your certificate is awarded. Of those 40 hours, 20 are allocated for the year in which you passed the exam. The other half is awarded for the subsequent year. So really, you don’t have to worry about CPE hours for the first couple of years after becoming a CRMA.
If you are a CIA, you can use the same CPE credits for both certifications, but bear in mind that 25% of the hours earned must be in the specialty area of expertise.
Would You Go Ahead?
I hope this page provides enough info for you to decide on the CRMA journey. Do you think it’s worth the time, effort, and money? Can you create a game plan to get this done in the next 3 months? Let me know what you think, and good luck!
Cheers, Stephanie
About the Author Stephanie
I am the author of How to Pass The CPA Exam (published by Wiley) and the publisher of this and several accounting professional exam prep sites.
