Start with the job you want
A certification takes real time and effort. Before you pick one, picture the job you want next. Do you want to work in a company's finance team, at an accounting or audit firm, or in an internal audit team at a bank or a large company?
Each of the main accounting certifications points to a different kind of work. When you choose the one that matches your goal, your study time goes where it counts.
The CMA: finance inside a company
The Certified Management Accountant (CMA) comes from IMA, the Institute of Management Accountants. It focuses on planning, budgeting, cost management, performance analysis and decision support.
It suits you if you want to grow in a company's finance team, for example in financial analysis or finance management. Its exam has two parts.
The CPA: public accounting, audit and tax
The Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is the US license for public accountants. US state boards grant it, and the AICPA develops its exam. It covers auditing, financial reporting, tax and business topics.
It suits you if you want to work at an accounting or audit firm, or with companies that report under US standards. In Lebanon, it is separate from the local certified public accountant title granted by the Lebanese Association of Certified Public Accountants (LACPA).
The CIA: internal audit
The Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) comes from The IIA, The Institute of Internal Auditors. It focuses on internal audit: assessing risks and controls, running audits and reporting to management.
It suits you if you want to work in internal audit, risk or compliance. Banks, large companies and public bodies often have internal audit teams.
Where to start
Strong accounting basics help on each of these paths. Our Accounting course builds a foundation for the CMA, the CPA and the CIA. Our Auditing course builds a foundation for the CPA and the CIA, and our Taxation course builds a foundation for the tax side of the CPA.
Each certification is awarded by its own professional body, which sets its own requirements. Read our CMA, CPA and CIA pages, then message us on WhatsApp to talk through your next step.