Indications of CMA Exam Difficulty: Pass Rates

The first sign we have that the CMA exam is fairly challenging is the CMA exam pass rate.

CMA Exam Pass Rates

Exam Part

2013

2014

2015

2015-2016

2016-2017

2017-2018

Part 1

35%

35%

36%

35%

35%

40%

Part 2

42%

49%

55%

52%

50%

50%

As you can see, the average CMA exam pass rate for the last few years has been about 43%. In comparison, the overall CPA Exam pass rate is about 50%, and the CPA Exam has a reputation for being very difficult.

So, is the CMA exam more difficult than the CPA Exam? Not necessarily.

One important reason for the CMA exam’s low pass rate is the low CMA exam requirement. To sit for the CMA exam, a candidate only needs a bachelor’s degree. And, that degree can be in any discipline and from just about any country.

The CPA Exam requirements are much stricter. Candidates must accumulate accounting credit hours equivalent to an accounting major and graduate with a 4-year bachelor’s degree. After that, a CPA candidate must earn 30 additional credit hours of education for a total of 150 hours. Therefore, the CPA candidate pool has a much stronger background in accounting, which helps bump up the overall pass rate.

For this reason, we cannot say that the CMA exam is definitely more difficult than the CPA Exam or other accounting certification exams with higher pass rates. However, we can say that at least half of the candidates that sit for the CMA don’t pass, so this exam is certainly not easy.

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