Yes, you can absolutely pursue the US CMA (Certified Management Accountant) after completing ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants). As an ACCA member, you are automatically eligible to take the CMA exam, with the standard bachelor's degree requirement for the IMA (Institute of Management Accountants) waived. This combination is highly regarded for roles in financial management and strategy.
One of the most common questions that come up is, can you pursue CMA after ACCA? The short answer is yes, absolutely. In fact, many students and professionals take up the CMA accounting certification after ACCA to strengthen their finance and management accounting profile.
Boasting thousands of job postings within the USA, ACCA Careers should be your first step towards finding employment in the USA. Visit ACCA Careers.
To meet the CMA eligibility requirements, candidates must possess a bachelor's degree in any field from an accredited institution. The IMA does not restrict degrees to commerce or finance backgrounds, which makes the course inclusive for candidates from science, arts, or engineering streams.
Difficulty Analysis
Both ACCA and CMA are rigorous qualifications; however, ACCA may be considered more challenging due to the number of exams and broader scope. CMA is highly focused on management accounting and corporate finance, making it ideal for those who prefer a narrower specialization.
What is the salary of a CMA and ACCA? In India, ACCA professionals typically earn between ₹4 to 12 LPA in early to mid-career roles, while CMA professionals often earn between ₹5 to 14 LPA, depending on role and sector.
All Big 4 accountancy firms – Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG – are active recruiters of ACCA-affiliated accountants. Choice often depends on your interest area: audit, consulting, tax, or advisory.
CPA vs CMA Exam Difficulty
Even so, the CMA exam has a slightly lower pass rate, at roughly 45% passing the two parts, collectively, while half (~50%) or better pass each section of the CPA exam. All CMA candidates have three years to pass both parts of the exam.
Let's explore the most suitable degrees that complement the CMA USA program.
So to answer the question; “Is ACCA recognized in Canada?”, we can safely conclude that even though ACCA is not directly recognized in Canada due to public accounting laws and regulations, it is indirectly recognized there once the ACCA member has become a CPA member.
The ACCA Salary in the USA: 2025 Insights
Experience: Entry-level ACCA professionals may earn around $60,000 to $70,000 annually, while those with over five years of experience can command salaries exceeding $100,000.
The qualification is recognised worldwide and is the equivalent of the Indian Chartered Accountant (CA). The UK, USA, Canada and Australia are some of the most popular destinations sought by Indian ACCA aspirants wanting to experience an international career.
The ACCA qualification is considered to be one of the best qualifications in accounting and finance, offering diverse financial roles, especially in auditing and accounting firms. Whereas, CMA is well-known for its roles regarding corporate finances and management accounting only.
In order to qualify to be a CMA USA, you need to have: A Bachelor of degree, an accredited college or university (in any field), or. One of the professional certifications that are relevant to IMA is CA, CPA, ACCA or CS.
Some of the best courses to pursue after ACCA for career advancement are CIMA, CFA, ACA, MBA, Master's in accounting and finance, FRM, DipIFR, Taxation qualifications, PMP, Data analytics and business intelligence courses, etc.
Ans: You should look at the pass percentage to determine which is harder, and you will see that passing the ACCA is significantly easier than the CMA. While the success rates for ACCA are often between 40 and 50 percent, the pass rates for CMA are over 20%.
A CPA's average annual compensation throughout the course of their career is around $120,000, while a CMA's typical annual salary is around $100,000.
Why is the pass rate so low? It's not because the exam is unfair—it's because many CMA candidates underestimate the preparation needed. Unlike college exams, where cramming might get you through, the CMA exam consists of deep, practical financial and strategic concepts that require profound understanding.
The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) plans to discontinue remote examinations from March 2026, reported the Financial Times. The move will mean most candidates must return to in-person exam centres, as the organisation responds to increasing instances of exam misconduct.
Individuals who describe themselves as Chartered Certified Accountants must be members of ACCA and if they carry out public practice engagements, must comply with additional regulations such as holding a practising certificate, carrying liability insurance and submitting to inspections.
An ACCA professional can practice in countries where there are no restrictions for them to work. ACCA professionals get recognition in countries like Canada, Singapore, the UK, Japan, Dubai, Australia, Malaysia, Germany, New Zealand, European Union, Ireland, Switzerland, South Africa, etc.