Hello, I recently finished my degree in Finance and am deciding whether to pursue a CMA vs CMA. Obviously the job market is much more inclined to hire those with CPA's vs CMA's, but for me, the road to a CMA seems to be much easier to obtain given my situation. Since I majored in Finance, I don't meet the accounting units requirements needed to sit for the exam. So this means, I would spend the next year taking the classes required to meet the accounting units requirement, then would need to spend another 8-12 months studying for the exam itself, while also spending another year under a CPA. I've been working as a staff accountant/bookkeeper for a small business for the past 1.5 years part-time and believe my experience would count toward the CMA work experience requirements, but not the CPA (I'm full time now and would need to work for about one more year to fulfill the requirements for CMA). So, I could start studying for the CMA exams right now and be a CMA by late next year, or I can spend another year or more going for the CPA. Should I just focus on the long run and go for the CPA? My goal is to eventually be a in a CFO or Controller type role. I'm 25 now, which is why I'm a little more concerned about the time commitment than someone who was out of college at 22.
CPA vs CMA
Answers
Well since I got my CPA at age 48 after being out of the industry for 25 years.... ;)
I will say that for the CPA, in almost every state now, you need to have worked under a licensed CPA for at least a year to get your license after passing the exam.
Also, you have to look at your longer term goals and see which path is going to get you there sooner/better.