CIMA Qualification UK: Exams, Levels, Time and Who It Suits

CIMA is the management accounting qualification: built for finance roles inside businesses rather than audit. Here is how it is structured, how long it really takes, how to start without an accounting background, and where it leads.

By Tony Musso on Wed Oct 14 2026

CIMA is the professional qualification for management accountants: the people inside a business who cost products, build budgets and forecasts, analyse performance and help managers make decisions. It is awarded by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, now part of AICPA & CIMA, and finishing it earns the CGMA designation (Chartered Global Management Accountant).

If you want a finance career in industry rather than in an accountancy practice, CIMA is usually the most direct route. This guide covers how the qualification is built, how long it takes, how to start without an accounting degree, and how it compares with ACA and ACCA.

CIMA at a glance


Awarding body	Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (AICPA & CIMA)
Designation on completion	CGMA - Chartered Global Management Accountant
Best for	Finance roles inside businesses: management accounting, FP&A, finance business partnering
Structure	Three levels (Operational, Management, Strategic), each with objective tests and a case study
Work experience	Three years of relevant experience, assessed by CIMA
Typical time	Around three to four years alongside a job
Without an accounting background	Start with the CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting

How the CIMA qualification is structured

The CIMA Professional Qualification has three levels. Each level has three subjects, tested by on-demand computer-based objective tests, and finishes with a case study exam that pulls the level together into a realistic business scenario.

Level	What it covers	What it prepares you for
Operational	Organisational management, management accounting, financial reporting	Junior finance and costing roles
Management	Project and relationship management, advanced management accounting, advanced financial reporting	Finance analyst and management accountant roles
Strategic	Strategic management, risk management, financial strategy	Senior finance, business partner and financial controller roles

That makes nine objective tests and three case study exams in total if you start from the beginning. Objective tests can be booked year-round at test centres or online; case study exams run in set windows several times a year.

If you have no accounting background

People without an accounting degree or AAT usually begin with the CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting, a short foundation qualification covering business economics, fundamentals of management accounting, financial accounting, ethics and business law. Passing it gives entry to the Operational level.

Exemptions

Accounting and finance degrees, AAT and some other qualifications can earn exemptions from the Certificate and from some Operational or Management level subjects. CIMA publishes exactly which exemptions each qualification gives, so check yours before you register: it can take a year off the route.

How long CIMA takes

Most people complete CIMA in around three to four years while working full time, studying one or two subjects at a time. Graduates with exemptions can be quicker; people starting from the Certificate take longer.

You also need three years of relevant work experience before you can become a CGMA. You can build this while you study - most students do - and you record it with CIMA, which assesses it against its competency framework.

Ways to fund and start CIMA

Route	How it works	Best for
Employer-sponsored	Your employer pays fees and gives study leave	Finance assistants and analysts already in a job
Level 7 accountancy apprenticeship	Paid job plus CIMA studies, funded through the apprenticeship levy	School leavers and career changers who want to earn while qualifying
Self-funded	You pay subscription, exam and tuition fees yourself	People moving into finance from another field
Graduate scheme	Large employers run CIMA-based finance graduate programmes	New graduates in any subject

Fees change each year, so check CIMA's current subscription and exam fees. The biggest cost is usually tuition, which varies widely between online and classroom providers.

CIMA vs ACA vs ACCA

The quickest way to choose is to ask where you want to work:

Inside a business (costing, budgeting, forecasting, business partnering): CIMA.
In an accountancy practice, especially audit, and in UK Big Four firms: ACA.
Want flexibility across practice and industry, or a qualification recognised in many countries: ACCA.

CIMA is not an audit qualification, so it will not lead to signing audit reports. For a full side-by-side comparison, see our guide to UK accounting qualifications.

Careers CIMA leads to

CIMA-qualified accountants typically work as management accountants, financial analysts, finance business partners, FP&A managers and financial controllers, progressing to finance manager, head of finance and finance director. Our accountant career guide covers pay at each stage, and the accountant salary guide breaks down what qualified accountants earn.

Getting ready before you register

If you are not yet in a finance role, a short course in bookkeeping, Excel or management accounting can help you land a finance assistant job, which is the most common springboard into CIMA. The accountant career page lists courses from UK training providers, and if you are still deciding whether finance suits you, Career Compass ranks careers against your interests and priorities.

See the accountant career guide

Frequently asked questions

What does CIMA stand for?

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. Its qualification trains management accountants, and completing it earns the CGMA (Chartered Global Management Accountant) designation through AICPA & CIMA.

How long does the CIMA qualification take?

Around three to four years for most people studying alongside a full-time job. You also need three years of relevant work experience before becoming a CGMA, which most students build while they study.

Can I do CIMA without an accounting degree?

Yes. Without an accounting background you start with the CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting, then move on to the Operational level. Accounting degrees and AAT can give exemptions.

Is CIMA or ACCA better?

CIMA suits finance roles inside businesses; ACCA covers both practice and industry and is widely recognised internationally. If you want to work in audit or a Big Four firm, ACA or ACCA is a better fit than CIMA.

How many exams are there in CIMA?

Starting from the Operational level, there are nine objective tests and three case study exams. People without an accounting background usually take the CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting first.