CMA Exam Locations: Find the Best Test Site Near You [Video]

“Is this exam available in my country? What’s the best way to find the CMA exam locations?”

This is one of the most commonly asked questions I get from aspiring CMAs – and I agree this is very valid. If you’re wondering, “Where can I take the CMA exam?” then I am here to help. In this post, I will clear up all the answers for you so you can walk away confident in when and where you can take the exam.

First and foremost, as of January 2022, the ICMA now allows most candidates to take the CMA online via a new remote proctoring service from Prometric called ProProctor^TM. You’ll find an entire section about the details of the remote CMA exam in the article below. And if you have access to a good internet connection, remote proctoring could be an easier way to take the CMA exam.

Of course, even with the availability of remote proctoring, many candidates still choose to take the CMA exam in person. Candidates can sit for the exam at Prometric test centers, which are available across the globe. If the exam is available in your own country, then you can avoid the hassle of getting a visa and save a lot on travel and accommodations, let alone the inconvenience such as jet lag and extra anxiety in a foreign country. Traveling all the way to another country to take an exam may sound like a real hassle, but when you see how much the CMA certification can help you in your career advancement, you will understand why some people are willing to do it.

That said, wouldn’t it be better if there were CMA locations closer to you? There have been many new CMA exam locations added since the demand for the exam has increased.

CMA Exam Locations: The Good News

In the past, the ICMA only allowed candidates to take the CMA exam in person. Since it wasn’t offered remotely, it was a real pain for candidates to find out where the testing locations were before they signed up for their tests. But with remote proctoring, most candidates can now take the exam from the comfort of their own home office.

Online CMA Exam

Starting with the January/February 2022 testing window, the ICMA is now offering an online version of the CMA exam. However, the online exam is exactly the same as the in-person version that you take at a Prometric center.

When you sign up to take the CMA exam remotely, you agree to allow Prometric’s ProProctor^TM service to use your computer’s webcam to monitor you during your scheduled exam appointment. As a result, you’ll be able to communicate with your proctor virtually in case you have any issues with your exam.

The online CMA exam is essentially available anywhere that a strong internet connection is accessible. Prometric recommends an Ethernet connection over a Wi-Fi signal, since it is less likely to give you problems during the exam.

Additionally, remote proctoring is not available in a few countries, mostly because of the lack of secure and stable internet networks. Therefore, if you live in the following areas, you’ll have to take the in-person exam at the nearest Prometric center:

• Cuba
• Iran
• North Korea
• Syria
• Part of Ukraine (Crimea)

In-Person CMA Exam

Despite the new online CMA exam option, many candidates still opt for in-person testing at a Prometric center. However, keep in mind that the CMA is given in two parts. For that reason, you will need to travel two separate times to take them. As a result, you should find the location closest to you because it will make travel easier.

Unlike the CPA exam, the CMA exam is available in many parts of the globe. IMA is proud to have members from 120 countries with 300 local chapters around the world.

You can easily check your location with your exact address on the Prometric website, which is linked to a Google map with directions. Scheduling is also done on the Prometric site once you apply for the exam.

Check the Closest CMA Exam Centers Here

Tips for Locating the Best CMA Exam Center for You

Now, when you’re ready to look for the best CMA center for you, there are some tools that can help you. First is the search tool from Prometric. On this page, you can search for testing centers anywhere you live to find which ones are closest to you. This is really important since the CMA exam is given in two parts, and each is 4 hours long. You also have to account for prep time and travel time, so finding the closest center to you is essential.

How does it work?

Let’s say you are from Toronto, Canada, and you would like to check your location before applying for the CMA exam. Okay, it’s really easy.

In the search feature on the Prometric website, If you type in “Canada,” it will only show you one location in Saskatoon! But if you type in “Toronto,” it will show you two centers available in the city as well as three in the surrounding area.

In other words, it is better to narrow down your searches by city name or zip code, versus the name of your country. This method will give you the best and most accurate search results.

Here is a quick screen capture video showing how I locate the São Paulo testing center for Ailton, who asked for my help in the comment section:

If you have difficulty using the tool, simply drop a note below in the comment section, and I can copy and paste the exact address for you. Hopefully, this tool will aid you in finding the closest testing center near you so you can plan accordingly to take the exam.

While many people who take the CMA are from the United States, the popularity of this certification means it is not exclusive to the Americas only. Let’s take a look at some places outside of the U.S. where candidates sometimes want to take the CMA.

Becoming a CMA in the Middle East

If you live in the Middle East and you want to become a CMA, is it possible? What is the process? Well first, remember that you can now sign up for remote proctoring. (On the other hand, if you live in Iran or Syria, remember that the online CMA exam isn’t available in those countries. Therefore, you’ll need to find the nearest Prometric center.)

Of course, you’re going to want to know if there are testing centers near you if you prefer to the in-person CMA exam. The good news is that several are available. You just need to access the Prometric site to find them

Pass rates, however, are not favorably high for people who test in the Middle East. During the 10-month period from January to October 2013 (the last time these stats were gathered), only 21% of candidates passed Part 1, and 29% passed Part 2. This could be because the test is given in English, and English is not the first language for most people in the Middle East. It could also be because candidates from the Middle East are relying on local exam review courses to prepare for the CMA exam and these review courses are not the best resources.

If you are from the Middle East and plan to take the CMA exam, consider our recommendations for review courses instead. You can do them all online, just as easily as you are reading this post. And using a good review course greatly improves your chances of passing the CMA exam on the first try. Now, let’s look at those exam center locations.

US CMA Exam Centers in India

Are you wondering if you can become US CMA certified in India? If so, the answer is yes! I have found that many Indians search for information on the CMA certification each year and I want to provide useful information here on this site to guide you through the process. It’s very good news that you can take the CMA exam right in India, so you don’t even have to travel outside of your country. You do, however, need to be properly prepared to take it and pass it.

If you’re an Indian working in the Middle East, you’ll want to read my page about becoming a CMA in the Middle East. It goes into much more detail about what I was discussing above about prepping and testing for the CMA in the Middle East.

There are currently 10 test centers in and around India:

• Ahmedabad
• Allahabad
• Bangalore
• Chennai
• Dhaka
• Gurgaon
• Hyderabad
• Kolkata
• Mumbai
• Trivandrum

There are also regional IMA chapters in India, which provide you with the opportunity to meet up with other candidates or CMA certificate holders. You will find these in:

• Bangalore
• Chennai
• Delhi
• Hyderabad
• Kochi
• Kolkata
• Mumbai
• Pune

CMA Exam Centers in Hyderabad

Hyderabad is the capital of the Indian state Telangana and it is one location for CMA testing in India. When you use the search tool to look for CMA testing centers or CMA exam locations in India, you will find that there is a testing center here:

PROMETRIC TESTING PVT LTD
9th Floor, Unit – 2, Kapil Towers IT Block
HYDERABAD

This location allows you to test for the CMA Part 1 and Part 2.

CMA Exam Center in Saudi Arabia

There are several CMA exam centers in Saudi Arabia for you to consider. A current search in Prometric’s tool shows the following testing centers:

8292: RIYADH MEN/WOMEN, SAUDI ARABIA
AMIDEAST Saudi Arabia, Al Kindi Plaza
#57, First Floor, Diplomatic Quarters
RIYADH – MEN/WOMEN

8293: RIYADH WOMEN, SAUDI ARABIA
AMIDEAST Saudi Arabia, Al Kindi Plaza
#57, First Floor, Diplomatic Quarters
RIYADH WOMEN

8056: QASIM MEN, SAUDI ARABIA
ALKAFAT, AL Manar neighborhood
Althamaneen ST Southwards, Qassim- Buraidah
QASIM MEN

8062: QASIM WOMEN, SAUDI ARABIA
ALKAFAT, AL Manar neighborhood
Althamaneen ST Northwards, Qassim- Buraidah
QASIM WOMEN

You can take note of the testing center that is closest to you and also that meets your needs the best. You will see that there are designated locations for Qasim women and men, as well as Riyadh women and men.

Note: Testing centers and locations can change so use the Prometric tool to double-check that these centers are still active if you are planning to take the CMA exam in Saudi Arabia.

CMA Exam Testing Centers in the Middle East

If you are looking for CMA test centers in the Middle East, there are many to choose from to make it easier for you. We’ve talked about Saudi Arabia, which has four testing centers, but there are more across the Middle East.

Exam sites are conveniently located in major cities in the following:

• Bahrain
• Egypt
• Israel
• Jordan
• Kuwait
• Lebanon
• Oman
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia (4 centers, 2 for men and 2 for women, as listed above)
• UAE (Abu Dhabi and Dubai)
• West Bank

You can find out the exact address of the exam sites here. Again, if you have trouble finding the one closest to you, just leave me a comment and I’ll try to get the exact address for you.

CMA Exam Testing Centers in Other Countries

If you are living in another country and wish to take the CMA exam, again, just use the tool to select your country and look for the closest testing centers to you. It’s there to help you plan in advance for your CMA exam.

Scheduling Your Exam with IMA Prometric

Once you know your closest testing center location, the next step is to schedule your exam with IMA Prometric. Exams are always administered through the network of Prometric Testing Centers located worldwide.

CMA Exam Parts:

• Part 1: Financial Reporting, Planning, Performance, and Control
• Part 2: Financial Decision Making

CMA Exam Testing Windows:

• January/February
• May/June
• September/October

There are some guidelines to follow when scheduling your exam with IMA Prometric. First, you need to schedule your exam appointment at least 72 hours in advance of the exam date. Most people will schedule much earlier than this because they already know which testing window they are trying to get into. If you need to reschedule your exam appointment for any reason, you need to provide 30 days’ notice and you will need to pay a $50 rescheduling fee.

Seats at the exam centers are very limited and failing to give notice means you will pay the full exam fee, even if you don’t show up and sit for the exam. You are taking a seat that could have gone to someone else. Because of the rescheduling fee, you should do your best to avoid canceling and rescheduling for any reason. However, if an emergency arises, you do have this option available to you.

Many Prometric Testing Centers

There are over 8,000 testing centers spanning 160 countries, so you are sure to find one close to you when you are ready to take the exam. If you want to plan in advance, you can also use the search tool above, as I explained, in order to find the testing center that you would use if you decide to sit for the in-person CMA exam.

There are many reasons why people choose to get CMA certified. Of them, increasing their salary is top. When you want to earn more in your current profession or move your way into a CMA-certified profession to earn more, the CMA exam is required.

Any Questions?

For more information on the CMA exam tips and study tactics, check out my FAQ page. Here you can find the answers to things like why you should choose the CMA, how it will help your career, how difficult the CMA exam can be, what the current CMA exam pass rate is and so many other common questions. Look at it as a database of answers related to the CMA.

My goal for this site is to help you learn more about the CMA, the CMA exam, and how to prepare for and pass it. If you have any questions that you do not find answered here on the site, please feel free to leave them in a comment, or send us a message so that I can get it answered for you. I understand that a lot goes into the decision to take the CMA and I want to help you make it as smooth as possible.

Further Reading: 

• How do you start the process of becoming a CMA?
• How to become a CPA as a non-accounting major
• Types of accounting jobs you can get without a degree

You can also sign up to my e-course which is completely free. Learn about the mini e-course here or sign up directly below:

Join us if you want to get tips on how to plan,
study and pass your CMA exam… on your first attempt!