The following is a summary of experience requirements for the grades of membership of ICMA:

  • For Certified Management Accountant membership – five years approved experience in a senior and responsible business position is required.
  • For Certified Global Business Analyst membership – three years approved experience in a senior and responsible business position is required.
  • For Associate Management Accountant membership – either completion the CMA preparatory program or 3 years relevant experience is required.
  • Applicants for Graduate Management Accountant membership must have a minimum education standard of a degree from a university or equivalent educational institution in accountancy or a related discipline. There are no experience requirements.
  • Applicants for Registered Business Accountant membership must have a minimum education standard of a degree in any discipline other than Accounting from a recognised university or 3 Stages of a Professional Qualification in Accounting or completion of Stages 1, 2 & 3 of ICMA’s Technician-Level program. There are no experience requirements.
  • Applicants for Registered Cost Accountant membership must have a minimum education standard of Diploma in Accounting from a recognised Technical College (TAFE) or 2 Stages of a Professional Qualification in Accounting or completion of Stages 1 & 2 of ICMA’s Technician-Level program. There are no experience requirements.
  • Applicants for Certified Accounting Technician membership must have a minimum education standard of a Certificate in Accounting from a recognised Technical College (TAFE) or 1 Stage of a Professional Qualification in Accounting or completion of Stages 1 of ICMA’s Technician-Level program. There are no experience requirements.
  • For Management Accounting Affiliate – Open Entry for those interested in the field of Management Accountancy. There are no experience requirements.
  • Applications for student membership must have a minimum education standard of year 12 or equivalent.

Demonstration of Experience

Work experience refers to any senior level business-related experience in managerial accounting and business analysis*. This also includes academics in a business-related field and those in governments and NGOs.

* Relevant experience in management accounting and business analysis is broadly defined to include the gaining of experience in the provision of information in a wide range of managerial functions including costing, pricing, marketing, strategy, governance, financial analysis, financial planning, logistics, information systems, human resource management, academia, etc.