# Accounting Certification Guide: CPA, CMA, CIA & EA > Compare CPA, CMA, CIA and EA accounting certifications by salary, difficulty and requirements. Find the right credential and the best courses to prepare for it. Accounting Certification: Which One Should You Pursue? # Accounting Certification: Which One Should You Pursue? Course Careers editorial team April 9, 2026 June 18, 2026 The CPA exam rejects roughly half of first-time section takers. The CMA requires two years of management accounting experience before you can claim the credential. The EA — the most overlooked accounting certification on the market — has no degree requirement and lets you represent clients before the IRS in months, not years. Picking the wrong one costs you real time and money. This guide covers what each major accounting certification actually requires, what it pays, how long it takes, and which online courses will build the foundation you need — whether you're starting from scratch or already working in finance. ## The Major Accounting Certifications Compared There are four credentials that come up repeatedly in hiring and salary data. Here's how they differ in scope and purpose: ### CPA (Certified Public Accountant) The CPA is the most widely recognized accounting certification in the US. It's required if you want to sign audit reports, file certain tax forms on behalf of clients, or work at a Big Four or regional public accounting firm in an audit or assurance capacity. The exam has four sections — FAR, AUD, REG, BEC (being replaced by updated sections in 2024's CPA Evolution) — and most states require 150 credit hours of education, which is 30 hours more than a standard bachelor's degree. Median salary for a licensed CPA is around $98,000, with experienced CPAs at large firms hitting $150,000+. ### CMA (Certified Management Accountant) The CMA is issued by the IMA (Institute of Management Accountants) and targets controllers, FP&A analysts, and CFO-track professionals in corporate environments. It has two exam parts — Financial Planning, Performance & Analytics, and Strategic Financial Management — and requires two continuous years of professional experience in management accounting or financial management. CMAs tend to earn more than non-certified peers in corporate roles; IMA surveys consistently show a 20–25% salary premium. If you're heading toward a controller or VP Finance role at a corporation rather than public accounting, the CMA often delivers a better return than a CPA. ### CIA (Certified Internal Auditor) The CIA is the only globally recognized accounting certification specifically for internal auditors. It's issued by the IIA (Institute of Internal Auditors) and covers internal audit basics, practice, and business knowledge across three exam parts. It's most relevant if you're working in or moving toward internal audit, compliance, or risk management at a large organization. Salary range is roughly $80,000–$130,000 depending on experience and industry. ### EA (Enrolled Agent) The Enrolled Agent is the IRS's own credential, and it's consistently underrated. There's no degree requirement — you pass three parts of the Special Enrollment Examination (SEE), covering individual tax, business tax, and representation/procedures. Once licensed, you can represent taxpayers before all IRS offices. For anyone who wants to build a tax practice, work at a CPA firm in a tax-focused role, or transition into tax without a four-year accounting degree, the EA is the fastest credible path. Exam fees are under $500 total, study time averages 3–6 months, and EA salaries range from $60,000–$100,000 depending on specialization. ## Which Accounting Certification Pays the Most Raw salary ranges are only part of the picture. What matters more is the salary trajectory relative to the time and cost invested. - CPA: Highest ceiling, especially in public accounting and finance leadership. But the path is long: 150 credit hours, 4 exam sections, 1–2 years of experience requirements in most states. Total cost including exam fees, review courses, and potential additional coursework often runs $5,000–$15,000. - CMA: Best ROI for corporate finance professionals. Two exam parts, lower exam fees than the CPA (~$1,500 total), and the salary premium in management accounting roles is well documented. If you're already in industry (not public accounting), this is often the smarter move. - CIA: Strong within internal audit and compliance. Not a general-purpose credential — if your work isn't in audit or risk, it won't move your salary much. - EA: Best path if you don't have a 150-credit accounting degree. Tax specialists with EA credentials at CPA firms or running their own practices can earn competitively, especially in complex individual and small business tax niches. A common mistake is defaulting to the CPA because it sounds most prestigious. If you're 30 years old, working in FP&A, and not planning to move to public accounting, the CMA gets you the credential and salary bump faster with a fraction of the prep time. ## Accounting Certification Prerequisites You Need to Know ### Education and experience requirements The CPA's 150-credit-hour requirement trips up many candidates. Most accounting bachelor's degrees are 120 credits. You'll need to either pursue a master's in accounting (MAcc or MSA), take additional undergraduate courses, or in some states, cobble together 30 hours of continuing education credits. This alone adds 6–18 months to the timeline. The CMA requires a bachelor's degree (in any field) plus two years of relevant work experience, but the exam itself can be taken before the experience requirement is fulfilled — you just can't claim the credential until the experience is verified. The EA has no degree or experience requirement. You pass the SEE, complete a background check, and apply for enrollment. That's it. ### Building the foundational knowledge Regardless of which certification you're targeting, you need solid grounding in financial accounting before you tackle any of the major exams. The FAR section of the CPA is the hardest section precisely because it covers the broadest range of financial accounting and reporting topics. The CMA Part 1 assumes you can read and analyze financial statements fluently. Even the EA's business tax section requires understanding how entities report income and expenses. Online courses can build this foundation efficiently — especially if you're coming from a non-accounting background or need to refresh before beginning a formal review program. ## Top Courses for Accounting Certification Prep These courses won't replace a dedicated CPA or CMA review program (Becker, Wiley, Surgent), but they're the right starting point if your foundational knowledge is shaky or if you want to test your aptitude before committing to full exam prep. ### Financial Accounting Fundamentals (Coursera) Rated 9.7/10, this covers the core financial statements, adjusting entries, and the accounting cycle — exactly the material tested in FAR (CPA) and CMA Part 1. Strong choice if you need to rebuild or confirm your fundamentals before investing in an exam review course. ### Introduction to Financial Accounting (Coursera) Also rated 9.7/10, this Wharton-affiliated course goes deeper into how financial statements are constructed and interpreted — useful for anyone targeting the CPA, CMA, or even the CIA's financial knowledge sections. The Wharton framing gives it a corporate context that maps well to what employers actually test in interviews. ### The Complete Introduction to Accounting and Finance (Udemy) Rated 9.0/10, broader in scope than the Coursera options — covers both accounting and corporate finance concepts. Better suited for someone early in their career who wants an orientation before choosing a certification path, rather than someone already committed to CPA prep. ### The Complete Advanced Accounting and Finance Course (Udemy) Rated 8.8/10, this picks up where introductory courses leave off — consolidations, advanced financial instruments, group accounts. Directly relevant for CPA FAR candidates and CMA candidates dealing with complex financial reporting scenarios. ### Accounting for Mergers and Acquisitions: Advanced Topics (Coursera) Rated 8.7/10, this is specialized prep for anyone targeting the CPA's advanced reporting sections or moving into deal advisory, valuation, or corporate development. Not a general-purpose certification prep course — but if M&A accounting is in your future, it's unusually practical. ### AI Automation for Accounting: APIs, n8n & Financial AI (Udemy) Rated 9.2/10 and not a certification prep course — but worth mentioning because accounting certifications increasingly expect candidates to understand automation and data tools. This course covers practical AI workflows for accounting tasks, which differentiates you in hiring conversations once you have the credential. ## FAQ ### Which accounting certification is easiest to get? The EA (Enrolled Agent) has the lowest barriers: no degree required, three exam parts with reasonable pass rates (around 60–70% per section historically), and total prep time of 3–6 months. It's not "easy" in the sense of requiring no effort, but it's the most accessible accounting certification for someone without a full accounting degree. ### Do I need a CPA to work in accounting? No. The CPA is required to sign audit reports and certain tax filings in a public accounting context, but the majority of accounting jobs — bookkeeping, financial analysis, accounts payable/receivable, cost accounting, FP&A, controller roles at private companies — don't legally require a CPA. A CMA or strong experience record often gets you further in industry roles than a CPA you don't actively use. ### How long does it take to get an accounting certification? It varies significantly by credential. The EA can be completed in 3–6 months of dedicated study. The CMA typically takes 6–18 months for both exam parts. The CPA is the longest: most candidates spend 12–24 months completing all four sections, with an additional 1–2 years to meet experience requirements depending on their state. Factor in the education requirement (150 credits) and the full CPA timeline from start to licensure can be 3–5 years if you're also completing a degree. ### Can I get an accounting certification online? The exams themselves are proctored in person at Prometric test centers (CPA, CMA, CIA) or online with remote proctoring (EA). However, all the preparatory education — review courses, foundational courses, CPE credits — can be completed online. Many candidates complete 100% of their prep work online before sitting exams in person. ### Is the CMA harder than the CPA? The CMA is generally considered less difficult than the CPA in terms of total content volume — two exam parts versus four, and a narrower focus on management accounting rather than the CPA's broad coverage of audit, tax, financial reporting, and business environment. However, CMA pass rates are low (roughly 45–50% per part), so "fewer sections" doesn't mean "easier to pass." The strategic and analytical nature of CMA questions catches many candidates off guard. ### What accounting certification should I get first? If you're in tax or want to be: EA first, CPA later if needed. If you're in corporate finance or FP&A: CMA. If you're targeting public accounting (audit/assurance): CPA is the only path that matters. If you're in internal audit: CIA. Don't pursue a certification because it sounds impressive in the abstract — match the credential to the actual role you're moving toward. ## Bottom Line The accounting certification that's "best" is the one aligned with your actual job target, not the one with the most name recognition. The CPA is essential for public accounting and carries the highest ceiling, but it's also the most expensive and time-consuming path. The CMA delivers a documented salary premium for corporate roles with far less friction. The EA is the fastest credible path into tax work for anyone without a full accounting degree. Before committing to any certification, spend a few weeks with a foundational accounting course — particularly one covering financial statements and the accounting cycle. If the material clicks and you find yourself wanting to go deeper, that's a reliable signal you'll make it through exam prep. If it doesn't, better to find out on a $20 Udemy course than after paying $1,000 in exam fees. The courses listed above are good starting points. After you've confirmed your foundation, move to a purpose-built review program (Becker for CPA, Gleim or IMA's own materials for CMA, Gleim or Fast Forward Academy for EA) for the final stretch of exam prep. ## Looking for the best course? 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