CMA vs. CPA
The CMA credentials differ significantly from the CPA designation, and the decision to pursue one over the other depends entirely on ones career goals. For a career in public accounting, the CPA designation is appropriate and required by state law. However, more than 80% of accounting professionals in the U.S. work inside organizations, building quality financial practices into the organization through decision support, planning, and control over the organizations value-creating operations. For these managerial finance and accounting professionals who represent the majority of the profession the appropriate certification is the CMA.
CMA | CPA |
| Credentials | Designation |
| International recognition | Limited to US; a state designation |
| Targeted to corporate finanical professionals | Targeted to public accounting |
| Broad-based, industry-related content | Content for public practice |
| Knowledge-Based Professional | Skills-Based Professional |
| Preparer / user of accounting information | Auditor of accounting information |
| Concept based | Rule-based |
| "Inside" corporate professionals | Public practice licensure |
| Higher-quality, lower-cost "beans" | Attesting to the accuracy of the "beans" |
| "Player" | "Referee" |