MONTVALE, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--IMA® (Institute of Management Accountants) has officially launched a new initiative to endorse higher education programs that meet the educational standards enabling students to pursue and earn the Certified Management Accountant (CMA®) credential. The undergraduate accounting programs at Pennsylvania State University and Washington State University Vancouver are the first to be recognized through the pilot phase of the endorsement program. Complete information and application forms can be found on IMA’s website at www.imanet.org/educator_resources/index.aspx.
Under the program, IMA will endorse higher education programs that meet the following criteria: (1) the program must substantially cover the CMA exam content; (2) the program must have adequate faculty resources to deliver this content; (3) the program must be accredited by a recognized accreditation organization (e.g., AACSB, ACBSP, EQUIS, etc.); and (4) a faculty member must be designated as an IMA Campus Advocate.
The program offers two tiers of endorsement: full endorsement, for those university programs that meet all endorsement criteria; and provisional endorsement, for programs with some minor to moderate shortcomings in meeting all the criteria for full endorsement.
“IMA is pleased to announce the launch of this new program, which will help ensure the educational programs and teaching resources that support the CMA exam program achieve a consistent standard of excellence,” said Dr. Raef Lawson, CMA, CPA, CFP, CFA, IMA vice president of research and professor-in-residence. “High-quality, up-to-date educational programs that support the current needs of businesses will help future professional management accountants accomplish their career objectives and meet the competency expectations of employers.”
Dr. Lawson added, “The intent of this program is not to produce a standardized accounting or business curriculum, but rather to encourage a diversity of approaches for course design and delivery.”
IMA’s globally-recognized CMA program is a relevant assessment of advanced accounting and financial management knowledge in four areas: financial planning, analysis, control and decision support – each of which is increasingly critical in meeting the changing needs of business, and therefore, essential learning for students of accounting and finance.
According to IMA’s 2012 salary survey, management accountants holding the CMA credential saw higher earning potential than their non-certified counterparts. The CMA’s impact is particularly evident at the earliest career stages (19- to 29-year age category), where the average total compensation for those with a CMA was 44 percent higher than those not certified (see: “Accountants' Salaries Rise to Highest Levels in 24 Years”).
About IMA® (Institute of Management Accountants)
IMA®, the association of accountants and financial professionals in business, is one of the largest and most respected associations focused exclusively on advancing the management accounting profession. Globally, IMA supports the profession through research, the CMA® (Certified Management Accountant) program, continuing education, networking and advocacy of the highest ethical business practices. IMA has a global network of more than 65,000 members in 120 countries and 200 local chapter communities. IMA provides localized services through its offices in Montvale, N.J., USA; Zurich, Switzerland; Dubai, UAE; and Beijing, China. For more information about IMA, please visit www.imanet.org.