CPA vs Other Qualifications
CPA vs CMA vs ACCA: Which Qualification Fits Your Career Goals?
By SimplyCPA · 11 October 2026
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- US CPA: A US state licence for public accounting — US GAAP, audit and tax. Four exam sections plus education and experience requirements.
- CMA (IMA): A management accounting certification — planning, analysis, control and decision support. Two four-hour parts plus a bachelor's degree and two years' experience.
- ACCA: A UK-based global qualification built on IFRS — currently 13 exams, an ethics module and 36 months of practical experience.
- Best fit: CPA for US-facing audit, tax and reporting; CMA for FP&A and management roles; ACCA for IFRS-based roles in the UK, Middle East and many other markets.
- Recognition in India: None replaces the CA for Indian statutory work — each adds an international dimension.
Side by side
| US CPA | CMA | ACCA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Awarded by | US state boards of accountancy (exam by AICPA, administered by NASBA) | Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) | Association of Chartered Certified Accountants |
| Focus | US GAAP, auditing, US tax, business law | Financial planning, analysis, control, decision support, strategic financial management | IFRS financial reporting, audit, tax, management and strategy |
| Exams | 4 sections (3 Core + 1 Discipline), 4 hours each | 2 parts, 4 hours each: 100 MCQs plus written questions (case-based questions replacing essays for English exams from September/October 2026 in most regions) | Currently 13 exams across Applied Knowledge, Applied Skills and Strategic Professional levels, plus an Ethics and Professional Skills module; ACCA is redesigning the qualification |
| Passing standard | 75 on a 0–99 scale | 360 on a 0–500 scale | Set by ACCA per exam |
| Education | Usually 120 hours to sit; 150 (or 120 + 2 years' experience) to license | Bachelor's degree (any field) | Entry routes from school level; exemptions for degrees and qualifications such as CA |
| Experience | 1–2 years, verified by a CPA | 2 continuous years in management accounting or financial management (can be completed after the exams) | 36 months plus 9 performance objectives |
| Time limit | Pass all sections within the credit window (usually 30 months) | Pass both parts within 3 years of entering the programme | Set by ACCA rules |
Which fits which career?
| Career goal | Best fit |
|---|---|
| US audit, US tax, US GAAP reporting, SOX and SOC work | CPA |
| Financial planning and analysis, cost management, business partnering, CFO track in industry | CMA (often alongside CA or CPA) |
| IFRS reporting, UK or Middle East roles, international audit | ACCA |
| Indian statutory audit and tax | CA (none of the three replaces it) |
Combinations that work
- CA + CPA — Indian depth plus US credential; strong for US-facing audit and reporting.
- CPA + CMA — technical accounting plus management accounting; strong for industry finance in US multinationals.
- CA + ACCA — common for IFRS-reporting roles; ACCA grants exemptions to CAs.
See also CPA vs CA and Enrolled Agent vs CPA.