CMA US is a global recognized certification which has to do with management accounting and strategic financial management. The certification is brought about by the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA). It focuses on decision-making, financial planning, and analysis.

The CA India qualification that the ICAI offers is quite respected in the country and focuses on auditing, taxation, and financial reporting. Indian CAs have a reputation for their expertise in accounting standards and regulations.

Educational Requirements for CMA US and CA India

In the case of CMA US, one must be holding a bachelor’s degree in any field from an accredited institution and must have relevant two years of experience in management accounting and financial management. Students can also take the exams that align with their pursuit of their degree; however, certification will only be issued when they have met the requirements for work experience.

For CA India, candidates can start at the beginning right from 12th grade itself. A candidate clearing his/ her 12th class will start off his/ her journey by pursuing the course of CA Foundation. Then after, he has to join for the CA Intermediate and then CA Final levels and do three years of articleship as well. However, graduates can also opt for the direct entry route for joining CA Intermediate level directly.

Criteria	CMA US	CA India
Education Requirement	Bachelor’s degree	12th grade (CA Foundation) or graduate
Work Experience Requirement	2 years in management accounting/finance	3-year articleship under a practicing CA

The CMA US qualification is relatively of short time and can be completed within 6–9 months in case it is undertaken on a full-time basis. Two modules are included in this qualification:
Financial Planning, Performance, and Analytics
Strategic Financial Management

In contrast, the CA India qualification is a longer and more extensive program that would require nearly 4-5 years for completion. In this qualification, three levels are covered:
CA Foundation
CA Intermediate
CA Final

For this program, completion of mandatory 3-year articleship with a practicing CA is also entailed.

Course Structure	CMA US	CA India
Duration	6–9 months	4–5 years
Levels	2 (Financial & Strategic modules)	3 (Foundation, Intermediate, Final)
Practical Training	Not required	3-year mandatory articleship

The CMA US exam has two parts with each test last for four hours with multiple-choice questions and essay-based questions. The exams are conducted globally in a number of windows every year.

The CA India exams are held twice a year, that is, in May and November. The exams for all three levels-Foundation, Intermediate, and Final-are rigorous and spread over several subjects. This comprises theoretical as well as practical case-based questions.