Doing the CMA accelerated program without actually signing up?

[Discount]

I was wondering if it is possible to just buy used materials for cheap, self study and then after testing yourself on mock exams take the CMA exam? Assuming you pass then all you would need is a couple years experience for the designation correct? Seems plausible but just looking for input on how this may or may not work. Would save me a few grand and allow me to work at my own pace.

[jcon]

Wha?


You need to take and pass the Accelerated program to qualify to write the Entrance Exam (assuming you don't have the prerequisite university courses).

[AngryAccountant]

Nice try, but it doesn't work that way.

[Discount]

I should have clarified im pretty sure I have the prereq courses or at least very close. I have a bcomm I got about 5 years ago.

Wha?


You need to take and pass the Accelerated program to qualify to write the Entrance Exam (assuming you don't have the prerequisite university courses).

[206bw]

The accelerated program prepares you for the entrance exam, not the final case exam.

[magictrickx]

I should have clarified im pretty sure I have the prereq courses or at least very close. I have a bcomm I got about 5 years ago.

You have to submit your transcript to CMA to see if all your courses match all the prerequisites. If they do then obviously you don't need the accelerated program. But if they don't, you have to take it to be able to write the entrance exam. Either that or go back to school to take your missing courses.

[jcon]

Just having a BCOMM is not necessarily enough. Also, I believe after a certain period of time, your BCOMM is no longer relevant as a prerequisite, although I am not certain about this.

[Discount]

Thanks for the input so far. I know I would fail the exam right now as I haven't really done anything accounting related since university. I remember checking awhile back and it seemed like I had the prerequisites. So I wouldn't need to do the entrance exam if I have the prerequisites just the final case exam? Assuming I passed then just a couple years experience to get the designation?

[206bw]

Nope, if you have the prereq then you qualify to write the entrance exam.

once you pass the entrance exam, you have another two years of SLP and write two major case exams in that two years.

[bavarianboy]

Thanks for the input so far. I know I would fail the exam right now as I haven't really done anything accounting related since university. I remember checking awhile back and it seemed like I had the prerequisites. So I wouldn't need to do the entrance exam if I have the prerequisites just the final case exam? Assuming I passed then just a couple years experience to get the designation?

I don't know what you are reading, but whatever you are thinking is totally inaccurate.

You need your transcript to be analyzed before THEY let you even attempt the entrance exam. You need to have all your accounting courses (from intro management to advanced management acctg , intro financial acctg to advanced financial acctg) +tax+auditing + finance courses+ statistics+economics+general business courses before they even let you attempt the entrance exam. You don't decide whether you can write it, they decide for you. Then you need to do a 2 yr SLP (program) which includes 6 modules, case exam, board report, plus interactive sessions. To bypass the entrance exam you need to have specific grades+criterias, which is most likely you don't have, unless you were some accounting nerd in University and took ALL the accounting courses. Most university accounting degrees don't satisfy to bypass the CMA entrance exam, you need to take extra courses and go beyond your university's requirements in order to bypass the CMA entrance exam.

[Discount]

So basically it looks like I will need to do the accelerated program no matter what I can score on the exam. Seems like a bit of a money grab but hey that's mostly what uni is also. Too bad you cant be self taught and take the exam. They dont really give a **** if you only have the actual knowledge to pass but you also need to have blown a certain amount of cash on the official required courses. That's business I guess. Thanks for everyone's input.

[jcon]

So basically it looks like I will need to do the accelerated program no matter what I can score on the exam. Seems like a bit of a money grab but hey that's mostly what uni is also. Too bad you cant be self taught and take the exam. They dont really give a **** if you only have the actual knowledge to pass but you also need to have blown a certain amount of cash on the official required courses. That's business I guess. Thanks for everyone's input.

You should really speak to someone at the CMA office, you have very little knowledge of what you're speaking.

If you have the prerequisite courses, and they are still valid, you may qualify to write the entrance exam. Once the exam is passed, you enter the two year SLP program. The first year is completed with a case exam and the second with a group board report.

If you're so concerned about passing the entrance exam, in what way does CMA dont really give a **** if you only have the actual knowledge to pass? You're not even confident that you can pass it. Maybe a one year refresher course would serve you well. I'll just assume that you've kept up with all the changes in the accounting profession during that time.

[AngryAccountant]

So basically it looks like I will need to do the accelerated program no matter what I can score on the exam. Seems like a bit of a money grab but hey that's mostly what uni is also. Too bad you cant be self taught and take the exam. They dont really give a **** if you only have the actual knowledge to pass but you also need to have blown a certain amount of cash on the official required courses. That's business I guess. Thanks for everyone's input.

You have incorrectly interpreted about 5 answers received in this thread and aren't even close to knowing how it works.
Like another poster said, call CMA and get your transcripts evaluated as a first step.

It will likely be that you will have to:
1. Take accelerated program.
2. If you pass #1, take the entrance exam
3. If you pass #2, enter the Strategic Leadership program.
4. at end of year 1 of SLP, take a case exam.
5. assuming you pass #4, enter year 2 of SLP
6. Complete group Board report and presentation.
7. If you pass #6, done (if you have the right type of work experience, that is).

[AngryAccountant]

So basically it looks like I will need to do the accelerated program no matter what I can score on the exam.

Brush up on your reading comprehension while you are at it.