A recognised accounting qualification is either:

  1. An undergraduate degree with an accounting specialisation (at least 25% of the degree must be accounting and finance subjects) from an “accredited” university, or
  2. An postgraduate degree (e.g. MCom, MBA) with an accounting specialisation (at least 25% of the degree must be accounting and finance subjects) from an “accredited” university, or
  3. A professional accounting qualification from a body granted a Royal Charter or Government Charter. Most “Certified” bodies are also acceptable, however, in some countries, as the word “Certified” is not a restricted term, there are some accounting bodies using “certified” in their title that would be unacceptable to the ICMA as a recognised accounting qualification, or
  4. Those holding membership of the following accounting professional bodies HAVE been recognised in the past by the ICMA as having a recognised accounting qualification.
  • All Chartered Accounting bodies worldwide
  • AICPA (USA)
  • CPA Australia
  • MIA (Malaysia)
  • MICPA (Malaysia)
  • ICPAS (Singapore)
  • ICA (formerly ICWA) (India)
  • ICMA (Pakistan)
  • ICMA (Bangladesh)
  • CIMA (UK)
  • CACA (UK)
  • ICSA (UK)
  • CGA (Canada)
  • SMA (Canada)
  • CPA (Philippines)
  • CPA (Pakistan)
  • ICMA (PNG)
  • CPAC (China)
  • LACPA (Lebanon)
  • CPA Ireland
  • Saudi Organisation of CPAs (Middle-East)

Note: CMA members of IMA USA are required to complete 2 units of the GMA Stage 4 program: Financial Management and Financial Statement Analysis.

Those holding membership of the following accounting (and related) bodies HAVE NOT been recognised in the past by the ICMA as having a recognised accounting qualification.

  • Non-CMA members of IMA (USA)
  • Association of International Accountants (UK)
  • Association of Cost and Executive Accountants (UK)
  • Society of Certified Management Accountants (Sri Lanka)
  • Institute of Certified Management Accountants (Sri Lanka)
  • Society of Company and Commercial Accountants (UK)
  • Society of International Accounting Technicians (UK)
  • International Institute of Certified Management Accountants (USA)
  • Associate of the Institute of Co-operative and Management Accountants, (Malaysia).
  • CPA International (there are many bodies with this name operating in different countries)
  • Institute of Financial Accountants (UK)
  • Chartered Financial Management Analyst (USA)
  • Chartered Portfolio & Investment Manager (USA)
  • Chartered Trust and Estate Planner (USA)
  • Certified Economic Policy Analyst (USA)
  • The Registered Financial Planners Institute (USA)
  • Society of Registered Financial Planners Limited (HK)
  • Institute of Financial Consultants (Certified Financial Consultant)
  • Association of Financial Planners (UK)
  • Chartered Business Administrator (USA)
  • Chartered Business Administrator (Canada)
  • Canadian of Institute of Professional Accountants
  • Institute of Professional Financial Managers (IFC USA),
  • American Academy of Financial Management (AAFM-USA)*
  • Institute of Professional Financial Managers (UK)
  • Association Of Certified Fraud Examiners (USA)
  • The Institute of Commercial & Financial Accountants of Southern Africa (South Africa)
  • Association of Certified Management Accountants (UK)
  • Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Commonwealth
  • Association of Certified Public Accountants (U.K.)
  • Institute of Executives and Managers (U.K.)
  • Institute of Service Industries Management (U.K.)
  • The Institute of Co-Operative and Management Accountants, Malaysia.
  • Association of Incorporated Secretaries and Administrators (U.K.)
  • Institute of Certified Public Accountants (New Zealand)
  • Institute of Certified Management Accountants of New Zealand
  • All members of the U.K. based Confederation of Independent Accountancy Bodies (CIAB).

* The AAFM conducts non-examination seminars leading to a host of post-graduate sounding certifications such as Master Financial Professional, Certified Cost Accountant etc., all of which are NOT recognised by ICMA for membership purposes.