Certifications Frequently Asked Questions

The IIA’s Certification Candidate Management System (CCMS) is an integrated software program that manages all of the certification programs for The IIA. CCMS is a self-service tool that allows candidates the ability to apply, register, and monitor their certification program status in a real-time environment.

You will also use CCMS to complete annual CPE reporting, communicate to The IIA’s Certifications Support Team, and order or download your certificate once you’re certified.

Annual Certification Renewal opens 1 October each year.  The renewal deadline is 31 December each year. Should you fail to renew your Active certification, it will enter a Grace status, and as a result, you are no longer approved to represent yourself as a certified individual. Individuals remaining in Grace status for 2 years will enter a Revoked status and must reapply for the CIA and CRMA programs and retest if they wish to become certified again.

Certification Renewal Requirments

Certification renewal fees vary globally based upon membership status, and if you renew directly with The IIA through CCMS or through your local Institute. Some Institutes will pay the member renewal fee on behalf of the member; others may require that the member pay the fee. Please check with your local Institute for their pricing policies.

Individuals who do not complete their Annual Certification Renewal on or before 31 December will automatically transition from “Active” to “Grace Period” status and may no longer claim that they are certified. Individuals who remain in a Grace Period status for more than 24 months will have their certification(s) revoked.

If a certification is revoked, the paper certificate recognizing achievement of the certification must be destroyed immediately. Additionally, individuals must not use designations (such as CIA, CRMA, etc.) after their name, and they are prohibited from presenting themselves as a certified individual. If they wish to become certified again, individuals must reapply to the CIA or CRMA certification programs, take and pass the exam(s). There is no provision to recertify for discontinued (CCSA, CFSA, CGAP and QIAL) certification programs.

The IIA does not prequalify CPE activities. Certified individuals are responsible to determine if the CPE activity meets the guidelines as approved by the Professional Certifications Board (PCB) and outlined in the Certification Renewal Policy.

Once you complete all the requirements to become certified, you will receive a confirmation e-mail. This e-mail will contain instructions directing you to the Certification Candidate Management System (CCMS), where you download a PDF or order a printed certificate. Please take this time to be sure that your contact information, mailing address, and name as you wish for it to appear on your certificate are correct. Please note that some Institutes outside North America will receive your certificate directly and award it to you. If you are outside North America, please check with your local Institute for guidance.

For information about how the proposed new Global Internal Audit Standards will impact certifications and other IIA products and services, please visit the CIA transition page.