CIMA

OVERVIEW OF THE CIMA PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION

The CIMA professional qualification is a globally recognised credential that demonstrates your competence, skills and ethics in management accounting. It consists of three levels: operational, management and strategic, each with three objective tests and one case study exam. The qualification covers various topics such as financial reporting, business analysis, risk management, strategic management, leadership and ethics through its enterprise, financial and performance pillars.

The CIMA qualification consists of three levels: operational, management and strategic levels. Click here to via a snapshot of the CIMA qualification journey and read below for more details:

Qualification levels	Description
Operational Level The operational level focuses on the short-term decision making and execution of business operations.	P1: Management Accounting – This subject covers the tools and techniques for planning, budgeting, costing and performance measurement. E1: Managing Finance in a Digital World – This subject covers the role and impact of digital technologies on finance functions and business models. F1: Financial Reporting – This subject covers the principles and standards of financial accounting and reporting, including consolidation, group accounts and statutory accounts. OCS: Operational Case Study – This is a three-hour exam that assesses your ability to apply the knowledge and skills from the operational level subjects to a real-life business scenario.
Management Level The management level focuses on the medium-term decision making and management of business performance.	P2: Advanced Management Accounting – This subject covers the advanced tools and techniques for planning, forecasting, costing and performance evaluation. E2: Managing Performance – This subject covers the concepts and frameworks for managing business performance, including strategy, governance, risk and change. F2: Advanced Financial Reporting – This subject covers the complex issues and challenges of financial accounting and reporting, including financial instruments, taxation and group accounting. MCS: Management Case Study – This is a three-hour exam that assesses your ability to apply the knowledge and skills from the management level subjects to a real-life business scenario.
Strategic Level The strategic level focuses on the long-term decision making and strategic direction of the organisation.	P3: Risk Management – This subject covers the identification, analysis and management of various types of risk, including financial, operational, strategic and ethical. E3: Strategic Management – This subject covers the development and implementation of strategy, including strategic analysis, choice, execution and evaluation. F3: Financial Strategy – This subject covers the formulation and execution of financial strategy, including funding, investment, valuation and dividend decisions. SCS: Strategic Case Study – This is a three-hour exam that assesses your ability to apply the knowledge and skills from the strategic level subjects to a real-life business scenario.

Assessment methods

Each level has three objective tests, and one case study exam as outlined below:

Assessment	Description
Objective Tests (OTs) There are three objective tests at each level, i.e. a total of 9 objectives across the CIMA professional qualification journey	OTs are computer-based and can be taken on demand at any time of the year. They cover the core topics of each subject and test your knowledge and comprehension. Each objective test consists of 60 questions and lasts for 90 minutes. You need to score at least 100 points to pass the objective test (out of a total of 150 points). You can take the objective tests in any order within each level, but you need to pass all three objective tests before you can take the case study exam at each level.
The Case Study (CS) Exams There are three case study examinations at each level, i.e. a total of 3 case study exams across the CIMA professional qualification journey	CS exams are also computer-based and can be taken four times a year in February, May, August and November. The case study exam is based on the content of the three objective tests at each level, so you need to have a good understanding of all the subjects before you attempt the case study exam. They simulate a realistic business scenario and test your application, analysis and evaluation skills. Each case study exam consists of a pre-seen material, which is released at least seven weeks before the exam, and a set of unseen material, which is revealed on the exam day. The same pre-seen material is used for two sittings, with the November pre-seen being used for the November and February sittings and the May pre-seen being used for May and August sittings. You need to use both the pre-seen and the unseen material to answer the questions in the exam. There are six variations of the unseen material for each pre-seen material, each independent of each other. The case study exam lasts for three hours and you need to score at least 80 points to pass the case study exam (out 150 points).

Practical experience requirements

You also need to complete the relevant practical experience requirements (PER) to demonstrate your competence in the workplace. The PER consists of eight areas (five core work activities, of which you need complete only three and five skills and behaviours). You will need to select a supervisor for each of the eight areas and it permissible to have a single supervisor across several areas.

CIMA JOURNEY

Now that you understand the CIMA professional qualification, we have outlined in detailed and easy to follow, the steps that you need to take to become a CGMA:

Step 1: Register as a CIMA Student & Secure your exemptions

You do not need to necessarily sit for all the examinations within the CIMA professional qualification. CIMA does offer exemptions from several examinations based on your academic and professional journey. This means that based on your academic and professional qualifications, you do not have to sit for all the examinations.

• For instance, if you have CTA, you may start your journey from the management level (i.e. you will be exempted from all the examinations within the operational level) and likewise, if you have CA qualification, you will need to only sit for the strategic case study.
• If you are a qualified CA, you can take advantage of the CIMA-SAICA/CIMA-ICAZ Pathway agreement that entitles you to all exemptions other than for the Strategic Case Study. All you need to do is for you to attend the Strategic Case Study Examination preparation course prior to scheduling to sit for the Strategic Case Study.

Your first step is therefore to register as a CIMA Student by following this link. Registering an account is FREE. You will then need to navigate to Credentials >> CGMA >> Register with CIMA >> Click ‘Begin Application’ >> Let’s get started and follow the screen prompts from there. After entering all the relevant information, you will be advised of the ‘Entry point and programme’ and you can proceed with your application. If you are on the self-tailored route, a total of GBP224 will be added into your cart to finalise your enrolment and to facilitate the review of your exemptions. The amount covers CIMA Student membership enrollment fee of GBP99 and your first objective test / exam credit to the value of GBP125 (the credit is valid for 12 months from the date of purchase).

Alternatively, if you would like to first check the exemptions that you could be entitled to, you can use this CIMA Exemption Calculator.

Step 2: Plan your life and register for your studies with us

Once you have decided on your next sitting, we encourage you to come register with us for your study support. For more details regarding our extensive and structured CIMA Case Study Workshop, please visit the tab: Case Study Workshop. If you’re still completing your Objective Tests, our CIMA Objective Test Support programme offers structured, MCQ-based preparation designed to feed directly into your case study success. Please click here for more information.

Step 3: Schedule your examinations

As a commitment to your development, we recommend that you book your objective tests as soon as you are registered with us. The objective tests are on-demand and you can book these as soon as you are ready to conquer these. The schedule for the case study examinations is available via this link and you decide on any of the available three days for the respective case study sitting period (i.e. you do not need to sit for the assessment over three days. You only need to book one day out of the three days available). To purchase additional exam credits, please follow the guidance included in here. You need to be logged into your profile to purchase exam credits.

To schedule your examinations, you will need to login to the CIMA portal using the credentials you received when you registered as a CIMA student (see Step 1: Secure your exemptions above). For further guidance on scheduling your exams, please refer to this guidance.

Step 4: Complete your PER

After successfully completing your strategic case study examination, you will need to finalise your PER as a demonstration that you have a minimum of three years of relevant practical experience before, during and/or after studies. Your application will be assessed to determine whether you have gained enough experience to be awarded Associate membership — giving you the Associate Chartered Management Accountant (ACMA) and CGMA (Chartered Global Management Accountant) designations.

To get started you should, access the application through your My Profile account. We will provide you with coaching every step of the way to ensure that you are successful in completing and finalising your PER.

Step 5: Register as a ACMA and CGMA

Once your PER has been approved, you can apply to be an Associate of CIMA and start using the ACMA and CGMA designations next to your names – yes, you can use both right next to your name.

If you are already a qualified CA, then you will have three recognised and leading professional designations next to your name. We value the opportunity to celebrate your success with you.

Step 6: Add the CA(SA) or CA(Z) next to your name

If you would like to add CA(SA) or CA(Z) next to your name, we would value the opportunity to partner with you in our APC Bridging Course and/or the APC Professional Programme. Depending on the timing of your completion of the strategic case study, you can complete the APC assessment by the end of the following year.

UNPACKING THE CIMA JOURNEY

Our CIMA Academic Head, Rendani Muthelo, has prepared these videos unpack several aspects of the CIMA Journey. The videos will continue to be updated, and more videos added to meet your needs

ADD CIMA DESIGNATION & SKILLSET TO YOUR CA DESIGNATION

If you are CA(SA) looking to secure the leading management accounting professional qualification in the world, you can take advantage of the SAICA/CIMA Pathway Agreement which accelerates your route to becoming a CGMA.

In terms of the Pathway Agreement, eligible CAs(SA) looking to become CGMAs are exempt from 15 of CIMA’s 16 CGMA examinations, i.e.

• You are exempted from the CIMA Certificate of Business Accounting (i.e. 4 examinations)
• You are exempted from the Operational level (i.e. 3 objective tests and 1 case study examination)
• You are exempted from the Management level (i.e. 3 objective tests and 1 case study examination)
• You are exempted from the Strategic level’s objective tests (i.e. 3 objective tests)

This means that you only need to complete the Strategy Case Study Examination. However, prior to sitting for the Strategy Case Study Examination, you need complete the Strategic Case Study Preparation Course directly with CIMA South Africa. We will support you with further case study examination support through our CIMA Case Study Workshop and we will help you secure your success.

Our CIMA Case Study Workshop premium offering includes access to pre-recorded content for pillar modules (E3/E2, F3/F2 and P3/P2) to ensure that you benefit from the CIMA skillset and be able to apply it in the real world. This is to help you ensure that you do not only have the qualification on your name, but that you have the business acumen, technical, leadership, people and digital skills that you can apply in your own business and working environment to add value to your clients and employers. To start your journey with us, register now via this link.

ADD CA DESIGNATION & SKILLSET TO YOUR CIMA DESIGNATION

After you successfully complete your CIMA professional qualification and register with CIMA as an ACMA and CGMA, you may consider our other offerings should you wish to add the CA(SA) or CA(Z) designation to your name:

APC BRIDGING COURSE

APC PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMME

This course is designed for professionals with limited academic or professional background with regards to the technical application of IFRSs, IASs and Tax legislations. Ideally such candidates would only have finance qualification with specialisation other than in Financial Reporting. Once you complete this course, you may register for the APC Professional Programme. For more info about this offering, visit the ABC page.

If you have previously attempted CTA and/or IAC, you may consider registering directly into our APC Professional Programme, through the APC Comprehensive Course. The APC Comprehensive is our early professional development course and will assist you in rebuilding your technical competence as developed in CTA as well as introduce you to the APC assessment. For more info about this offering, visit the APC page.

HYBRID / ONLINE OFFERING

	CIMA case study workshop only	Objective test support only	CIMA Case study workshop plus objective test support
Management level	Click here for pricing	R3 500	Get R1 500 combo discount
Strategic level	Click here for pricing	R3 500	Get R1 500 combo discount

All our offerings exclude textbooks. However, we ca arrange delivery with our trusted supplier. All you need to do after registration is to log a query for qoutation. After you have made payment, expect delivery within 7 working days.

CIMA EXAMINATION FEES

We have summarised the CIMA examination and other relevant fees applicable to you below:

	Management level	Strategic level
Objective tests	GBP125	GBP193
Case study examination	GBP171	GBP292

New candidates pay a one-time registration fee of GBP99, which includes their first year’s subscription fee (GBP145). This means in second year going forward, only the annual subscription fee is payable.

Candidates who have passed Strategic Case Study exam pay annual subscription fee of GBP369.

The fee applicable for the Practical Experience Requirements (PER) application is GBP199.

FEE GUIDANCE / COMPARISON / ANALYSIS

To assist with your decision making and in the interest of transparency, we have included a fee analysis of the expected investment to complete your CIMA studies. As is evident, the investment cost is relatively lower than the average cost of CTA/PGDA studies as well as several FLP offering in the South African market. In addition to high quality, we believe our offering is also value adding to you from a cost perspective. If you would like to discuss or clarify any aspect of this, you are welcome to reach out and we will be happy to walk this journey with you.

FINANCE LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME (FLP) OFFERING

Please enquire directly with CIMA for the FLP offering. Once secured, please contact us to enrol for our CIMA Case Study Workshop to enhance your chances of success in the case study examinations. Please refer to the respective above for more informaton.

Applicable terms and conditions

• The above fees cover one CIMA Case Study Workshop and sitting following your registration. Any further extensions will be treated as new registration; however, you will be entitled to a 40% returning discount (excluding the provision of textbooks).
• Employer payment arrangements for the CIMA Case Study Workshop are accepted provided the confirmation of payment is on the employer’s letterhead.
• An admin fee of R150 is applicable if an incorrect reference or bank account number is used when making payments, and for reactivation of previously suspended account.
• We can assist with including the exam fees in your invoice should your employer be paying for you, provided you intended to sit for the assessments within 6 months following your registration. The CIMA fees include the registration fee, annual subscription fee (which is waived in your first year) and CIMA exam fees. We charge an admin fee of 5% for this service to cover our forex risk.
• The tuition fee for the CIMA Case Study Workshop is not apportioned for joining the programme late as all previously delivered sessions are available via the recordings and covers a period of no more than four months.
• You may extend your registration for the CIMA Case Study Workshop at a cost equivalent to 50% of the applicable fees. The priviledge to extend is available for the next sitting (i.e. it only covers one sitting following the decision to extend at the discounted fee), providing there is no broken term of the subscription. This means if your access to the course expires and you do not renew immediately and renew, say one month later, you will be required to re-register as a new candidate. Furthermore, if you had access for, say, August sitting and you request to defer to November, you will not have the priviledge to defer at the discounted fee beyond the November case study sitting (i.e. you will be required to register as a new candidate after that sitting).
• We recommend a valid credit, debit or cheque card is strongly or registration and instalments to be automatically deducted. You should make all payments via PayFast.
• Private consultations outside the scheduled times are charged at R350 per 30-minute consultation slot (see the consultation schedule on the timetable). You can bring a friend at no additional cost.
• We reserve the right to update our pricing without notice. The latest applicable prices are available on our website and commerce platform.
• We will terminate access to course content within 48 hours following the end of the respective course or a later date, as per our discretion.
• No refunds are applicable as majority of the content is offered via online basis.
• You are strictly prohibited from sharing access or content.