CIA Challenge Exam

When is the CIA Challenge Exam offered?

Candidates must apply in advance for the CIA Challenge Exam, which can be done through The IIA’s CCMS: Once accepted, candidates are then able to register for and schedule their first exam attempt.

The windows for candidates to apply, register, and schedule are:

• April 2023
• September 2023

The first attempt testing windows for candidates who apply in April 2023 are:

• June 2023
• August 2023

The first attempt testing windows for candidates who apply in September 2023 are:

• November 2023
• February 2024

Candidates can register for and schedule their retakes throughout the year, but they must retake their exam in these windows:

• February 2023
• June 2023
• August 2023
• November 2023

The exam is offered online and in-person through Pearson VUE around the world, and candidates are expected to spend three hours completing the exam.                     

How to apply for the CIA Challenge Exam

To apply for the Challenge exam, you have to have your CPA or another qualifying certification as outlined above. Here are the steps:

1. Log in to the Certification Candidate Management System (CCMS).
2. Select “Apply for Certified Internal Auditor”
3. Select “CIA Challenge Program for Qualified Chartered Accountants and Certified Public Accountants”
4. Complete your application

What do I need to study for the CIA Challenge Exam?

The CIA Challenge Exam is designed for members who already hold a professional accounting certificate or license and want to earn their CIA certification. The exam combines CIA Parts 1, 2, and 3 and removes all questions related to content previously tested for the certificate or license members already hold. The IIA provides a syllabus for candidates looking to see what topics they need to study. It shows what topics come from which CIA exam part, the proficiency needed in each tested topic and approximate number of questions from each section.

How many questions are on the CIA Challenge Exam?

The exam has 150 questions based on the exam syllabus and the examination time is up to 180 minutes. Questions are divided into two categories based on proficiency:

• Basic, marked with a B on the syllabus, only require that candidates be aware of these topics.
• Proficient, marked with a P on the syllabus, demand that candidates have a deep understanding of, and the ability to apply, these concepts.

The CIA Challenge Exam syllabus also lists the percentage of questions pulled from each part, as listed below:

• CIA Part 1 | Essentials of Internal Auditing — 35%
• CIA Part 2 | Practice of Internal Auditing — 43%
• CIA Part 3 | Business Knowledge for Internal Auditing — 22%

The CIA Challenge Exam still has scaled scoring, and candidates must earn 600 points out of a possible 750 to pass.

For more detailed information, check out the CIA Challenge Exam syllabus

What is the cost of the CIA Challenge Exam?

When signing up for the Challenge Exam, candidates will be expected to pay all relevant fees upfront. The cost of the CIA Challenge Exam is $1,195 USD for IIA members and $1,545 USD for non-IIA members. If you need to reschedule your exam, there is a $75 fee from Pearson VUE.

The CIA Challenge Exam fees include the application and registration fees and access to the International Professional Practices Framework and the Standards.