---
title: "Accounting Certifications Guide: CPA, CMA, CFA, CIA, and EA Compared | The Staffing Guide"
description: "The CPA is not the only accounting credential worth knowing. This guide compares CPA, CMA, CFA, CIA, and EA — what each requires, who it is for, and which to pursue based on your career goals."
---

# Accounting Certifications Guide: CPA, CMA, CFA, CIA, and EA Compared

[Certifications](https://russellstaffinginc.com/category/certifications/)

*Independent editorial resource. Not affiliated with any employer, certification body, or professional association. Occupational data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024–25). All certification requirements described here should be verified directly with the issuing body — requirements change.*

The CPA is not the only credential worth knowing about in accounting and finance. Depending on your career path, role, and industry, other certifications may be equally or more valuable. Here is an overview of the major ones.

## CPA — Certified Public Accountant

**Issuing body:** State boards of accountancy (exam developed by AICPA/NASBA)
**Best for:** Public accounting, audit, tax, controllership, general accounting careers
**Requirement summary:** 150 credit hours of education, passing the four-section Uniform CPA Exam, supervised experience (typically 1–2 years under a CPA), ethics exam in many states
**Note:** Legally required in the U.S. to sign audit reports, perform attest services, or hold yourself out as a CPA

The CPA is the broadest-based accounting credential in the U.S. and the most widely recognized by employers. For audit, tax, or public accounting careers it is effectively required. For industry accounting it is highly preferred.

## CMA — Certified Management Accountant

**Issuing body:** Institute of Management Accountants (IMA)
**Best for:** Management accounting, FP&A, corporate finance, cost accounting, controller roles at manufacturing and industrial companies
**Requirement summary:** Bachelor’s degree, two years of professional experience in management accounting or financial management, passing a two-part exam
**Exam structure:** Part 1 (Financial Planning, Performance and Analytics) and Part 2 (Strategic Financial Management)

The CMA is the main alternative to the CPA for industry accountants who do not need public accounting licensure. It focuses on planning, analysis, and decision support rather than historical reporting and audit. The IMA publishes salary surveys (member surveys, not BLS data) suggesting CMA holders earn a premium over non-credentialed management accountants — verify current survey methodology with IMA directly.

## CFA — Chartered Financial Analyst

**Issuing body:** CFA Institute
**Best for:** Investment analysis, portfolio management, equity research, corporate finance, investment banking
**Requirement summary:** Bachelor’s degree (or be in final year), 4,000 hours of relevant professional experience, passing three sequential exams (Level I, II, III)
**Note:** Pass rates at each level have historically been 40–50 percent or lower, and the full qualification typically takes four or more years

The CFA is a finance credential, not an accounting credential. It is the standard for investment professionals. Accountants who want to move into investment analysis, private equity, or corporate development sometimes pursue the CFA.

## CIA — Certified Internal Auditor

**Issuing body:** The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA)
**Best for:** Internal audit, risk management, compliance, Sarbanes-Oxley work
**Requirement summary:** Bachelor’s degree, 24 months of internal audit experience (reduced to 12 months with a master’s degree), passing a three-part exam

The CIA is the primary credential for internal auditors. If your career involves internal audit functions rather than external audit or financial reporting, the CIA is typically more relevant than the CPA.

## EA — Enrolled Agent

**Issuing body:** U.S. Internal Revenue Service
**Best for:** Tax practice, representing clients before the IRS, tax preparation businesses
**Requirement summary:** Passing a three-part IRS Special Enrollment Examination (SEE) covering individual tax, business tax, and representation/practice/procedures, plus background check; OR 5 years of employment with the IRS in a technical tax capacity
**Note:** No degree requirement

The EA is the IRS’s own credential and grants unlimited practice rights before the IRS. It is popular among tax professionals who are not CPAs, including those who work at tax prep firms or run their own practices. It requires no college degree, making it accessible to a broader group than the CPA.

## Which certification should you pursue?

| Career goal | Recommended credential |
|---|---|
| Public accounting (audit, attest) | CPA (required) |
| Tax practice (public firm or own practice) | CPA or EA |
| Corporate accounting / controllership | CPA (preferred); CMA is also valued |
| FP&A / management accounting | CMA; CPA also useful |
| Internal audit | CIA; CPA also common |
| Investment analysis / equity research | CFA |
| Government/nonprofit accounting | CPA (preferred); CGFM for government specifically |

## Frequently asked questions

### Is the CMA easier than the CPA?

The two exams test different material and are not directly comparable. The CMA has two parts versus four (now three core plus one discipline) for the CPA, and many candidates find the overall volume of material smaller. However, “easier” depends heavily on your background — someone strong in analysis and finance may find the CMA more natural, while someone with a tax background may find parts of the CPA more familiar.

### Can you hold both a CPA and CMA?

Yes. Holding both is possible and some professionals do, particularly those who want to signal competence in both external reporting and management decision support. Whether the marginal benefit justifies the effort depends on your specific career goals.

### Do accounting certifications expire?

Credentials require ongoing maintenance. The CPA requires CPE credits for license renewal. The CMA requires CPE and IMA membership. The CFA requires annual attestation and membership. The CIA requires CPE. The EA must renew every three years with the IRS and complete 72 hours of CPE per renewal cycle. Always verify current requirements with the issuing body.

### Related Articles

📄

[CPA Requirements: What You Need to Earn the License](https://russellstaffinginc.com/cpa-requirements-what-you-need-to-earn-the-license/)

CPA licensure requires 150 credit hours, passing t…

### Recently Published

- [The True Cost of Hiring an Employee: A Q1 Budgeting Guide for Small Businesses](https://russellstaffinginc.com/true-cost-of-hiring-an-employee/)
- [Illegal Interview Questions: What Employers Should Not Ask (and What to Ask Instead)](https://russellstaffinginc.com/illegal-interview-questions-employers/)
- [Are Unpaid Working Interviews Legal? What Employers Need to Know About Trial Shifts](https://russellstaffinginc.com/are-unpaid-working-interviews-legal/)
- [Rehiring Seasonal Employees: When You Need a New Form I-9](https://russellstaffinginc.com/rehiring-seasonal-employees-form-i-9/)
- [Hiring 14- and 15-Year-Olds for Winter Break: Federal Hours Rules for Employers](https://russellstaffinginc.com/hiring-14-and-15-year-olds-winter-break/)
- [How Holiday Bonuses Are Taxed: An Employer’s Guide to Withholding, Gift Cards and Overtime](https://russellstaffinginc.com/how-holiday-bonuses-are-taxed-employers/)
- [Do Employers Have to Pay Holiday Pay? Federal Rules for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year](https://russellstaffinginc.com/do-employers-have-to-pay-holiday-pay/)
- [Form 1099-NEC for 2026 Payments: The $2,000 Threshold and What Small Businesses Must File](https://russellstaffinginc.com/form-1099-nec-small-business-2026/)
- [Employee or Independent Contractor? A Year-End Classification Review for Employers](https://russellstaffinginc.com/employee-or-independent-contractor-year-end-review/)
- [How to Convert a Seasonal Employee to Permanent: An Employer’s Guide](https://russellstaffinginc.com/convert-seasonal-employee-to-permanent/)
- [What Employers Need to Know Before Using a Staffing Agency](https://russellstaffinginc.com/what-employers-need-to-know-before-using-a-staffing-agency/)
- [How to Manage Seasonal Workers: A Practical Guide for Small Businesses](https://russellstaffinginc.com/how-to-manage-seasonal-workers-a-practical-guide-for-small-businesses/)
- [Temp-to-Hire vs Direct Hire: Which Hiring Model Is Right for Your Business?](https://russellstaffinginc.com/temp-to-hire-vs-direct-hire-which-hiring-model-is-right-for-your-business/)
- [Background Check Requirements for New Hires: What Employers Need to Know](https://russellstaffinginc.com/background-check-requirements-for-new-hires-what-employers-need-to-know/)
- [How to Write an Effective Job Description That Attracts Quality Candidates](https://russellstaffinginc.com/how-to-write-an-effective-job-description-that-attracts-quality-candidates/)

### Topics

- [Accounting Careers](https://russellstaffinginc.com/category/accounting-careers/) (2)
- [Applying & Interviews](https://russellstaffinginc.com/category/applying-and-interviews/) (13)
- [Career Changes](https://russellstaffinginc.com/category/career-changes/) (8)
- [Certifications](https://russellstaffinginc.com/category/certifications/) (2)
- [Finance Careers](https://russellstaffinginc.com/category/finance-careers/) (1)
- [How Staffing Works](https://russellstaffinginc.com/category/how-staffing-works/) (7)
- [Pay, Tax & Contracts](https://russellstaffinginc.com/category/pay-tax-and-contracts/) (23)
- [Role Comparisons](https://russellstaffinginc.com/category/role-comparisons/) (4)
- [Uncategorized](https://russellstaffinginc.com/category/uncategorized/) (10)
- [Working With an Agency](https://russellstaffinginc.com/category/working-with-an-agency/) (29)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": "Article",
    "headline": "Accounting Certifications Guide: CPA, CMA, CFA, CIA, and EA Compared",
    "description": "The CPA is not the only accounting credential worth knowing. This guide compares CPA, CMA, CFA, CIA, and EA — what each requires, who it is for, and which to pursue based on your career goals.",
    "url": "https://russellstaffinginc.com/accounting-certifications-guide-cpa-cma-cfa-cia-and-ea-compared/",
    "datePublished": "",
    "dateModified": "",
    "author": {
        "@type": "Organization",
        "name": "russellstaffinginc.com"
    },
    "publisher": {
        "@type": "Organization",
        "name": "russellstaffinginc.com",
        "url": "https://russellstaffinginc.com"
    },
    "mainEntityOfPage": {
        "@type": "WebPage",
        "@id": "https://russellstaffinginc.com/accounting-certifications-guide-cpa-cma-cfa-cia-and-ea-compared/"
    }
}
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
    "itemListElement": [
        {
            "@type": "ListItem",
            "position": 1,
            "name": "Home",
            "item": "https://russellstaffinginc.com/"
        },
        {
            "@type": "ListItem",
            "position": 2,
            "name": "Certifications",
            "item": "https://russellstaffinginc.com/category/certifications/"
        },
        {
            "@type": "ListItem",
            "position": 3,
            "name": "Accounting Certifications Guide: CPA, CMA, CFA, CIA, and EA Compared",
            "item": "https://russellstaffinginc.com/accounting-certifications-guide-cpa-cma-cfa-cia-and-ea-compared/"
        }
    ]
}
```