FAQ - About CIMA

About

How do I register as a student with CIMA?

Visit cimaonline to register online.

What qualifications do I need to gain entry to the CIMA Professional Qualification?

To gain entry to the CIMA qualification you will need to have a relevant qualification in one of the following:

  • CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting (which is equivalent to completing the old syllabus Foundation level)
  • Degree that specialised in accountancy or business,which exempts you from the Certificate in Business Accounting
  • Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) Technician level
  • Open University (OU) Certificate in Accountancy
  • Membership of a professional body accredited by CIMA.

If you still have to complete the Certificate level papers, then you should consult the separate brochure targeted at these papers. All our brochures are available to download.

What qualifications do I need to gain entry to the Certificate in Business Accounting?

No qualifications are required. Please note that the Certificate in Business Accounting is only awarded by CIMA if you actually pass at least one of the Certificate papers, and is not awarded if you are exempt from all Certificate papers.

How do I find out whether I have any exemptions?

Visit cimaonline or call CIMA on +44 (0)20 8849 2251.

Which optional papers should I take?

There are no optional papers within CIMA.

Does it matter which order I sit the papers in?

CIMA papers can be sat in any order within each stage but we recommend you follow the 'learning pillars' in the managerial level ie attempting papers 1, 4 and 7 before papers 2, 5 and 8 as the assessment methods in the former papers are less challenging.

How much does it cost to complete the qualification?

For CIMA approximately 3 to 4 years. These figures depend on initial exemptions and number of subjects taken per exam sitting.

Which qualification is 'better'?

This depends what kind of work you want to do. If you are going into practice, we usually recommend ACCA, if you are going into industry we recommend CIMA. If you just want to work for yourself or a small company, doing AAT book-keeping may be best. If you want to be a Tax adviser (particularly if you have sat ACCA or CIMA and passed) CTA, otherwise ATT may be the course for you. We always recommend visiting the examining body's website to see details on the syllabus and prospective careers before booking a course with BPP.

How do I find out more about the syllabus structure?

There are ten papers to study and pass in total, six at Managerial level, three at Strategic level, and a final Test of Professional Competence in Management Accounting (TOPCIMA). All papers are assessed via paper-based examinations, have a pass mark of 50%, and stand alone. Therefore, once a paper is passed it becomes a permanent credit on your record. Please see our brochure for further details.

How do I enter for an exam?

CIMA operate online exam entry, which allows students to access a secure part of the CIMA website and book and pay for all of their exams online. The deadline for applying for May exams is 14th March. CIMA will accept late entries for a short period after these deadlines, but you will be required to pay a high late entry fee. For further details see CIMA's website . Please note that enrolling on a BPP course does not enter you for the real exam.

Any queries?

If you have a query, please see our FAQs section for a variety of frequently asked questions.

If you have a query not covered in our FAQs section, please contact our customer services department.