The professional grade of membership, the CMA, is only available to individuals who complete the CMA preparatory program.

The requirements of all other membership categories are provided below.

There are seven grades of membership within the Institute:

• Certified Management Accountant – entitled to use the designatory letters CMA
  Degree in Accounting, Commerce or Finance, or an MBA*, from a recognised university (see FAQ) or Professional Qualification in Accounting or equivalent; AND completion the CMA preparatory program; AND 5 years relevant experience.
• Associate Management Accountant – entitled to use the designatory letters AMA
  Degree in Accounting, Commerce or Finance, or an MBA*, from a recognised university (see FAQ) or Professional Qualification in Accounting or equivalent; AND either completion the CMA preparatory program or 3 years relevant experience.
• Graduate Management Accountant – entitled to use the designatory letters GMA
  Degree in Accounting, Commerce or Finance, or an MBA*, from a recognised university (see FAQ) or Professional Qualification in Accounting or completion of the Graduate program. There are no experience requirements. Those with non-accounting degrees or professional qualifications may enrol in the Graduate Conversion program and undertake the four-conversion subjects, but will only be awarded the GMA certification on the completion of their degree or equivalent qualification.
• Registered Business Accountant- entitled to use the designatory letters RBA
  Advanced Diploma in Accounting from a recognised Technical College (TAFE) or 3 Stages of a Professional Qualification in Accounting or completion of Stages 1,2 & 3 of the ICMA’s Graduate program.
• Registered Cost Accountant – entitled to use the designatory letters RCA
  Diploma in Accounting from a recognised Technical College (TAFE) or 2 Stages of a Professional Qualification in Accounting or completion of Stages 1 & 2 of the ICMA’s Graduate program.
• Certified Accounting Technician – entitled to use the designatory letters CAT
  Certificate in Accounting from a recognised Technical College (TAFE) or Stage 1 of a Professional Qualification in Accounting or completion of Stage 1 of the ICMA’s Graduate program.
• Management Accounting Affiliate – entitled to use the designatory letters MAA
  Open Entry for those interested in the field of Management Accountancy.

*The MBA degree must be from an accredited or government recognised University provided the applicant had been admitted to the MBA program after completing an undergraduate degree in any discipline or had an equivalent recognised professional qualification AND done the subjects Financial Management and Management Accounting (or equivalent) as part of their MBA degree program. Those who were admitted to their MBA program based on experience only, will need to submit their CV to ICMA to evaluate if they can be admitted to the CMA program.

Additionally, there are the following membership grades:

• Student membership – not entitled to use any designatory letters.
• Honorary membership – entitled to use the designatory letters CMA: Available for distinguished persons whose services to Management Accounting and related disciplines in the opinion of the Executive Committee merit this award of membership.
• Fellow –entitled to use the designatory lettersFCMA: Advancement to FCMA membership is only for those already at a CMA grade of membership, and is via either Objective or Subjective Admission Criteria.
  • Objective Criteria:
    1. Minimum 5 years uninterrupted membership of CMA(ANZ). OR
    2. Minimum of 5 years’ work experience at a very senior level CFO / COO / CEO of a reputed corporation AND payment of 5-years membership fees in advance AND
    3. Payment of an upgrade fee of AU$1,000.
  • Subjective Criteria (to be adjudicated by the Fellowship Committee of CMA(ANZ):
    1. Extraordinary and outstanding contribution to the Accounting Profession with a special emphasis on Management Accounting (including ESG and Sustainability); and/or
    2. Outstanding contribution and service to CMA(ANZ) by way of:
       1. Research, teaching etc.,
       2. Organizing events, symposiums etc.,
       3. Community service which reflects well on CMA(ANZ),
       4. Any other contribution and service to CMA(ANZ).

FCMA membership using subjective criteria is by invitation only for persons who have supported the Institute as a qualified financial member for a minimum period of 15 years and/or has demonstrated ongoing professional commitment by participating in the activities of the ICMA Council or their respective Regional Offices. The invitation to the Fellowship category is either directly by the ICMA Council or via the Regional Directors. Those nominated by a Regional Director must be financial members of the ICMA for at least 5-years at the CMA level and will pay an additional once-off upgrade fee of AU$1,000 in addition to their annual membership fees. Those nominated by the ICMA Council, do not need to pay this application fee. FCMAs pay annual membership fees at the same level as CMAs.

• Honorary Fellow – entitled to use the designatory letters FCMA: This membership category awarded by the Institute for persons of high esteem who have contributed to the development of the profession. Honorary FCMAs are exempt from paying annual membership fees.
• Management Accountant – this is the membership category used for non-financial members. They are not entitled to use any designatory letters.
• Life Member – entitled to use the designatory letters FCMA: This membership category is by award of the Institute, and for persons of high esteem who have maintained their membership and have contributed to the development and growth of the Institute. Life Members are exempt from paying annual membership fees once Life Membership status is achieved.