Earn your Internal Audit Practitioner™ (IAP™) designation by passing Part 1 of the Certified

Internal Auditor® (CIA®) exam, demonstrating your aptitude and foundational knowledge of The IIA Standards. The IAP is designed for students, new auditors, and those early in their internal audit careers, validating your understanding of core internal audit concepts, risk management, governance, and ethics.

Key details:

1. Exam Structure: The IAP exam is Part 1 of the CIA exam, covering Internal Audit Fundamentals with 125 multiple-choice questions to be completed in 2.5 hours.
2. Content Areas: Foundations of Internal Auditing, Ethics and Professionalism, Governance, Risk Management and Control, and Fraud Risks.
3. Eligibility: No prerequisite education or experience required; candidates apply through The IIA’s Certification Candidate Management System (CCMS).
4. Validity and Renewal: The IAP is now a permanent designation, requiring 20 hours of continuing professional education (CPE) annually, starting in 2026.

Career Path: Holding the IAP streamlines your path to the CIA certification, as active IAPs receive a waiver for CIA Part 1 when applying to the CIA program within the eligibility window . Recognition: The IAP designation is globally recognized and demonstrates your foundational competence to employers and clients, enhancing your credibility and career prospects in internal auditing.

This certification is an excellent stepping stone for those seeking to advance in internal auditing and aligns with the latest Global Internal Audit Standards.

The Certified Internal Auditor® (CIA®) certification has been the globally recognised standard for internal auditors since 1974. Earning the CIA demonstrates your expertise, commitment, and professionalism in internal auditing, providing significant opportunities for career advancement and professional credibility. More than 200,000 CIAs from 170 countries have achieved this prestigious certification.

Your path to the CIA is flexible and tailored to your experience level, with traditional, accelerated, and student pathways available. The CIA credential validates your knowledge of internal audit standards, risk management, governance, and business processes, making you a trusted expert in the field and enhancing your value to employers worldwide.

The Certification in Risk Management Assurance® (CRMA®) from The IIA is a globally recognized credential for internal auditors and risk management professionals who provide assurance on risk management, governance, and control processes to audit committees and executive management. The CRMA program is designed to reflect the advanced knowledge and organizational insight needed to deliver effective risk management assurance at the highest levels.

Key features and benefits:

 In-depth risk expertise: Demonstrates your ability to provide assurance on core business processes in risk management and governance, and to educate management and audit committees on risk concepts.

Strategic advisor: Positions you as a trusted advisor, capable of focusing on strategic organizational risks and adding value through quality assurance and control self-assessment.

No CIA prerequisite: The CRMA no longer requires the CIA as a prerequisite, making it more accessible to qualified professionals.

 Exam structure: The CRMA exam consists of 125 questions, to be completed in 150 minutes, and     covers internal audit roles and responsibilities, risk management governance, and risk management   assurance.

 Eligibility: Candidates typically need a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) and relevant internal audit or risk management experience. The experience requirement can vary, but at least one year of internal audit experience is commonly needed.

   Continuing education: Certified CRMAs must complete 20 hours of continuing professional education       (CPE) annually, including two hours focused on ethics.

Global recognition: The CRMA is valued worldwide and allows you to take the exam at authorized test centers in over 500 locations.

  Earning the CRMA certification validates your expertise in risk management assurance and enhances          your ability to support effective risk oversight and decision-making at the executive level.