Three Certification Pathways and Work Experience Requirements
Starting in 2025, the IIA has revised the eligibility policies for the CIA certification, offering candidates three distinct pathways based on their professional backgrounds to better accommodate the needs of candidates worldwide.
- Traditional Path: Pass all three exam sections and meet the corresponding work experience requirements (two years for a bachelor’s degree, one year for a master’s degree or higher). Candidates who have passed all sections but do not yet meet the work experience requirements may apply to the Chinese Institute of Internal Auditors for a “Certificate of Passing All CIA Exam Sections,” which serves as proof of competency during job searches.
- Accelerated Challenge Path (Challenge Exam): Holders of certifications such as CPA or CISA can obtain CIA certification by passing a single challenge exam, thereby saving a significant amount of preparation time.
- Student Pathway: Current students can progress step-by-step through the IAP (Initial Admission Program) certification, which exempts them from taking Part I of the CIA exam in the future.
2026 Revised Exam Syllabus
The Global Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing, revised by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), officially took effect in January 2025. The IIA has made corresponding adjustments to the CIA exam syllabus; the new syllabus eliminates redundancies across the three subjects, making the exam content more focused and precise.
Candidates should take note of these key dates: the English-language exam will adopt the new syllabus starting May 28, 2025, while the Simplified Chinese-language exam will adopt it after September 28, 2026. Regardless of whether taking the Simplified Chinese or English exam, after September 28, 2026, only the new syllabus will be recognized; the IIA will no longer offer the old version of the exam. The International Professional Practices Framework (2024) serves as the reference for the new syllabus.
Scores from subjects passed before the new exam was introduced remain valid; the IIA will not require candidates to retake those exams. The Three Main Certification Pathways for the CIA Certificate
Exam Fees and Registration Process
Effective April 1, 2026, the CIA exam fee schedule has been adjusted. The new rates apply to exam payments for exams held in Mainland China from April 2026 through the end of 2029.
| Fee Items | Effective April 1, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Application Fee | $60 |
| CIA Part 1 Exam Fee | $180 |
| CIA Part 2 Exam Fee | $155 |
| CIA Part 3 Exam Fee | $155 |
Candidates must submit their applications, select exam subjects, and schedule exam dates online through the Candidate Management System (CCMS) developed by the IIA. When submitting their application, candidates must have electronic copies of their identification documents and academic credentials ready and complete the submission process within CCMS.
Certificate Maintenance and Continuing Education
The CIA certification is not valid indefinitely; holders must rely on ongoing Continuing Professional Education (CPE) to maintain its validity. Practicing CIAs must complete 40 hours of CPE annually, while non-practicing CIAs must complete 20 hours. All CPE must be completed and submitted through the CCMS system by December 31 of the current year, and must include at least two hours of ethics-related content annually. This reflects the IIA’s strong emphasis on professional ethics. Certificate renewal procedures must be completed between October 1 and December 31 each year. Failure to do so will result in a grace period; if the certificate remains unrenewed for more than two years, it will be revoked.
