CIA, a short form for Certified Internal Auditor, is a programme that provides certification to a person proving their proficiency in internal audit. It is presented by the IIA( Institute of Internal Auditors)- USA, and IIA India manages the programme. Being a certification programme, CIA does not have any entrance exam like the other professional courses like MBA, B.Tech, etc. However, it has eligibility criteria.
Whenever a student applies for this programme, they are expected to have certain documents with them and submit those documents to the IIA.
Candidates must have a graduate degree or be in their last year of study in order to sit for the CIA examination. This is an important element of CIA certification requirements. Only degrees that come from IIA-approved universities are accepted.
Suppose you are not yet in your last year but still want to apply for the exam. It is best to wait until you reach your final year to fulfil the CIA eligibility.
A character certificate signed by a candidate’s supervisor or any superior authority is an essential document to show a good character certificate. This is to make your application compliant with the IIA code of ethics.
A valid ID or a passport copy can be considered legit ID proof to fit one of the eligibility requirements for the CIA.
A mandatory time limit of work experience is required to be certified with the CIA as per the degree type. If a candidate is doing a master’s, they must have at least 12 months of experience in internal auditing. On the other hand, students with a bachelor’s degree are supposed to have 24 months of experience in the same.
A person who is a qualified member of the ?Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and an active and licensed US Certified Public Accountant (CPA) can skip providing proof of education and work experience.
Applications submitted by candidates are granted approval by the IIA for a period of three years. If an applicant does not finish the certification procedure within three years, they will be required to pay the fees again and will be required to retake any examinations they have already passed. For a price, you can also buy a one-time extension of another 12 months.