by John Michael O'Leary
Those who climb accounting’s professional ladder know Certified Management Accountant (CMA) certification is an important rung. The credential equates to an additional $250,000 or more in lifetime earnings. About half of those who take the exam pass it. However, if you happen to hail from the halls of Romain College of Business, your odds of bagging it are a whopping 92%.
“USI’s pass rate for the CMA is fourth highest among all colleges in the nation,” says Dr. Brian McGuire, associate dean and professor of accounting. “It puts us in the company of Cornell, the University of Wisconsin and the University of Michigan—schools of notable size and stature.”
The Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), proprietor and administrator of the CMA, calculates pass rates based on the performance of schools with at least 10 applicants. For the recent year, USI fielded 12 applicants; 11 passed.
To qualify for the exam, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree or professional certification in accounting and two years of financial-related work experience. The exam is given in two parts. Fees are $120, not including study materials.
A Case in Point
Tori Pasley ’19, accounting and professional services, is among the 92%, successfully completing both parts of the exam during the 2018-2019 academic year. Her journey toward this milestone was aided by participation in Beta Alpha Psi, an honor society for those studying or working in finance and accounting. McGuire, her advisor, also serves as faculty advisor to the society; he assisted Pasley in securing a scholarship to cover exam fees and study guides.
"USI opened my eyes to the CMA exam."
- Tori Pasley '19, accounting
“I am so grateful because without the scholarship I don’t think I would have been as motivated to take the exam,” says Pasley. “It costs quite a bit of money, so having a free pass at it was amazing and really took some of the stress off the whole experience.”
Tori Pasley is among the 92% of USI students who passed their CMA exams during the 2018-2019 academic year. She took the first part in the fall and the second part in the spring. Pictured (L to R): Pasley is honored with the IMA’s Outstanding Senior Award. She is joined by Dr. Brett Bueltel ’12, assistant professor of accounting, and Taylor Colbert ’19, accounting, 2019 Distinguished Graduate.