7 Best CMA Review Courses [2026 Update]

Becoming a Certified Management Accountant (CMA), a credential administered by the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), is a game-changer for your career, but passing requires the right preparation. With so many CMA prep courses on the market, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

The good news? You don’t have to figure it out on your own. I’ve thoroughly researched the top CMA prep courses so you can find the best one for your learning style and budget—and walk out of the exam room knowing you passed on your very first try.

And, when retaking an exam could cost you an extra $900 or more, you definitely want to pass the CMA exam the first time!

Ready to find the perfect CMA exam prep course for you? Let’s dig in!

Choosing the Best CMA Review Course for You

• Best Overall: Becker – Most comprehensive with personalized coaching.
• Best Question Banks and Essays: Gleim – Over 4,500 questions to test your knowledge.
• Most Practice Questions: UWorld with 6,000+ multiple-choice questions and 75+ essays.
• Best Value: Surgent – Affordable with advanced adaptive learning technology.
• Best Coaching: CMA Exam Academy – The most 1-on-1 support for in-depth guidance.

Best CMA Prep Courses

	Becker	Gleim	UWorld	Surgent	CMA Exam Academy
CMA ONLINE COURSES
Pricing	$1,599-$2,199	$999-$1,799	$1,299-$1,499	$699-$1,299	$1,999
Discounts	Save $1,100	Save $600	Save $500	Save $600	Save 20%
Practice Questions	4,000+ MCQ76 Essay	4,500+ MCQ130+ Essay	6,000+ MCQ75+ Essay	4,000+ MCQ65+ Essay	4,000+ MCQ35+ Essay
Video Lessons	Lectures and 76 SkillBuilder Videos	Lectures, Instruct Series, MCQ, and Essay Walkthrough Videos	49+ Hours of Lectures	55+ Lectures	Lectures and Whiteboard Videos
Pass Guarantees	Yes, partial money-back if the top package	Yes, continued access with no money back	Yes, continued access for the top package only	Yes, full tuition refund for all courses	Yes, a full tuition refund
Support	Tutoring and success coaching (premium), live classroom interaction, email, phone	Accounting experts and coaching (premium), email, phone, tech support	Email, phone	Two coaching sessions (premium), email, phone, chat	Unlimited coaching support (video, email, and chat)
Get Started	REVIEW	REVIEW	REVIEW	REVIEW	REVIEW

1. Becker CMA Review: Best for Guided, All-in-One Prep

Best For: Students looking for a well-rounded, high-quality CMA prep course with extensive resources and top-notch support. Ideal for those seeking personalized coaching, live virtual classes, and a proven track record of success.

Key Feature: Adapt2U Technology and Newt™ AI Assistant. Becker’s Adapt2U technology helps personalize your study plan by targeting weaker areas, while Newt™ gives you on-demand support when concepts don’t click.

In the accounting education and certification world, you’re not going to get very far doing research before you stumble across Becker.

After all, Becker is the oldest and is often considered to be the best when it comes to exam prep courses. Personally, I completely agree. Let’s dig in so I can share with you why I believe Becker is the best in the business.

Becker CMA exam review options come in two unique packages:

• CMA Review Pro: Unlimited access
• CMA Review Advantage: 24 months

Let’s take a look at the features included in both options.

4,000+ MCQs, Newt AI & Two Package Tiers

Becker’s CMA review is built around its Adapt2U adaptive engine and the Newt AI assistant, and those are what stand out when you test it. Adapt2U steers practice toward weaker areas, and Newt is genuinely useful for explaining a tough question on the spot, almost like a CMA-specific tutor. The library is deep too, with 4,000+ practice questions, video lectures, digital textbooks, and a mobile app that’s easy to use.

The Advantage tier covers the essentials; Pro adds live online classes, coaching and tutoring hours, printed books, and the pass guarantee. What I liked is how complete the package feels – the main drawback is the price, the highest on this list, though for guided, all-in-one prep it’s justified.

Pros

✅ Adaptive Learning Technology: Adapt2U focuses practice on weaker areas so studying is efficient.

✅ Comprehensive Support: 10 hours of personal coaching and tutoring in the Pro package.

✅ Pass Guarantee: Free retake if you don’t pass, and Pro reimburses up to $500 in exam fees.

✅ Free Trial: A 2-week trial with no commitment, and progress is saved if you upgrade.

Cons

❌ High Price Point: Among the most expensive packages on this list.

❌ Limited Flexibility in Access: The lower tier caps access at 24 months while some rivals offer unlimited.

❌ Best Features Locked to Pro: Coaching, the $500 reimbursement, and printed materials require the pricier Pro tier.

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2. Gleim CMA Review: Best Question Bank

Best For: Students who want one of the largest and most challenging question banks to ensure thorough preparation. Perfect for those who want to over-prepare and prefer detailed explanations of both correct and incorrect answers.

Key Feature: Best Question Bank. Gleim offers 4,500+ multiple-choice questions and 130+ essay questions, providing the most extensive practice options to fully prepare for the CMA exam.

Even though Gleim CMA doesn’t offer as many questions as they do in their CPA question bank, that stand-out Gleim quality continues to shine in their CMA prep course bank. If you learn best from honing your skills through practice questions and mock exams, Gleim is a phenomenal pick for you. When I ran a full-length Gleim mock, the format and pacing matched the real Part 1 closely enough that exam day felt familiar.

Gleim offers three CMA prep packages:

• Premium CMA Review System: Unlimited access
• Traditional CMA Review System: 18 months
• CMA Mega Test Bank: 18 months

4,500+ MCQs, 130+ Essays & SmartAdapt™

Going through Gleim, the question bank lives up to its reputation – the questions are noticeably harder than the real exam, a deliberate design that some students love and others find discouraging. What stood out testing it were the detailed answer explanations: they rebuild the full reasoning instead of just marking right or wrong, which makes trickier topics like cost variances much clearer.

Higher tiers add the adaptive course, mock exams, and performance reports that make weak areas easy to spot, plus Premium video lectures and access to CMA-certified experts. My main gripe is the interface – functional, but dated next to Becker, with no live class option.

Pros

✅ Largest Question Bank: 4,500+ multiple-choice questions and 130+ essays.

✅ High-Quality Explanations: Detailed explanations that walk through why an answer is right.

✅ SmartAdapt Technology: Adaptive tech that targets your weakest areas.

✅ Strong Instructor Support: Well-regarded CMA instructors, including Amy Ford, on video.

Cons

❌ Limited Pass Guarantee: Access Until You Pass is Premium-only and is continued access, not money-back.

❌ Dated Interface: Less polished and more dated than top competitors.

❌ No Live Classes: Video and question bank only, with no live online class option.

Bottom Line

Gleim’s CPA question bank is infinitely more impressive compared to competitors, boasting over 10,000 multiple-choice questions. However, this is not true of their CMA question bank, which has roughly the same number of practice questions as the standard among their competition (4,000+). Though they have fewer questions, the quality is excellent, and the difficulty of many of the questions can help to overprepare students so they outperform expectations on test day.

Gleim’s claim to fame for their CMA branch is that they have the best CMA exam essay question bank, with over 130 (compared to ~70 for competitors). That being said, they lack comprehensive support options, their guarantee is a little flimsy, and the bottom line is… Gleim is good, but Becker is better.

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3. UWorld CMA Review: Most Practice Questions

Best For: Students who prioritize volume and prefer practicing as many questions as possible to build confidence. Great for those who focus on test-taking strategies and repetition.

Key Feature: Largest Practice Question Pool. With over 6,000 mutiple-choice questions, UWorld offers more practice opportunities than any other course, making it a top choice for students who want thorough exam preparation through repetition.

Here are some facts that best exemplify where UWorld CMA review courses stand:

• Over 2 million students prepare for difficult exams
• 80% CMA exam pass rate
• 6,000+ multiple-choice questions

So basically, UWorld has a long history of helping students reach success. However, though their pass rate is high compared to the average, it’s low compared to some competitors. Finally, though their test bank isn’t as high-quality as Gleim’s, they do have the most practice questions in one place. Drilling through them, I found the explanations thorough, though the questions ran easier than Gleim’s and didn’t always match the real exam’s difficulty.

UWorld offers two CMA prep packages:

• Elite-Unlimited: Unlimited access
• Premier: 24 months (12 months per part)

6,000+ MCQs, On-Demand Videos & 11th-Hour Review

UWorld is all about volume – 6,000+ questions, plus flashcards, videos, and mock exams – which is its biggest strength if you want sheer reps. What I liked testing it is the depth of the answer explanations; what I didn’t is that the questions come across easier than Gleim’s, so it’s better for building volume than for simulating exam difficulty.

The Elite-Unlimited package adds live boot camps and access until you pass, and the 11th Hour Final Review is a useful last-minute, high-yield resource.

Pros

✅ Massive Practice Question Pool: 6,000+ multiple-choice questions, the largest bank here.

✅ Detailed Answer Explanations: Thorough rationales for every question.

✅ Concise Study Guides: Well-structured, efficient material.

✅ 11th Hour Final Review: A strong last-minute, high-yield resource.

Cons

❌ Limited Support: Little personal coaching or direct support.

❌ Long Video Lectures: Some lectures run long, which is tough on a tight schedule.

❌ Questions Skew Easier: Questions run easier than Gleim’s and don’t always simulate exam difficulty.

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4. Surgent CMA Review: Great Technology and Value

Whereas Becker and Gleim rank as my top two, Surgent CMA is still an excellent option. And where they really shine is in the aspect students love: their cutting-edge adaptive learning technology.

It’s this technology, in part, that’s led Surgent to incredible statistics, including:

• 83% of Surgent students pass the CMA exam on their first try (compared to 50% or less on average)
• 147 average study hours for successful students (IMA suggests 300 hours)
• Surgent’s ReadySCORE™ technology earned a Silver Stevie in the American Business Awards for Technological Innovation of the Year

Surgent offers three CMA exam prep packages:

• CMA Review Ultimate Pass: Unlimited access
• CMA Review Premier Pass: 24 months
• CMA Review Essentials Pass: 18 months

Let’s learn a bit more about the features included in Surgent courses.

A.S.A.P. Tech, ReadySCORE™ & Lifetime Access

Surgent’s draw is its tech, and it holds up in testing. The A.S.A.P. engine builds an adaptive plan around weak areas, and the ReadySCORE estimate is the standout – it gives a clear readiness readout instead of guesswork. The core materials are solid too: 4,000+ questions, unlimited practice exams, digital textbooks, and a pass guarantee on every tier, with lifetime access.

What I didn’t love is that video lectures and one-on-one coaching are reserved for the higher tiers, so the cheaper packages lean heavily on the tech and on self-direction.

Pros

✅ Study Efficiency: A.S.A.P. and ReadySCORE focus your time and cut wasted study.

✅ Affordable Pricing: Some of the lowest pricing for high-quality content.

✅ Pass Guarantee for All Tiers: The guarantee applies to every package, including the cheapest.

✅ Lifetime Access: Lifetime access, useful if you need more time.

Cons

❌ Limited Coaching Support: One-on-one coaching is only in the top tier.

❌ Video Lectures Only in Higher Tiers: Video lectures are limited to Premier and Ultimate.

❌ Smaller Question Bank: Smaller than Gleim’s or UWorld’s.

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5. CMA Exam Academy: Best Coaching and Support

Best For: Students who thrive on structured learning and extensive personal support. Ideal for those who need 1-on-1 coaching, weekly check-ins, and a clear, guided study plan to keep them accountable and motivated.

Key Feature: Unlimited 1-on-1 Coaching. CMA Exam Academy stands out by offering unlimited access to CMA-certified coaches for personalized help, making it the best course for students who value personal guidance and structured accountability.

As someone who lives and breathes accounting, which is… admittedly a little dry, I love when companies like CMA Exam Academy come along and shake up the industry.

I believe they’ve successfully done exactly that by offering the most support you’ll get in the industry at a price comparable to competitor packages–even though competitors offer significantly fewer support hours. With up to 99 one-hour calls with your personal CMA coach available, it’s unlikely you’ll even use all the support you’re offered.

The best part? Every coach is a certified management accountant. They’ve done it, and they can help you do it, too. Reviewing the coaching setup, the standout is that every coach is a CMA who’s sat the exam — the guidance is practitioner-level, not generic.

Unlike its competitors, CMA Exam Academy only has a single option available (unless you decide to purchase part 1 or part 2 alone):

• 16-Week Accelerator Program (Part 1 and Part 2): 24 months

Unlimited Coaching, 16-Week Plan & Prometric Rehearsal

CMA Exam Academy is built around coaching, and that’s what stands out. It offers unlimited access to coaches who are CMAs themselves, plus weekly check-ins and support calls, and what I liked is that the support feels practitioner-level rather than scripted. The 16-week plan is structured week by week, with lectures, flashcards, formula guides, 4,000 practice questions, and an in-person exam rehearsal at a Prometric location.

What I didn’t love is the rigidity – the structured pace and time commitment are a lot if your schedule is unpredictable, and it’s one of the pricier options. Even so, for accountability it’s easy to see why CMA Exam Academy is worth a look.

Pros

✅ Unlimited Personalized Coaching: Unlimited 1-on-1 access to certified-CMA coaches via email, calls, and check-ins.

✅ Structured 16-Week Program: A step-by-step plan with weekly assignments and tracking.

✅ Unique In-Person Exam Rehearsal: A rehearsal at a Prometric center, a rare test-day feature.

✅ Excellent Supplemental Resources: Textbooks, flashcards, formula guides, and downloadable lectures.

Cons

❌ Time Commitment: The structured pace can overwhelm busy schedules.

❌ Higher Cost: One of the pricier courses.

❌ Smaller Question Bank: Its question bank is smaller than Gleim’s or UWorld’s.

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6. Hock CMA: Best Month-to-Month Budget Option

Best For: Quick learners or budget-conscious students who need a more affordable option and are comfortable with shorter study time. Ideal for those who want to save money and are confident in their ability to study efficiently.

Key Feature: Flexible Monthly Subscription. Hock allows you to pay month-to-month, making it a great option for students who want to minimize costs and don’t need long-term access to study materials.

Hock is unique in that it could be the cheapest or most expensive choice on the list. Hock uses a monthly subscription, where you can either pay month-to-month or spend a bundle upfront to gain access for up to 2 years.

Because Hock doesn’t have the same quality, tech, or comprehensive resources as its competitors, the idea is likely to target quick learners who rush to the finish line to try to pay as little as possible for their CMA prep. However, if the student ends up failing their CMA exam, it’ll cost them a lot more than a month’s subscription to try again.

Hock’s offers include:

• 1 Month Subscription: One Month
• One-Time Payment: 24 months

PassMap, 180+ Hours & Month-to-Month Pricing

Hock’s appeal is value, and that comes through testing it. The PassMap system maps your topics and tracks progress, and the materials cover the bases – 4,000+ questions, essays, video, and mock exams. What I didn’t love is the experience itself: it’s more functional than polished, and getting around the materials took more clicks than it should.

It makes the most sense on the month-to-month plan for efficient, short-term study; over a longer stretch the price advantage fades.

Pros

✅ Affordable Monthly Subscription: A budget-friendly month-to-month option.

✅ Simplified Explanations: Concepts broken down for those without strong accounting backgrounds.

✅ Comparable Resources: 4,000+ MCQs and 80+ essays, plus textbooks and video.

✅ Live Webinars and Community: Live webinars and a community forum for extra support.

Cons

❌ Weak Question Bank: Questions seen as less challenging or exam-realistic.

❌ No Pass Guarantee: No extra access or refund if you don’t pass.

❌ Outdated Textbooks: Lengthy, hard-to-navigate online textbooks.

7. Zain Academy: For International Students

Best For: International students or those on a tight budget who want an affordable course with direct support. Perfect for learners who need flexible, self-paced options with personalized help from the course creator.

Key Feature: Extremely Affordable and Comprehensive. Zain Academy offers a complete CMA prep package at a significantly lower price point than most competitors, with a large question bank and study points designed to cover all exam topics comprehensively.

Known primarily for helping students prepare for their CIA exams, Zain Academy was founded by its namesake, Muhammad Zain. He has a CMA designation, as well as grabbing a CPA and CIA. He’s written dozens of books on the subject of exams for prospective accountants.

Zain Academy’s CMA exam preparation options include many pieces, but the primary option is the complete set:

• CMA Exam Review Complete Set: Unlimited

4,500+ MCQs, 1,800+ True/False & WhatsApp Support

Zain Academy is a budget option run by Muhammad Zain, a CMA, CPA, and CIA, and the complete set is well-stocked: 4,500+ questions, essays, 1,800+ true/false items, and study notes. What I liked testing it was the direct support – you message Zain over WhatsApp and get a quick reply.

What I didn’t love is that the help is text-based rather than video, and the teaching style leans toward international students, so it can read as a little formal for a U.S. audience.

Pros

✅ Incredibly Affordable: One of the lowest-priced CMA prep courses available.

✅ Direct Access to the Founder: Unlimited WhatsApp or email support from Muhammad Zain.

✅ Ample Question Variety: 4,500+ MCQs, 75 essays, and 1,800+ true/false items.

✅ Self-Paced Materials: Video lectures, practice exams, and PDF notes for self-paced study.

Cons

❌ Not the Best Value: Much content can be found cheaper or free elsewhere.

❌ Slow Response Times: Limited staff can mean delayed replies.

❌ Niche Appeal: Designed mainly for international students, so U.S. test-takers may find it formal.

CMA Prep Course Comparisons

Choosing the right CMA prep course isn’t about grabbing the flashiest feature list—it’s about aligning with how you study, what kind of support you need, and how much time you realistically have to prepare. Below are no-fluff, side-by-side comparisons to help you figure out which course matches your learning style.

Becker vs. Gleim CMA

Becker brings the polish—adaptable technology, one-on-one coaching, and exam-readiness tracking. It’s like having a personal trainer who not only sets your workout but walks you through every rep. Their live classes and tutoring options give it a real classroom vibe.

Gleim, on the other hand, is the grind-it-out, no-frills heavyweight of question banks. It’s for students who thrive on repetition and want to be over-prepared. Gleim’s SmartAdapt™ technology is solid, but not as intuitive as Becker’s Adapt2U.

Verdict: Go with Becker if you want premium support and real-time progress feedback. Choose Gleim if you’re a self-starter who wants to conquer the exam through sheer volume and deep practice. Compare them both in more detail here against other top CMA prep courses.

Gleim vs. Surgent CMA

Gleim is all about depth—complex, often tougher-than-the-real-thing questions with detailed explanations. It suits learners who like to go down the rabbit hole of “why” behind every answer.

Surgent is the minimalist genius of the trio. With its A.S.A.P.® Technology and ReadySCORE™, it strips down your study time and keeps you laser-focused on your weak spots. Think: quality over quantity, and tech over tradition.

Verdict: Choose Gleim if you want to master every nuance and aren’t worried about study hours. Opt for Surgent if time is tight and you want to work smarter, not longer.

Surgent vs. Becker CMA

Surgent is the tech innovator. The adaptive algorithm feels almost psychic—serving you exactly what you need, when you need it. But it’s lighter on personal coaching and lacks the deep polish of Becker.

Becker gives you a hybrid experience: the brains of adaptive tech with the heart of hands-on mentorship. Their Exam Day Ready℠ indicator is especially useful for anxious test-takers who want clear signs of progress.

Verdict: Choose Becker if you want structure and support baked into every step. Go with Surgent if you’re disciplined and prefer adaptive tech to hand-holding.

CMA Exam Academy vs. Becker

CMA Exam Academy is the king of hand-holding, in the best way. With unlimited coaching from real CMAs, structured weekly check-ins, and even an in-person exam rehearsal, this course is made for those who need accountability.

Becker offers coaching too (especially in their Pro package), but it leans more toward hybrid learners who want a balance of guidance and independence.

Verdict: CMA Exam Academy wins if you need more support and a fixed roadmap. Becker wins if you want flexibility without sacrificing premium tools and tutoring.

Surgent vs. CMA Exam Academy

Surgent focuses on efficiency. The AI-driven plan practically studies for you. It’s a dream for busy professionals who want to slash study time.

CMA Exam Academy focuses on support. The structure is rigorous and personal, and the weekly cadence is perfect if you need external motivation.

Verdict: If you’re a lone wolf who values tech and time, go with Surgent. If you crave coaching and a set routine, CMA Exam Academy is your match.

Gleim vs. CMA Exam Academy

Gleim provides raw horsepower—4,500+ MCQs, 130+ essays, and intense question explanations. Support exists, but it’s not the centerpiece.

CMA Exam Academy thrives on support, offering unlimited calls with CMA-certified mentors and a highly structured 16-week program.

Verdict: If you’re a self-paced power user, Gleim delivers. If you need a coach in your corner week after week, CMA Exam Academy is the better bet.

Becker vs. UWorld CMA

Becker emphasizes balance: adaptive tech, elite coaching, and realistic practice exams. Its content feels fresh, organized, and exam-day ready.

UWorld throws numbers at you—6,000+ MCQs, hours of video, and a massive flashcard set. But quality varies, especially after recent mergers, and the support structure is thin.

Verdict: Becker wins for cohesion and support. UWorld is for volume junkies who want to brute-force their way to a pass.

CMA Exam Academy vs. Hock

CMA Exam Academy offers a clear, supportive path to passing, with high-quality materials, personal coaching, and structured planning. It’s immersive and all-in.

Hock is a budget option with a choose-your-own-adventure model. The monthly plan is tempting for quick learners, but the content can be outdated and the support isn’t on par.

Verdict: If you want a full package with coaching and structure, go CMA Exam Academy. If you’re a confident DIY learner on a tight budget, Hock may suffice—but it’s a gamble.

Gleim vs. Zain Academy

Gleim is a powerhouse with a legacy of academic rigor. Its questions are challenging, and its explanations are comprehensive—perfect for deep, exam-style prep.

Zain Academy caters to budget-conscious international students. You’ll get lots of content (including 1,800+ true/false questions), but the support is inconsistent, and the materials feel self-published.

Verdict: Gleim wins on quality and exam realism. Zain works if you need an affordable intro to CMA prep, but it’s not built for thorough, exam-level mastery.

Conclusion

When it comes to the wide world of CMA prep courses, there are some serious competitors. However, Becker comes out on top thanks to its 60-year legacy, as well as features like its Adapt2U adaptive education technology and Exam Day Ready℠ Indicator.

Ultimately, though, they have roughly the same materials as some competitors, such as a similarly-sized question bank, video lecture hours, and other resources. However, it’s Becker’s quality and consistency that continue to put them at the top, year after year.

With so many great options, the key is finding the course that fits your learning style and budget. Whether you need personalized coaching or an adaptive, tech-driven course, there’s a perfect CMA prep option for you. Take your time, review the features, and invest in a course that will help you pass the CMA exam on your first try!

FAQ

What is the best CMA prep course overall?

Becker is the best overall CMA prep course for most candidates, pairing Adapt2U adaptive technology and the Newt AI assistant with a large question bank, strong 1-on-1 support, and a Pro package with live classes and a pass guarantee.

Which CMA prep course has the best question bank?

Gleim has the best CMA question bank, with 4,500+ multiple-choice questions and 130+ essays that closely match the real exam’s difficulty, plus SmartAdapt and detailed explanations.

Are there any CMA prep courses with a pass guarantee?

Yes. Becker, Gleim, and Surgent all offer pass guarantees, typically continued access or a refund if you don’t pass on your first attempt. Terms vary by provider and package.

Which CMA prep course offers the best coaching support?

CMA Exam Academy offers the most hands-on coaching, with unlimited 1-on-1 access to certified-CMA coaches and weekly check-ins, plus a structured 16-week plan.

What is the most affordable CMA prep course?

Surgent offers the best value among the top courses. For the lowest absolute cost, Hock’s month-to-month subscription and Zain Academy’s budget pricing are worth a look, though both offer fewer features.