Choosing the perfect CMA prep course for you can be difficult, stressful, and overwhelming. After all, many of these courses cost well into the thousands of dollars territory, and many offer no guarantee that you’ll even pass the CMA exam after investing such a huge chunk of change.
I’m going to help you get some clarification on one of the biggest prep providers in the industry through this CMA Exam Academy review. We’ll talk pricing, guarantees, coaching, question banks, format, structure, and more, all in a simple and easy-to-understand way. At the end of this article, you’ll know with absolute certainty whether or not CMA Exam Academy is one of the best CMA prep courses for you.
Key Takeaways
- Exceptional 1-on-1 Support: CMA Exam Academy offers over 99 hours of personalized coaching, providing more individual support than any other CMA prep course on the market.
- Structured Weekly Format: The course follows a 16-week format per exam part, with weekly modules that help students stay on track and avoid burnout.
- Comprehensive Resource Package: The program includes 4,000+ multiple-choice questions, 30+ essay questions, and both digital and print textbooks to provide extensive practice and study materials.
- Affordable, High-Value Pricing: Priced at $1,597 (on sale), this course offers significant value for the cost, including coaching that would otherwise cost nearly $5,000 if purchased separately.
- Money-Back Guarantee: With a 100% money-back guarantee, students have the security of knowing they can get a refund if the course doesn’t meet their needs.
Is CMA Exam Academy Right for You?
Choosing the best CMA prep course depends on your personal preferences, learning style, and budget.
Here’s a quick guide to help you decide:
- If you thrive with 1-on-1 support and accountability, then CMA Exam Academy is an excellent choice with 99+ hours of personalized coaching, weekly check-ins, and extensive guidance that keeps you on track.
- If a structured learning path helps you stay focused, then CMA Exam Academy’s weekly modules and 16-week format for each part of the exam create a reliable schedule that can prevent burnout and boost your productivity.
- If you value a money-back guarantee, then CMA Exam Academy stands out with its 100% pass guarantee, giving you peace of mind that you’re making a safe investment.
- If affordability is a top priority, then Surgent may be the better option with its competitive pricing, even if it lacks extensive tutoring and coaching sessions.
- If you’re looking for a large question bank and advanced learning technology, then Gleim is ideal, offering a vast number of practice questions and adaptive tools, though it provides limited personal support.
- If high-quality materials and a trusted reputation matter most, then Becker is known for top-tier resources and reliability, though it has fewer hours of personalized support compared to CMA Exam Academy.
- If you prefer a flexible, less-structured approach, then both Becker and Surgent may offer the adaptability that independent learners find appealing without the rigid weekly schedules of CMA Exam Academy.
Overview
Founder Nathan Liao, CMA, created CMA Exam Academy. As someone who successfully passed both parts of the CMA exam on his first try, he then helped over 80,000 students over the course of 10 years.
To me, the biggest difference between CMA Exam Academy and its competitors is its unparalleled levels of support. While not everyone has that 1-on-1 support, it can make a big difference for CMA candidates who thrive with structure and personalized coaching.
One successful student says,
“I passed both tests on my first attempt while working full time. It was a lot of studying over a year or so, but worth it. It has gotten me in the door for interviews.”
The Academy team offers one package combining instruction and study materials for parts 1 and 2.
16-Week Accelerator Program
| Feature | What’s Included |
|---|---|
| Price | $1,999 (On Sale for $1,597) |
| Access Duration | 24 Months |
| Learning Format | Weekly Module Releases |
| Personalized Support | 99 One-Hour Calls with Your CMA Coach Weekly Support Calls Weekly Check-Ins and Assignments 24-Hour Hotline |
| Practice Tests | Mock Exams |
| Test Bank | 4,000+ MCQs 30+ Essay Questions |
| Textbooks | Yes, Printed and Digital |
| Digital Flashcards | Yes, iOS and Android Mobile App |
| Video and Audio Lectures | Video Lectures Audio Lectures Whiteboard Explainer Videos |
| Guarantees | 100% Money-Back Guarantee (If You Don’t Pass on Your First Try) |
| Ideal For | The CMA Candidate Looking for Max Support and Structure |
Key Features
Now that you know what you’re getting with CMA Exam Academy, let’s dig deeper into some of their most essential features and specifications:
- One-on-One Coaching: Includes 99 one-hour sessions with certified CMA coaches, providing personalized support and tailored guidance throughout your study journey.
- Structured Weekly Modules: Each exam part is broken into a 16-week schedule, with new modules released weekly to keep you on track and avoid study burnout.
- Extensive Question Bank: Access to over 4,000 multiple-choice questions and 30+ essay questions with detailed answer explanations, offering thorough practice across all exam topics.
- Comprehensive Study Materials: Comes with both digital and printed textbooks, flashcards for mobile devices, and whiteboard explainer videos for visual learners.
- 24-Month Access and Money-Back Guarantee: Two years of course access plus a 100% money-back guarantee, ensuring flexibility and confidence in your investment.
Ultimately, the Academy is a lot like competitors in terms of the study materials offered. However, there are a few main areas where they shine, which we’ll discuss next.
CMA Exam Academy brings a few standout qualities to the table that set it apart from the many CMA prep providers out there:
- Dedicated Support
- Structured Learning Path
- Exceptional Value
Let’s take a closer look at each.
Dedicated Support
When it comes to personalized support, CMA Exam Academy goes above and beyond, offering over 99 hours of 1-on-1 assistance. Weekly support calls and accountability check-ins mean you’re never alone in your prep journey. Plus, each coach has earned their own CMA, so you’re learning from those who truly understand the path to certification.
Structured Learning Path
If you value guidance, you’ll likely appreciate CMA Exam Academy’s organized format. The course follows a 16-week structure for each exam part, allowing you to stay on track with weekly assignments and timed module releases. This setup is ideal for keeping you focused and avoiding burnout, providing a steady pace without overwhelming you with content all at once.
Exceptional Value
The value of CMA Exam Academy is hard to beat. Private coaching can easily reach $100 per hour, but with this course, you’re getting a similar level of support for a fraction of the price. For under half the cost of what you’d pay for just the coaching hours alone, you get access to both expert support and comprehensive materials.
CMA Exam Academy Discount
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Pros
- So. Much. Support: If coaching and tutoring matter to you, it’s difficult to go wrong with CMA Exam Academy. From weekly support calls to 99 one-hour sessions, you’ll never feel alone or stuck.
- Structure and Schedules: A structure that features weekly assignments can be a huge boon to accountability, as well as taking the guesswork out of your study plan.
- Amazing Value: You saw the math—the CMA academy is worth way more than what they’re charging, and you get to reap the benefits.
- Money-Back Guarantee: Even some of the biggest CMA course providers in the industry don’t offer such a generous guarantee. You get a 100% course refund if you don’t pass the CMA exam on your first try.
- Qualified Team Members: You’d think everyone on the team having the certification they’re teaching would be a bare minimum prerequisite, but it isn’t. Every instructor and coach here, however, has their own CMA.
Cons
- Overwhelmingly Structured: If you’re an independent learner, this course may feel suffocating with its rigid schedule and frequent assignments, leaving little room for flexibility or self-paced study.
- Pricey Investment: While the value is substantial, CMA Exam Academy’s cost is still higher than that of some competitors like Becker and Gleim, which could be a barrier for budget-conscious students.
- Time-Consuming: The intense commitment required—weekly sessions, frequent check-ins, and a substantial workload—may not be realistic for those balancing work, family, or other responsibilities.
CMA Exam Academy Course Comparisons
CMA Exam Academy vs Becker CMA Review
Becker is one of the biggest companies that future Certified Management Accountants turn to to earn their designation. Becker is the biggest for a reason: they’re trustworthy and reliable, and you know you’re getting the highest-quality materials from them.
Becker CMA offers 30+ more essay practice questions than the CMA Exam Academy review course, as well as Adapt2U, their adaptive learning technology. However, whereas the Academy offers over 99 hours of personalized coaching, Becker offers five success coaching sessions and five tutoring sessions for at least 89 fewer hours of support.
Bottom Line: Becker offers study materials that many think are of higher quality and are generally more trustworthy. However, Becker offers much less support than CMA Exam Academy.
CMA Exam Academy vs. Gleim CMA Review
Gleim CMA tends to be associated with their large, high-quality question banks, as well as their SmartAdapt™ Technology. Like Becker, they’re highly regarded, and it’s difficult to go wrong in choosing them. However, they offer very little personalized support outside of a few personal coaching sessions and the ability to send Q&A messages to accounting experts.
Naturally, the CMA Exam Academy review course yet again triumphs in terms of tutoring and coaching. However, Gleim is an excellent choice if you don’t need as much face-to-face assistance.
Bottom Line: CMA Exam Academy offers much more when it comes to 1-on-1 help, but they fall short in terms of their question banks and cutting-edge tech in comparison to Gleim.
CMA Exam Academy vs. Surgent CMA Review
Personally, I believe that Surgent CMA is one of my favorite prep courses due to its high quality, high pass rates, and shorter study time. Add in that they’re one of the most affordable options on the market, and you have a recipe for a fantastic choice.
However, that low price means that you’re getting very little in the way of coaching and tutoring—just two private coaching sessions total in their Ultimate Package.
Bottom Line: Surgent offers fantastic resources at a great price, at the cost of losing the personalized coaching offered by CMA Exam Academy.
CMA Exam Academy vs. UWorld CMA Review
UWorld CMA Review is best known for its strong practice questions and detailed answer explanations, which are especially helpful for candidates studying independently. The course is self-paced and streamlined, making it a solid option for students who are comfortable managing their own study schedule without ongoing coaching.
CMA Exam Academy, by contrast, is built around personalized support, offering extensive coaching and tutoring throughout the prep process. While it doesn’t match UWorld in terms of question volume or platform depth, it appeals to candidates who want consistent guidance and accountability.
Bottom Line: UWorld CMA Review is better suited for independent learners who want strong practice materials, while CMA Exam Academy is a better fit for candidates who prioritize coaching and hands-on support.
Final Verdict
CMA Exam Academy is a solid choice, especially if comprehensive support is at the top of your wish list. Their standout feature is the level of guidance offered, with ample 1-on-1 time and accountability built into the program.
However, if flexibility and adaptability are more important to you than structured support, you might find a better fit with providers like Becker, Surgent, or Gleim. CMA Exam Academy truly shines in catering to those who thrive on personalized involvement and consistent structure. If you’re that kind of learner, this course is worth considering—but as my fifth pick, it may not be the ideal fit for everyone.
FAQs
The program covers study materials for both parts of the CMA exam, including textbooks, flashcards, video lectures, mock exams, and over 4,000 practice questions.
You get access to the course for 24 months, which provides ample time to complete both parts of the CMA exam at your own pace.
Yes, CMA Exam Academy offers a 100% money-back guarantee, giving students confidence in the course’s effectiveness.
This course is ideal for students who prefer structured learning and personalized coaching, especially those who thrive with accountability and regular support.
No, CMA Exam Academy doesn’t offer live instruction. However, it does include pre-recorded video and audio lectures for flexible, on-demand learning.
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