The CMA certification is one of the most difficult certifications to get, period. Over the span of 6 hours, you can consider yourself lucky if you are among the 45% to pass the CMA exam (yes, less than half).
But if you don’t want to chalk it up to luck alone, that means you’re going to have to hit the books! Luckily, there are also plenty of CMA review courses that can serve as your secret weapon to help you succeed.
I’m going to talk about one of the most popular options, the Surgent CMA Review course catalog, to help you decide whether it’s right for you.
Key Takeaways
- Comprehensive Study Materials: Surgent offers over 4,000 multiple choice questions, 65+ essay questions, video lectures, and PDF/printed textbooks across all course options.
- Adaptive Learning with ReadySCORE™: ReadySCORE™ technology assesses your exam readiness and provides personalized feedback to help you focus on areas needing improvement.
- Flexible Course Options: Choose from three course tiers: Ultimate, Premier, and Essentials Pass, each catering to different learning styles and budgets.
- Pass Guarantee: Surgent offers a 100% money-back pass guarantee on every CMA package, providing confidence and security for students investing in the course.
- Higher Pass Rate in Less Time: With an 83% pass rate and an average of just 147 study hours, Surgent CMA Review helps you prepare efficiently compared to other courses.
Surgent CMA Review Course: Options and Information
Surgent offers 3 different CMA exam review course “passes,” all with a 100% money-back pass guarantee, easily the most generous guarantee in the industry:
Surgent CMA Review Ultimate Pass ($1,299):
The Ultimate Pass is Surgent’s top-tier offer to help students achieve CMA exam success. Leveraging Surgent’s cutting-edge technology, you’ll be able to access the best in exam preparation learning materials: over 60 video lectures, 4,000+ and 65+ multiple choice and essay questions, unlimited practice exams, printed flashcards, printed and PDF textbooks, two private virtual coaching sessions, and unlimited course access until you pass the CMA exam.
Further, the ReadySCORE™ proprietary predictive AI technology helps you assess your progress and exam readiness by subject, question type, and cumulatively. This is my favorite aspect of Surgent’s courses!
Surgent CMA Review Premier Pass ($799):
The primary difference between the Premier Pass and the Ultimate Pass is that with the Premier Pass, you aren’t going to get the virtual coaching sessions or the printed study materials. If you do best with an independent study plan, the Premier Pass is an excellent choice–and compared to the rest of the CMA exam prep market, the pricing is extremely reasonable. CMA candidates may not get the same level of support as they would from a more expensive program, but different learning styles need different things, so this could be perfect for you.
However, the Premier Pass offers course access for 24 months, whereas the Ultimate Pass offers unlimited course access.
Surgent CMA Review Essentials Pass ($699):
The single difference between the Essentials Pass and the Review Pass is the video lectures. This is a topic of its own, but briefly, VARK is the acronym for personalized learning style types: visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic. If you are a visual or auditory learner, the video lectures are non-negotiable, and it will be worth it to spend the extra $100. (If you’re not sure which one you are, there are plenty of free quizzes you can take online to help you identify your style!)
However, if you’re a reading/writing learner, grab the Essentials Pass and save that extra money for a rainy day. Further, the Essentials Pass only offers course access for 18 months (as opposed to the Ultimate Pass’s unlimited access and the Premier Pass’s 24-month access).
Surgent CMA Course Standard Features
We’ve discussed some of the core features of Surgent’s courses, but let’s dig a little deeper. This section will cover the resources you get in every pass package, regardless of which of the three you choose.
Study Materials
- Full Course Bundle: You’ll get access to 4,000+ multiple-choice questions and 65+ essay questions. Plus, you’re not just going to get a “right or wrong.” The rationale behind each correct response will be explained, so you actually, you know, learn!
- Unlimited Practice Exams: The Surgent exam prep mirrors the real CMA exam to help you practice what you’ve learned. The practice exam data is then transferred to your ReadySCORE™ (the adaptive learning technology Surgent uses to measure exam readiness). So, not only will you learn how you performed on a set of practice questions, you’ll also learn the areas of study where you need to improve.
- PDF Textbooks: Tired of lugging around clunky textbooks that cost an arm and a leg? All Surgent CMA Review courses come with PDF textbooks for accessible learning materials you can carry on the little computer in your pocket.
Unique Features and Benefits
- Adaptive Learning Technology: Surgent’s commitment to student success is revealed in their proprietary predictive AI technology tool, ReadySCORE™. It’s a fan favorite of Surgent CMA Review course students, as it helps them identify their strengths and weaknesses, and ultimately, helps students pass the CMA exam.
- Pass Guarantee: Every Surgent CMA review course offers the guarantee that if you don’t pass the CMA exam on your first try, you’ll receive a full refund for the review course you chose. I do a LOT of research for my reviews, and this is easily the most generous 100% money-back guarantee I’ve seen.
- Surgent CMA Statistics: I wanted to put this right below the money-back guarantee benefit because I think it says a LOT about the company: Surgent’s CMA course suite sports a 83% pass rate. And, whereas the Institute of Management Accountants says the average CMA candidate has to study nearly 300 hours to succeed on exam day, Surgent students pass in 147 hours of study on average. That’s 153 hours you’re saving on CMA exam prep to spend doing… well, NOT that!
- Free Automatic Content Updates: The world of management accounting is ever-evolving. That’s why Surgent offers regular content updates for free, guided by strategic partner collaboration. Their primary strategic partner is, of course, the Institute of Management Accountants themselves (the board that offers CMA certification). They’ve also joined forces with dozens of state societies, state and federal agencies, and national associations to maintain up-to-date study materials for accurate exam readiness. Consider the entire CMA exam syllabus covered.
Surgent CMA Course Premium Features
If you’re serious about becoming a certified management accountant, it may be worth it to pay more for the premium features you’ll find in the Ultimate Pass:
- Access Until You Pass: The Premier and Essentials passes give you access for 24 and 18 months, respectively. This is not true of the Ultimate Pass. If you’re not the best test taker or just don’t have very much time, the “access until you pass” feature may be extremely valuable to you.
- Two Private Virtual Coaching Sessions: There’s a lot of talk about adaptive learning and adaptive technology in the CMA exam review space, but sometimes, there’s nothing like learning from a management accounting expert who’s passed the real CMA exam themselves. This is probably the biggest premium benefit of the Ultimate Pass.
- 55+ Video Lectures: Amplify your CMA exam study sessions with over 55 videos in either the Ultimate or Premier Passes. The actual exam is definitely passable without video content, but let’s face it: a test bank alone just isn’t as helpful as videos that provide additional insight into those practice questions for the CMA candidate looking to not just pass but become truly exam-ready.
- Printed Study Materials: Digital is great. It’s convenient, inexpensive, and easily accessible. That being said, I know plenty of people who need the “real thing.” Personalized learning isn’t all study plan strategies and learning styles: sometimes, it’s about using what works. That’s why printed flashcards and physical textbooks are included in the Ultimate Pass.
Pros
- Cutting-Edge Affordability: From their ReadySCORE™ software to their adaptive learning and study strategies, Surgent loves to push the barriers of technology in the CMA exam prep space. And even though they have this high-level tech, the price doesn’t reflect it at all. Surgent goes above and beyond to offer the best in the business at one of the lowest price points–and that is a MASSIVE advantage in my book. You’re getting more, you’re getting better, and you’re paying less.
- ReadySCORE™ Rocks: As I’ve mentioned before, adaptive learning technology isn’t a new concept in this space–but it seems like ReadySCORE™ takes the cake for the best. Because after all, how useful are those unlimited practice exams when you can’t learn from the results? Exam preparation is stressful enough. This software helps you develop an actual strategy to achieve your goal of becoming a certified management accountant in no time, and students agree with its accuracy.
According to Shane Smith, “Ready Scores were very accurate for me…like almost exact.”
And Kelly Preston, “I think the readiness scores are very predictive.” - Surgent Is… Just Wow: In my job, I see a LOT of statistics. Rarely do I see statistics as honest as an 83% pass rate for Surgent students, or as helpful as a 150-hour reduction in study time. Plus, they have one of the most generous money-back guarantees in the entire industry, and a massive list of trustworthy and relevant associates, like their strategic partner, the IMA (again, they are the association that CREATED the certified management accountant!). They’re an IRS-approved CE provider. And, don’t forget those free automatic content updates to keep your CMA exam study sessions relevant and up-to-date!
- “Just Right” Practice Exams: I’ve reviewed plenty of CMA exam prep resources, and a lot of them tend to have problems with their questions. For example, many find Hock’s resources to be too easy, whereas Wiley CMA (now merged with UWorld CMA Review courses) is known for being much more difficult. Surgent tends to have questions that are just a little bit harder than the real CMA exam, perfect to overprepare you just a little without wasting your precious time and energy.
- The Future is Now: Surgent seems genuinely committed to growth and progress. Obviously, ReadySCORE™ has been a huge success for them, and it’s pushed them to work even harder on more technological advancements for their CMA exam students. They’ve even launched a mobile app so you can take your learning on the go!
Cons
- The World’s Shortest Free Trial: I want you to imagine a free trial. How long does it last? You’re probably thinking somewhere between one week and one month. Meanwhile, even though Surgent has enough confidence in its product to have a 100% money-back guarantee, their free trial lasts an anti-climactic… three days. I couldn’t tell you why it’s so short, and I know it’s probably nit-picking, but that stood out to me as strange.
- Video Lectures Cost Extra: As mentioned before, other than the slight access length change, the only difference between the Essentials Pass and the Premier Pass are the 55+ video lectures for studying exam concepts. And, while the difference is only $100 (and you pay significantly more than $100 for 55 university lectures), it’s a little frustrating that they aren’t available for every package.
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Surgent CMA vs Competitors
Surgent CMA vs Becker
Becker is the “big dog” in the CMA exam world. However, their price tag reflects that. If you’re looking for a high-quality, more affordable alternative to Becker where you don’t need as much 1-on-1 support, Surgent is a fantastic choice.
Further, though both offer adaptive learning systems, Surgent’s seems to be the fan favorite due to its accuracy and ease of use.
Nevertheless, Becker beats Surgent with offers like 5 hour-long tutoring sessions and success coaching.
Surgent CMA vs Gleim
Unlike Surgent, which focuses heavily on adaptive technology, Gleim provides a more robust and time-tested approach to exam prep, albeit at a higher price.
Now, Surgent isn’t a bad option by any means. Many exam takers enjoy its ReadySCORE™ and streamlined learning process.
However, adaptive technology alone can’t replace the extensive resources, detailed explanations, and proven track record that Gleim brings to the table.
Surgent CMA vs Hock
Hock is the choice for fast-learning exam takers, as it runs on a monthly subscription model. So, the faster you learn, the less you pay.
However, for an exam as long and stressful as the CMA exam, it pays to have more time–and more importantly, it pays to minimize stress.
Further, while Hock is serviceable (the word I’ve heard used the most is “adequate” which feels simultaneously accurate yet a little scathing) Surgent is just more reliable, with the statistics to prove it.
Surgent CMA vs. UWorld CMA Review
Surgent CMA is known for its adaptive learning technology and relatively low price, which makes it appealing to candidates who want a faster, more efficient study process.
UWorld CMA Review takes a more traditional approach, focusing on thorough content coverage and detailed answer explanations. While it doesn’t lean as heavily on adaptive tech, its practice questions tend to be more in-depth.
In short, Surgent prioritizes efficiency and speed, while UWorld CMA Review places more emphasis on depth and explanation, making it a better fit for candidates who want to fully work through the material rather than rush through it.
Final Verdict
Ultimately, Surgent is more affordable than nearly all of its competitors, but you wouldn’t be able to tell by the quality of its cutting-edge technology, “just right” difficulty practice exams, comprehensive question banks, and thorough video lectures.
I firmly believe Surgent is one of the best choices for the self-study CMA candidate who prefers to work alone at their own pace.
FAQS
The Ultimate Pass is Surgent’s top-tier CMA exam prep package. It includes over 60 video lectures, 4,000+ multiple choice and essay questions, unlimited practice exams, printed flashcards, PDF and printed textbooks, two private virtual coaching sessions, and unlimited course access until you pass the exam. Additionally, it features ReadySCORE™, an AI-driven tool to assess your exam readiness.
ReadySCORE™ is a proprietary AI tool that measures your exam readiness by evaluating your performance across different subjects and question types. It provides detailed feedback on areas that need improvement, helping you focus on your weak spots and efficiently prepare for the exam.
The primary difference is that the Premier Pass includes 55+ video lectures and has 24 months of access, whereas the Essentials Pass does not include video lectures and only provides 18 months of access. Both passes offer access to the same core study materials and practice questions.
Yes, Surgent offers a 100% money-back pass guarantee for all their CMA review courses. If you do not pass the exam on your first attempt, you are eligible for a full refund of the course fee. However, there are prerequisites for this, so if this is appealing to you, check out the full description here.
Surgent is more affordable than Becker and Gleim while still offering high-quality prep materials. While Becker offers more tutoring and support, Surgent’s adaptive ReadySCORE™ technology is highly praised. Gleim is the best for practice, which makes it my second favorite of the trio, but Surgent is a very strong third place winner!
