The Institute of Management Accountants said Monday the total number of candidates for its Certified Management Accountant credential grew a record 40 percent in the year ending June 30, 2017, reaching an all-time high of 41,000.
The CMA candidate pipeline for management accountants has been growing steadily in recent years, increasing at a 21 percent compound annual growth rate over the past five years, according to the IMA. In January of last year, the IMA reported more than 3,500 new professionals earned the CMA credential in 2015, the highest number in any fiscal year and a 17 percent increase over 2014 (see
The IMA’s total membership increased by 11 percent in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017, reaching 90,000. The IMA projects it will grow 100,000 members in time for its 100th anniversary in 2019.
“This growth represents the tremendous commitment that our volunteers, partners and staff make to support the profession, as well as the commitment our members make to advance their careers,” said IMA president and CEO Jeff Thomson in a statement. “We’re extremely proud of the success we’ve achieved and we look forward to reaching more milestones as we approach our 100th anniversary.”
The IMA invested millions of dollars in an advertising campaign featuring an accountant who receives a CMA tattoo. The ad campaign resulted in 26,000 new leads for the CMA program.
