Choosing the best CMA review course and study material is critical to passing the Certified Management Accountant exam. The best CMA review courses will help you pass the exam on your first try, so it’s worth doing some research to find the best fit. Thankfully, I’ve done all of the hard work for you!
Several established course providers offer CMA exam prep material, so you have lots of great courses to choose from. That being said, each course has its own strengths and weaknesses and is ideally suited for different learning styles.
For this post, I sat down and tested each course myself, testing everything from the course design / UX, volume and quality of the study materials, course access, customer support, price, and more!
After reading my reviews below, you should be able to identify the top 1-2 courses that match your learning style and budget. If you’re still unsure which course to go with, sign up for a free trial and test out your top courses yourself before making a decision.
Let’s dive in and find the best CMA review course for you!
CPAExamMaven has been featured in:
- Best Overall: Becker CMA Review
- Best Value: Gleim CMA Review
- Most Comprehensive: Gleim CMA Review
- Most Efficient: Surgent CMA Review
- Best Range for Different Learning Styles: Becker CMA Review
- Most Mobile-friendly: Surgent CMA Review
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Contents
- 1 Learn More About the Best CMA Review Courses in 2023!
- 2 Certified Management Accountant Exam FAQs
- 3 Conclusion
Learn More About the Best CMA Review Courses in 2023!
Best Overall and Biggest Range of Learning Styles: Becker CMA Review
Becker is best known for their flagship CPA course, but Becker CMA review is just as high-quality and is worth considering if you’re serious about passing the CMA exam.
Becker CMA review comes with over 4,000 practice questions, 76 practice essays & SkillMaster videos with step-by-step guides to each essay question, 500+ flashcards and simulated exams that replicate the CMA exam experience.
Becker’s Pro-level course also comes with printed textbooks, optional LiveOnline virtual classroom, 5 one-hour 1-on-1 tutoring sessions, printed textbooks and a 1 year CPE subscription!
What I like most about Becker CMA review is they offer the widest range of study materials and can truly cater to all learning styles.
That being said, Becker CMA review tends to be the most expensive CMA course on the market. To save you money, I’ve included links to the biggest Becker CMA review discounts that Becker has on offer.
Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons I see with Becker’s CMA review course:
Pros
- Variety of study materials
- 1-on-1 coaching sessions
- Proficiency tracking
- LiveOnline lecture option
- 1 year of CPE
Cons
- Can be expensive (without discounts)
- Tutoring, LiveOnline and CPE only come w/ Pro version
Bottom Line
Becker CMA Review is an excellent CMA review course with all of the bells and whistles you need to pass the CMA exam. Becker does cost more than most of the other CMA review courses, but you definitely get your money’s worth.
If you want a comprehensive course that matches your learning style and will get you to the finish line with confidence, give Becker’s CMA Review Pro course a try.
Becker CMA Review Coupons
Best Value and Most Comprehensive Review Course: Gleim CMA Review
Gleim is another established exam prep company with nearly 50 years of experience preparing accountants for a range of professional exams. Interesting side note, they also offer aviation and flight training, but you’re here to learn about their CMA course so enough of that.
Gleim CMA offers a comprehensive CMA review course with over 4,500 practice questions, 150 interactive practice essays, thorough textbooks and study materials, and more than 200 short video lessons to prepare you for the CMA exam.
That’s more than enough content to pass the CMA exam with flying colors (no pun intended!).
My favorite part about Gleim’s CMA review course is that they pair their huge practice library with Gleim’s SmartAdapt technology, which quizzes you on a lesson’s core concepts before each lesson. This streamlines your review process by focusing your efforts on the topics you need to improve on the most.
Finally, Gleim offers a nice personal touch of by assigning you with a personal counselor to guide you through the exam prep process, provide words of encouragement and help make sure that you stay on track with your study schedule.
Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons I see with Gleim’s CMA review course:
Pros
- BIGGEST test bank
- SmartAdapt technology saves time
- Detailed answer explanations
- Clean UX
- Access Until You Pass
- Personal Counselors
Cons
- Can be too overwhelming if you try to complete everything
- Premium-only access to videos and digital flashcards
- No Live Instruction
Bottom Line
Gleim has everything you need in a CMA review course and is an excellent option for self-studiers who want the flexibility to streamline their CMA review process where possible while taking a deeper dive in areas that need more attention. You likely won’t need to use all of the content and study material Gleim CMA review comes with, but it’s there if and when you need it.
Gleim CMA Coupons
Most Efficient and Mobile-Friendly CMA Course: Surgent CMA Review
Surgent CMA review’s AI-powered A.S.A.P. adaptive technology allows you to create a super-customized CMA review schedule that focuses your time and attention on the areas you need to study the most.
The IMA recommends 150-170 hours of studying is needed for each section of the CMA exam, while Surgent’s site suggests students only need an average of 61 hours. That huge time savings speaks to how efficiently the course actually is.
While Surgent is best known for their streamlined teaching approach, the course also comes with 3,945 practice questions, 65+ practice essays, E-books, unlimited practice tests, and their ReadySCORE tracker, which measures your exam readiness in realtime. Surgent’s Ultimate CMA Pass also comes with 60+ video lectures, printed textbooks and flashcards, and two 1-on-1 coaching sessions with a CMA exam expert.
What I like most about Surgent CMA review is that while they’re focused on being the most efficient CMA review course out there, they still offer an incredible amount of practice material and likely has more than you need to pass the CMA exam. Their course also tends to be more affordable than Becker or Gleim, so it’s an excellent value for what you get.
Pros
- Adaptive approach and A.S.A.P technology
- Unlimited access until you pass
- Efficient learning path
- Unlimited practice exams
- Mobile friendly access
Cons
- No live instruction option
- Less 1-on-1 tutoring than other courses
Bottom Line
Surgent CMA Review offers a highly-efficient yet comprehensive review course at an affordable price. Surgent is great for self-directed students that may already have some decent work experience to rely on and/or just need a CMA review course to prepare them for the exam as efficiently as possible.
Surgent CMA Discounts
Certified Management Accountant Exam FAQs
Where do I find the best CMA exam prep courses?
The Certified Management Accountant (CMA) is a credential for accounting professionals. CMAs have to pass two tough exams and need prep courses to sail through them. However, with so many top-quality course materials available in the market, it might be tough to decide which one is best for you. To make it easy, focus on the reputation, pricing, company history, guarantees, and more.
While the Becker CMA Review is the best overall, others run a close second on various parameters. The most comprehensive course offering the highest value for money is Gleim, while the Surgent CMA Review comes out tops as the most efficient and mobile-friendly CMA Review.
Signup for a free trial to test the courses before arriving at a decision.
How should I prepare for the CMA exam?
The CMA exam is very tough by any standards and to crack the exam on the first attempt, here are some tips to help you achieve your goal.
- Select a CMA Review course to handhold you through the preparations. This is the critical part so you should choose one that fits your learning style. To be sure, select a course that offers various types of learning techniques, from video tutorials, textbooks, a test bank with practice questions, one-on-one interaction with instructors, and a study plan.
- Decide how long you need to prepare for the exam and block your time accordingly. Keep about 16 weeks of preparation for each part of the exam to be sure about cracking it on the first attempt.
- Create a favorable study atmosphere by removing any distractions, including your cell phone unless you are using it for learning. Sign out of social media, and declutter your desk.
All these will help you focus fully on studying for the CMA exam.
How can I become a CMA and where can I learn more about the program?
To become a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) you must earn a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university or get a professional certification. While CMA students come from various educational backgrounds, some of the typical degrees that help are finance, accounting, general business, and economics.
However, if you decide to get the CMA exam out of the way first you can do so and complete your graduation later in the stipulated subjects. You will also have to pay for an IMA Membership and join the CMA Program.
You can learn more about the CMA program from the website of the Institute of Management Accountants. It is one of the top and most prestigious associations for financial professionals offering the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designation. The goal of the IMA is to foster development and education in management accounting and finance, promote the highest ethics and business practices, and provide a platform for research. All particulars regarding the CMA certification can be had from the IMA.
You can also go through the websites of companies offering Review prep courses for the CMA exam for complete details concerning the sections of the exam, syllabus, type of questions, study time required, and more.
Conclusion
Still undecided on which CMA prep course to go with? Leave a comment or email us at csmith@cpaexammaven.com and we’ll help you figure out which course is best for your needs!