It is understandably hard for a student (without real working experience) to be sure which career path to take. They might be very interested in a subject but then when it comes to work, it could be a completely different experience. Not everyone has to have it all figured out or know exactly what career path they want to pursue while still working on their degree. Graduation is an important step in your career. But if you have a little idea about what is going on in the market, then only graduation is not all.
Yes, we are talking about your B. Com. You chose B. Com because you feel that you incline in business and commerce and, to be precise, accounting. But do you think completing your B. Com will give you an edge in accounting or business? You know that, right? Unfortunately, completing B. Com with a great score will not ensure success in an accounting career. You need to think farther, and you need to be on your edge.
When it comes to different career options for a commerce graduate, the most common careers after B. Com includes US CMA, MBA, M. Com, CA to name a few. Among these, US CMA is one such impressive international course in the field of management and accounting. Due to its wide acceptance, job opportunities, affordability, shorter duration, and higher pass rate, US CMA is one of the preferred career options during or after B. Com in comparison to other academic or professional courses. It has been observed that If we manage to complete CMA US with B.COM we will be able to earn at least 33.33% more than each non-certified accountant.
Some candidates decide not to take the exam early, and one of the main reasons is that they don’t know if the CMA US certification is going to be useful in their careers. If you have not completely mapped out what direction you want to go with your career yet, it may seem hard to justify all the work and study that goes into preparing for the CMA US exam, in the event that you may not need that certification at all. Many students are confused about whether to join CMA USA classes before or after graduation.
The Thinking Process
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Identify the Benefits of US CMA Certification
Your first step is to determine the benefits of obtaining this certification. We’ve talked about many of them here in this post. The benefits for students may vary from those for people already in the workforce. You need to determine if they are right for you before making your decision.
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Compare to Other Accounting Certifications
Next, most candidates will do a comparison with other accounting certifications to ensure this is really the one they want. If you are still a student, you may want to devote some time to this research in order to be sure you are choosing the certification that matches the career path you plan to take after graduation.
If you’ve made the decision that you want to take the US CMA exam and get your certification, but you’re still a student, how do you qualify with the IMA? If you are currently enrolled in an institution of learning and have not yet graduated, you just need to prove to the IMA that you’re a student. You need to be registered for at least 6 credits per semester during an academic year. Then you will send confirmation of your degree over to the IMA within 7 years of passing the CMA US exam.
The benefit is obvious if you choose to get into management accounting right after graduation. The exam syllabus goes deep on costing analysis, internal controls, corporate finance, and financial management, which are all interesting and practical for junior financial and business analysts. You will use this information on a regular basis for your new job. If you come straight out of college, into your CMA US certification and into a job, it’s going to give you a leg up in the workforce. It will also give you a possible preference over certain job positions and promotions when they become available.
Statistics have shown that people a CMA US certification can gain higher employment than those without doing the same jobs. BCom with CMA US enables the students to obtain substantial fundamental knowledge of various financial and management accounting subjects while pursuing BCom. However, Joining CMA USA classes after graduation comes with its own challenges, especially if you are a working professional. If you are still in college it is recommended to join CMA USA classes as early as possible.
Why Should You Take the US CMA Exam Early During the Academic Study?
According to data from IMA, 23.9% of CMA candidates globally are students. (Source: SF Magazine, August 2015). This means they are taking the exam early before they have graduated from their study program. Let’s check the benefits:
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Stronger Memory and Information Retention Capacity
It is quite well known that the ability to memorize and retain information is much better at a younger age. Most (but not all students) are young, as many people enter college right out of high school and at the start of their careers. If this is the case for you, it may be easier for you to learn and hold onto information you learn.
As we graduate, our book-smartness starts to depreciate, due to age as well as the fact that we have lots of things to take care of in our daily lives. Imagine the extra things you need to handle like a spouse, kids, loans, mortgage, household chores, bosses, colleagues, clients, and work projects. You won’t have many brain cells left for studying. This is why it’s much easier for students to take the exam while they are still fresh and free of these responsibilities.
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May complement or supplement with BCOM syllabus
Surely, the syllabus of CMA US is such that it will cover most parts of the BCOM syllabus of any university.
It is often easier to find mentors in the college environment, versus the commercial world where your future boss may or may not be as supportive. At the college level, many people are going through the same thing, or have just gone through the same thing, and they are willing to help you get a leg up in your own start to your career.
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IMA Membership and Exam Fees are Less
The IMA membership fee and exam fees are much lower for students than professionals. As long as you take at least 6 credit hours of courses in the last semester, you are qualified. Note that this discount will end once you graduate.
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A Chance for the IMA Scholarship
Another advantage of taking the CMA US exam as students is the eligibility for the IMA scholarship, which allows students to take the exam at no cost to them. For this, the student has to be nominated by the concerned college/University through proper application proforma to be sent to IMA. The tip in getting this scholarship is to take initiatives in IMA sponsored events at school, such as launching the IMA Student Chapter and taking part in the student case competition. If you are able to seek help from a mentor and build a long-lasting relationship during the process, that would be a great bonus as well.
You will not obtain the CMA US certification right after graduation, but you could reap the benefit simply by passing the exams. By mentioning the passing of the CMA US exam in your resume you will be able to talk about the process and impact during career interviews even if your graduation is not yet completed officially.
It is worth mentioning that you’ll have a chance to win the Priscilla C Payne award given only to student candidates. Again, you can only qualify for this award if you are still a student. This award is given to the candidate who achieves the highest score as a student in each teaching period. This is highly fascinating especially for any student candidates who are thinking about taking the exam early.
Summary
The benefit is obvious if you choose to get into management accounting right after or during the graduation. The exam syllabus goes deep on costing analysis, internal controls, corporate finance, and financial management, which are all interesting and practical for junior financial and business analysts. You will use this information on a regular basis for your new job. If you come straight out of college, into your CMA certification and into a job, it’s going to give you a leg up in the workforce. It will also give you a possible preference over certain job positions and promotions when they become available.
Statistics have shown that people with a CMA US certification can gain higher employment than those without doing the same jobs. To acquire CMA USA certification, it is not important to have a background in commerce or accounting. The best way to adopt a career in commerce is to get a professional certification in the respective subjects. Therefore, students who have done their 12th grade in any stream can take up CMA USA Course. An advantage of pursuing a CMA USA course as a student is that you will only be required to pay lower exam fees with IMA and it also has the advantage of attaining IMA scholarships.
All in all, the CMA US program helps bridge the gap between college and the professional world. This is just one more bonus or benefit to come to students who decide to take the exam early.
For Further Information/Assistance, Contact:
www.upliftprofessionals.in/CMA
