Thinking of CIMA Certification: Program Overview
The CIMA Core Body of Knowledge is based on five knowledge domains that encompass 22 knowledge sections. The CIMA program is designed to fully prepare you to pass the CIMA certification exam.
Program Structure
The program has changed for any candidates applying after June 1st 2018.
Whereas previously the exam was in two parts, a Qualification exam and a Certification exam, the process has been updated to the following four stages.
1. Apply for Certification and submit to a background check
2. Complete an education program offered by one of the approved Registered Education Providers
3. Complete the 5 hour, computer-based Certification exam administered at local Pearson VUE testing centers
4. Pass a second background check, provide compliance disclosure, complete license agreement and pay initial certification fee.
Whether in person or online, you’ll learn to apply, process, and retain key CIMA financial advisory concepts. Here is a brief overview of the CIMA program and the areas it covers.
CIMA Program Topics:
| Exam Percentage | Domains | Sections |
| 15% | Fundamentals | Statistics and Methods, Applied Finance and Economics, Global Capital Markets |
| 20% | Investments | Vehicles, Equity, Fixed income, Alternative investments, Options/futures, Real assets |
| 20% | Portfolio Theory and Behavioral Finance | Portfolio theories and models, Behavioral finance, Investment philosophies and styles, Tools and strategies |
| 20% | Risk and Return | Attributes of risk, Risk measurements, Performance measurement and attribution |
| 25% | Portfolio Construction and Consulting Process | Ethics, Client discovery, Investment policy, Portfolio construction, Manager search and selection, Portfolio review and revisions |
These program specifics may vary in wording and order slightly, depending on the educational provider you choose.