www.theiia.org/en/promotions/certifications/qab/qab-cia-challenge-exam-india/

Members of one of the qualified accounting bodies, can take advantage of this rare opportunity to earn the Certified Internal Auditor® (CIA®) designation through an expedited process and join the more than 170,000 CIAs who have achieved this highly respected global certification. The Challenge Exam will include CIA content not already covered by your local accounting exam. In offering the Challenge Exam, The IIA continues to demonstrate the uniqueness of internal auditing as a profession and strengthens its strategic partnership with accounting bodies around the world.

The CIA Challenge exam is a condensed examination that consists of one examination with 150 objective type questions.

Yes; we expect it to be held every year.

The CIA Challenge Exam is conducted by the IIA Inc.

Candidates who are active members of one of the qualified accounting bodies are eligible. Former members and students are ineligible.

1. Association of International Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
2. Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
3. Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ)
4. Chartered Accountants Ireland Institute
5. Chartered Professional Accountants Canada (CPA Canada)
6. CPA Australia
7. Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA)
8. Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Ireland (CPA Ireland)
9. Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI)
10. Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)
11. Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS)
12. Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA)
13. Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA)
14. Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA)
15. Registro Oficial de Auditores de Cuentas (ROAC)
16. Saudi Organization for Certified Public Accountants (SOCPA)
17. South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA)
18. Information Systems Audit and Control Association

You can only take the Challenge Exam if you are an active member of one of the 17 qualified accounting bodies.

You will need to provide the following evidence of your active membership; a scanned copy of the CA certificate and a screen shot of the public registry (“trace a member”) indicating your membership with the qualified accounting body is still active.

No, only candidates from one of the 17 qualified accounting bodies may enroll in the CIA Challenge Exam. However, you may enroll in the traditional 3-part CIA program. Please refer to the CIA program eligibility requirements in the IIA India website or by clicking here.

Candidates who are currently enrolled in the CIA traditional 3-parts program can take the CIA Challenge exam. However, fees already paid for the 3-parts program are non-refundable / nor transferable. Therefore, candidates have to apply and register separately to take the CIA Challenge exam. Please open a new case in your CCMS profile to request inactivation of the 3-parts CIA program to enroll in the challenge exam.

You will be required to upload and present a valid government-issued ID – matching the name on your ID with the name on your web account profile and in your appointment confirmation email. Please ensure that you possess a valid ID at the time of taking your exam.

Acceptable forms of identification for those residing in India include; Aadhaar card, Indian Passport and Driver's license (only smart card). They must be presented in original at the time of exams and must be in English.

• Candidates must exhibit high moral and professional character and must submit a Character Reference by a CIA, CGAP, CCSA, CFSA, CRMA, QIAL, or the candidate's supervisor. This is done electronically in the Certification Candidate Management System (CCMS) during the application process.
• If there is no response from the candidate’s supervisor, they may update information in Certification Candidate Management System (CCMS) after 7 calendar days and resubmit. Please reach out to your supervisor if they have not completed the reference.
• It is highly recommended that applicants should initiate the character reference as early as possible and follow-up on their submission.

Kindly go through the following links

IIA India: (For IIA Members residing in India)
https://iiaindia.co/cia-challenge

IIA Global:
https://global.theiia.org/certification/challenge-exams/Pages/QAB-CIA-Challenge-Exam-IIA-India.aspx

Fees must be paid in full as per the table above. These are special prices applicable to IIA members residing in India. Fee includes CIA Challenge exam application fee, CIA challenge exam registration fee and exam preparation package.

No refunds, in part or whole, will be provided to candidates once the application for CIA Challenge exam is submitted.

• The fees for membership in India is INR 1,500 (one time) for registration and INR 4,000 annually (proportionate fees for Q2, Q3 & Q4 joining) plus applicable taxes (18% GST)
• Refer for https://iiaindia.co/member-subscription becoming a member.
• New members joining and taking the challenge exams will have the membership fee valid from payment date till March 31, 2022.

• Significant time saving available with the Challenge Exam (possible to clear in one sitting).
• Challenge Exam fee includes access to the study material also for the challenge exam which has to be separately purchased for the 3-parts exam, over and above the application / exam fees.
• Challenge Exam fee includes exam application fee, registration fee and exam preparation package (study material – online access to CCMS).

• Candidates will need to self-finance and may also consider personal financing options.
• Candidates may also check with their respective employers for any reimbursement / loan schemes they may have for continuous professional education / certification.

As part of the application bundle, candidates will receive a digital copy of the customized CIA Learning System from IIA Global. This has a bank of 1000 questions (150 earlier).

Candidates will also be provided links to trainings conducted by Singapore trainer in May 20 21. Refer Slide No.21.

Gleim has provided special rates to challenge candidates from India. Candidates are welcome to pay the discounted fees of US$ 50 for 60 days access to the Gleim data bank of 3000 questions. Links for access to Gleim is given below:

http://www.gleim.com/IIAIndiaChallenge
https://www.gleim.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ChallengeExamSyallabus_to_GleimCIA2021-1.pdf

There are training providers for the regular CIA 3-part examination. Candidates may contact them although the customized CIA Learning System should be adequate.

Once approved into the program, candidates will receive the email invitation for the CIA Learning System Study Guide within seven days from The IIA’s CIA Distribution Center with the subject line, “Action Required - Your IIA Online Access.” Candidates will need to activate the CIA Learning System separately. For questions or assistance with the CIA Learning System, please reach out to customercare@learncia.com in inquire further. The IPPF can be accessed here.

Kindly go through the link / embedded pdf below:
https://global.theiia.org/certification/challenge-exams/Documents/CIA-Challenge-Exam-for-CA-and-CPA.pdf

Candidates may also refer to the orientation training conducted in April 2021. The link for the same is as follows:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/5998511444188173320

Yes, you can download the material:

• You can download the ePub file. This is not printable. Once downloaded it belongs to the candidate with no expiration date.
• The license agreement states that the materials are only licensed to one individual user so you may download the study guide for only you to use for your personal study. We recommend downloading to a tablet device, such as an iPad. This material can only be downloaded once.
• You may also read all the content online while you are logged into the software. Online access which is valid for 1 year.
• There is also an online quiz with 150 practice questions.

Please follow the instructions below to download The IIA’s CIA Learning System e-book if you do not have an iPad or Android device:
Adobe Digital Editions 3.0 will allow you to view and read your ePub file on your computer. As part of the license agreement, the materials may NOT be printed or shared. They may only be downloaded one time and only used by the candidate who was issued the initial access.

• Install Adobe Digital Editions 3.0 to your computer. It is available for free, by clicking here: https://www.adobe.com/support/digitaleditions/downloads.html. Links to the installer are near the bottom of the page.
• After Adobe Digital Editions is installed on your computer, select the "ePub" version and open with Adobe Digital Editions 3.0.
• After the file opens in Adobe Digital Editions, go to the "Library" button and "Copy To Library."
• You will now be able to read the CIA Learning System E-book on your computer.

Note: please use Version 3.0 of Adobe Digital Editions. There have been numerous issues reported when learners try to use other versions.

Candidates must obtain a score of 600 or higher (out of 750) to pass the examination.

• Once approved for the CIA Challenge exam, candidates have 3 years to complete the program requirements and obtain their CIA certification.
• Unsuccessful candidates may retake the exam in one of the testing windows within the 3-year program window.
• There is a concessional fee US$ 595.25 for candidates from IIA members in India retaking the exam.
• There has to be a waiting period of 60 days between examination attempts

After your program and examination are reviewed you will obtain your CIA designation. This usually occurs within 7 business days after successfully passing the examination.

• After application & payment, candidates need to register for the exam and sit for the exam within 180 days of application approval & payment. Case to case exception will be available based on specific requests if the pandemic situation remains unpredictable.
• Individuals who do not complete their application in April or September 2023 will need to wait until the application cycle.
• Once your application is approved and payment is made, you can schedule your test at a PearsonVUE testing center via your CCMS profile by selecting “Access PearsonVUE”.
• Unsuccessful candidates may retake the exam in one of the testing windows within the 3-years of application and approval, after a minimum gap of 60 days, by paying the concessional fees of US$ 595.25.

Yes, you may find your local testing center by going to www.pearsonvue.com/iia/ and select “Find a test center”. After approved into the program and scheduling your examination the system will show the calendar of open available appointments.
Candidates are advised to check seat availability in a location of their choice well in advance.

You can access your score report approximately 24 hours after your exam by going to your CCMS profile and clicking Access PearsonVUE > view score reports.

Yes. IIA India can raise invoices on entities which offer registrations for 10 or more applicants for the challenge exam. GST would be charged in addition, so it is cost effective if input credit can be availed by the organization.

IIA India can also consider aggregating individual applicants who are comfortable with payment of Challenge exam fee with GST. Actions needed are as follows:

• Get approval from IIA India for individual registration with payment in INR. The prevailing currency rates communicated by IIA India will be final.
• Log into CCMS
• Apply into the CIA program and select the CIA Challenge Exam
• When they get to the payment screen select “Wire Payment” and complete the payment
• Provide the Order number to IIA India. If they do not capture the order ID, this can be found under the “My Orders” tab within the CCMS platform.

No. CIA is not an open book exam. Books / Study Material CANNOT be referred during the exams.

• Global Recognition: The CIA is the only globally recognized internal audit certification, and its value is appreciated across the world. Becoming a CIA and a member of the IIA allows you to multiply these benefits.
• Proficiency, Credibility & Improved Competencies: CIAs understand internal audit and develop competencies in internal auditing activities. The term “CIA” assures of a dedicated professional who is willing to invest in personal growth.
• Higher Income: As per various surveys, CIA certification enables the members to earn higher average income compared to non-certified peers, across all major economies.
• Job Opportunities: CIA makes more job opportunities available to you irrespective of your position or experience. As per the 2019 Robert Half Salary Guide, demand for internal auditors is increasing.
• GRC Expertise: The IIA curriculum ensures that CIAs can provide assurance on risk management, corporate governance, internal control, and operations in all kinds of businesses. These skill sets are in higher demand in the globalising economy.

Several institutions offer financing options to individuals, especially qualified professionals. Interested candidates may approach any one of them.
Bank of Baroda (BOB) has extended special terms to IIA members. Copy of their circular to the branches is attached. Interested members may contact their branches. Members can avail unsecured personal loan (not exceeding the course cost) up to Rs 1.5 lacs, repayable in 4 years, at an interest between 10.1 – 14.1%, depending upon their CIBIL score & BOB relationship.
Candidates should note that:

• IIA India will not guarantee any loans taken by the members. However, on request, IIA India can provide a letter informing any financial institution that he / she is a member of the institute and is planning to appear for the globally accredited CIA exam certification to become a qualified / certified internal auditor.
• Interested member can directly contact any of the banks / NBFCs for personal loans.
• It is up to the financial institution to decide if they will extend the concessional educational loans at lower interest.
• Members can check with their employer for any schemes available for educational support.

IIA India has conducted an awareness session for all registrants for the Challenge exam in April 2021 as well as trainings for the challenge exam in May 2021. Links to these sessions are as below:

1. https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/5998511444188173320 - April 24th
2. https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/3422619583558685711 - May 15th
3. https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/6218035538357256454 - May 22nd
4. https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/4337694733154681614 - May 29th

IIA India recommends that all candidates prepare very thoroughly for the Challenge to ensure that they clear at the first attempt since retakes are expensive.