01
Master’s degree (or equivalent)
What you need to apply
Degree proof + government ID
Internal audit experience
1 year
Exams to pass
All 3 parts
Time limit
3 years
Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
The CIA is awarded by The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA). Your route depends on your education and experience. You can often start the exams first and complete the work experience later, but you only get certified once both are done.
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Quick view
01
A bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) is the standard entry requirement.
02
Students and people without a degree can start with the Internal Audit Practitioner (IAP) route.
03
Work experience is needed for certification, but you can sit the exams before you have it.
04
Active CAs can take a faster one-part Challenge Exam.
CIA Eligibility Comparison
| Your profile | What you need to apply | Internal audit experience | Exams to pass | Time limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master’s degree (or equivalent) | Degree proof + government ID | 1 year | All 3 parts | 3 years |
| Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent | Degree proof + government ID | 2 years | All 3 parts | 3 years |
| Active IAP holder | IAP certification + government ID | 5 years, or 1 year (master’s) / 2 years (bachelor’s) | Parts 2 and 3 (Part 1 waived) | 3 years |
| No degree, 5 years of internal audit experience | Government ID | None beyond the 5 years | All 3 parts | 3 years |
| College student / no degree | Government ID | Start with the IAP (equals CIA Part 1) | IAP exam first | 2 years for the IAP |
| Active CPA or CA from an IIA-approved body | Active Membership Proof, Letter of good standing(optional) + government ID | Not required | One-part Challenge Exam (150 questions, 180 minutes) | 3 years |
| Active CISA holder | Proof of good standing + government ID | Not required | One-part Challenge Exam | 3 years |
02
Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent
What you need to apply
Degree proof + government ID
Internal audit experience
2 years
Exams to pass
All 3 parts
Time limit
3 years
03
Active IAP holder
What you need to apply
IAP certification + government ID
Internal audit experience
5 years, or 1 year (master’s) / 2 years (bachelor’s)
Exams to pass
Parts 2 and 3 (Part 1 waived)
Time limit
3 years
04
No degree, 5 years of internal audit experience
What you need to apply
Government ID
Internal audit experience
None beyond the 5 years
Exams to pass
All 3 parts
Time limit
3 years
05
College student / no degree
What you need to apply
Government ID
Internal audit experience
Start with the IAP (equals CIA Part 1)
Exams to pass
IAP exam first
Time limit
2 years for the IAP
06
Active CPA or CA from an IIA-approved body
What you need to apply
Active Membership Proof, Letter of good standing(optional) + government ID
Internal audit experience
Not required
Exams to pass
One-part Challenge Exam (150 questions, 180 minutes)
Time limit
3 years
07
Active CISA holder
What you need to apply
Proof of good standing + government ID
Internal audit experience
Not required
Exams to pass
One-part Challenge Exam
Time limit
3 years
What Counts as Work Experience?
The IIA accepts experience in any of these areas:
01Internal audit
02Quality assurance
03Risk management
04Audit and assessment disciplines
05Compliance
06External audit
07Internal control
Documents You Will Need
01
Proof of education in any one of these forms: a degree copy or official transcripts, a letter from your university confirming the degree, or a letter from an academic evaluation service confirming your degree level.
02
Government-issued photo ID that is valid and not expired. A passport is the safest choice. Employee ID, college ID, and electronic or paper-printed IDs are not accepted.
03
Your name must match exactly across your ID, your IIA profile, and your exam booking.
Key Rules to Remember
01
You apply through the IIA’s CCMS portal. After you pay, you have 90 days to complete the application.
02
Once approved, you have 3 years to pass all parts and finish the experience requirement.
03
After you register for an exam, you have 180 days to take it.
04
A failed part can be retaken after 30 days, with a new registration and fee each time.
05
All fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.
CIA Challenge Exam for CAs
01
The IIA lists the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) among its approved bodies.
02
You take one multiple-choice exam instead of three parts, and no proof of experience is required.
03
Testing windows are February, June, September, and November.
04
There are no program or exam extensions for the Challenge Exam.
CIA
CIA Eligibility FAQs
Not the full CIA straight away, because it needs a degree or equivalent. You can start with the IAP, which has no degree requirement, and then move to the CIA once you meet the IIA’s education or experience rules.