After paying, you have 180 days to take the exam, with a one-time 75-day extension available (never beyond your program expiry)
Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
The Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) is awarded by The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA). The IIA describes it as the only globally recognized internal audit certification available since 1974. It has more than 220,000 CIAs in 170 countries, and the IIA itself has more than 245,000 members.
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Exam snapshot
01
3 parts: 125, 100 and 100 questions
02
Passing score: 600 on a 250–750 scale, for each part
03
No penalty for incorrect answers
04
Official results within three weeks of your exam date
CIA Exam Structure and Syllabus
| Part | Questions / time | Syllabus sections (weightage) |
|---|---|---|
Part 1Internal Audit Fundamentals | 125 questions / 150 minutes |
|
Part 2Internal Audit Engagement | 100 questions / 120 minutes |
|
Part 3Internal Audit Function | 100 questions / 120 minutes |
|
Note: Information is based on official IIA publications as of October 2026.
IIA Exam Fees
01
Application
Member$120
Non-member$240
02
Part 1
Member$310
Non-member$445
03
Part 2 and Part 3
Member$280
Non-member$415
each
Pricing may differ in countries served through IIA national institutes. All fees are non-refundable and non-transferable
Scoring and Results
01
Raw scores are converted to a 250–750 scale, and 600 or higher passes
02
A passing report shows only “pass”. A failing report shows a numeric score and the syllabus areas to improve
03
Since 1 April 2026, the IIA gives no immediate unofficial score. You receive your official result within three weeks of your exam date
04
The IIA’s latest published global pass rates are 44% for Part 1, 48% for Part 2 and 56% for Part 3. They cover all countries and languages and are updated annually
Scheduling and Retakes
Test centers are open throughout the year, so there are no fixed exam dates. Walk-ins are not accepted, so book through CCMS
You can reschedule up to 48 hours before your appointment, with a US $75 Pearson VUE fee each time
You can take the exam up to eight times during your program window. A failed part can be retaken after 30 days with a new registration and fee
Exam-Day Rules
01
Arrive at least 30 minutes early, or you may be turned away
02
Carry a valid government-issued photo ID that matches your IIA profile. Employee and college IDs are not accepted, and a fingerprint may be required
03
There are no scheduled breaks. Time spent on a break counts toward your exam time
04
You must accept the IIA’s non-disclosure agreement before the exam starts
05
Sessions are monitored with audio and video recording
Exam Languages
01Arabic
02Simplified Chinese (mainland China only)
03Traditional Chinese
04English
05French
06German
07Japanese
08Korean
09Polish
10Portuguese
11Russian
12Spanish
13Thai
14Turkish
Vietnamese is available from 28 August 2026
How to Prepare for the CIA Exam
Training aligned to the IIA’s current CIA syllabus, covering all three parts
Live and recorded classes, study material, mock tests, doubt support and one-to-one mentoring
A study plan built around the three exam parts and your 180-day exam registration window
Counselling on eligibility, registration and exam scheduling