As a commerce counsellor, one of the most common questions I hear from students is:
“Ma’am, should I do US CMA or CFA?”
“Which one gives better jobs in India?”
“Can I do both?”
And the honest answer is — it depends on YOU, not on which course is trending on Instagram or LinkedIn.
Both US CMA (Certified Management Accountant) and CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) are globally respected finance qualifications, but they are built for very different career paths.
In this blog, I’ll help you understand:
Before comparing cost or difficulty, understand this 👇
US CMA = Corporate Finance & Management
US CMA focuses on:
👉 US CMA prepares you for corporate finance roles inside companies.
CFA focuses on:
👉 CFA prepares you for investment-oriented roles in markets & finance firms.
📌 In simple terms:
US CMA = Inside the company
CFA = Inside the market
Let’s assume the scenario where a student must write all 13 papers:
• Initial Registration: approx £30
• Annual Subscription for 3 years approx £140 per year: approx £420
• Applied Knowledge Exams 3 papers: approx £300
• Applied Skills Exams 6 papers: approx £882
• Strategic Professional Exams 4 papers: approx £1,026
Total ACCA Cost Full Route
≈ £2,528
This is the standard benchmark number commonly used by ACCA training providers.
In INR terms assuming £1 ≈ ₹120, the total comes to:
₹3,00,000 to ₹3,50,000
This includes everything except retakes, forex charges, and optional coaching.
US CMA Eligibility
📌 Many Indian students start US CMA during or right after graduation.
📌 CFA is academically heavier and more theory-intensive.
US CMA Duration
📌 One of the fastest global finance qualifications.
📌 CFA is a marathon, not a sprint.
US CMA Cost in India
📌 Cost can reduce if registered through an approved learning partner.
CFA Cost in India
📌 Early registration saves money, but CFA remains a high-investment course.
Common roles:
Industries Hiring US CMA Professionals
📌 US CMA is highly valued in corporate roles, especially in India.
Common roles:
Industries Hiring CFA Professionals
📌 CFA is powerful, but entry into core roles takes time.
Example 1: Commerce Graduate from Jaipur
👉 For her, CFA would have been unnecessary stress.
Example 2: Finance-Loving B.Com Student
👉 CFA suited his interest, patience & long-term vision.
Yes — but only for a specific type of student.
Who Should Consider US CMA + CFA?
✔️ Strong finance interest
✔️ Long-term global career vision
✔️ Willing to invest time & money
✔️ Wants leadership + investment expertise
📌 Ideal sequence:
👉 US CMA first → CFA later
This builds:
❌ Students confused about career goals
❌ Those looking for “quick success”
❌ Students already overwhelmed academically
📌 Doing both without clarity leads to burnout & wasted money.
Choose US CMA if you want:
Choose CFA if you want:
Global investment exposure
There is no “better” course — only a better-suited course.
US CMA and CFA serve different purposes.
The right choice depends on:
📌 The biggest mistake students make is choosing based on peer pressure instead of planning.
Every student’s background is different.
👉 Connect with Career Coach Megha to get:
Megha Bhansali Classes offers expert ACCA coaching with a focus on concept clarity, interactive learning, and exam-oriented preparation. Led by Megha Bhansali, a Big 4-trained tutor, the institute provides personalized guidance, mock tests, and continuous student support. It also offers personality development courses to enhance communication, confidence, and leadership skills, shaping future finance professionals.
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