Certified Internal Auditor

The Certified Internal Auditor® is the only globally recognized certification for internal auditors.

The CIA® designation has been offered by The Institute of Internal Auditors since 1974. Over 185,000 internal auditors from more than 150 countries have been awarded with the CIA® title.

About the IIA

The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) was founded in 1941 in the United States and currently it is the internal audit profession's leader in standards, certification, education, research and technical guidance throightout the word. The IIA accounts more than 235,000 members.

Who is it for?

The CIA is a valuable certification for candidates building career in the following professional areas:

Internal Audit
Quality Assurance
Risk Management
Audit / Assessment / Disciplines
Compliance
External Audit
Internal Control

Why the CIA® Exam Is Changing?

The IIA’s Global Internal Audit Standards, effective in January 2025, guide the worldwide professional practice of internal auditing and serve as a basis for evaluating and elevating the quality of the internal audit function. The updated CIA® exam syllabus, and the exam content that is covered by the syllabi, are designed for alignment with the Global Internal Audit Standards.

The CIA exams

*Revised Certified Internal Auditor® (CIA®) Exam: Reflecting Modern Internal Audit Pracice

In order to become certified, candidates must pass all three exams
(Part 1, Part 2, Part 3)

CIA® Part 1: Internal Audit Fundamentals

Key topics:

Foundation of internal auditing (35%)
Ethics and professionalism (20%)
Governance, risk management, and control (30%)
Fraud risk (15%)

CIA® Part 2: Internal Audit Engagement

Key topics:

Engagement Planning (50%)
Information gathering, analysis and evaluation (40%)
Engagement supervision and communication (10%)

CIA® Part 3: Internal Audit Function

Key topics:

Internal audit operations (25%)
Internal audit plan (15%)
Quality of the internal audit function (15%)
Engagement results and monitoring (45%)

To assist Certified Internal Auditor® candidates, this page was created by IIA to provide answers to common questions candidates may have related to the syllabus and exam updates starting in 2025: https://www.theiia.org/en/certifications/cia/cia-2025/

All exams are computer-based. You can take the exam at a test center or from home.

CIA 1-2-3 course information

Courses include
Language
Schedule and price

Courses include

PwC’s Academy provides two courses that include:

CIA 1-2 exam techniques crash course prepare students for CIA exam 1 and 2, focusing on new IIA standards and internal audit operation.
CIA 3 exam techniques crash course prepare students for CIA exam 3, exploring internal audit related topics, such as finance, accounting and economics basics. ONLINE VIDEO VERSION SELF-PACED.

Courses can be taken separately. English multiple choice question lists/collections support and help students in preparation. After the course we follow up our students with regular information on exam tips.

Study materials*:

question bank of multiple choice questions (pdf)
tutor’s notes and exam tips
The International Professional Practices Framework (IPPF)
International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing
The IIA’s Code of Ethics

* We support our course with exam text book and other supplements from the trainer, however we do not provide study text book.

We expect students with an internal audit background and heavy self-study at home. It is recommended to take the exam within 2 weeks of completing the course.

Language

Language: English
Format: Live/Online

Schedule and price

Module 1-2:

Date: 4-5-6 and 11-12-13 November 2025
Duration: 3-3 days (8 hours every day at 9:00-16:30 CET)
Location: Online in English
Minimum number of participants: 12
Price: 1300 EUR / person + VAT (if applies)*

Module 3 - online, self-paced:

Location: online video module - available for purchase and viewing at any time
Price: 1000 EUR / person + VAT (if applies)*

*Price does not include any fees (application fee, exam fee, annual subscription).

Application and exam fee:

Member | Non member

Application 120 USD | 240 USD

Part 1 exam 310 USD | 445 USD

Part 2 exam 280 USD | 415 USD

Part 3 exam 280 USD | 415 USD

CIA Challenge Exam course information – a fast track to certification

The CIA® Challenge Exam for ACCA, CPA, CIMA graduates
How it works?
About the exam
Sign up
Schedule and price

The CIA® Challenge Exam for ACCA, CPA, CIMA graduates

For individuals who hold educational qualifications and professional certifications in accounting are eligible to take an expedited pathway to obtain the CIA® designation. They need to take one multiple choice exam.

How it works?

Application window: April – September.
First attempt testing windows: June, August, November or February
Once your application is approved, you have 180 days to register, schedule, and sit for the exam.

For retakers:

Registration and exam scheduling: all year.
Retake test windows: June, August, November or February.

About the exam

Consists of 150 multiple choice questions.
Takes 3 hours.
Available in English only.
Passing score required is at least 600 out of 750 points.
Available via online testing or at a testing center.
Exam fee for the IIA members is $1,255, for non-members is $1,625. This bundle includes:
- Application fee.
- Registration fee (exam try).
- Access to the CIA Challenge Exam Study Guide (1,000 practice questions) which is valid for 12 months from date of invitation.
- Access to the Global Internal Audit Standards® to help you prepare for the exam.

Sign up

Challenge Exam - join here

Schedule and price

Date: 3-6 June 2025
Price: 1200 EUR + VAT
Location: Online workshop, in English
Minimum number of participants: 12

Candidates should pre-register for the exam by themselves through IIA’s online Certification Candidate Management System (CCMS). They can choose a convenient date and take the computer based multiple-choice exams in English (14 languages) in the selected testing center. PwC support candidates in the exam preparation, however exam registration and related fees should be managed individually.

Trainer

Joseph Kassapis, CPA, CMA, CIA

Assurance expert with 20+ years of experience conducting forensic audits/investigations and collaborating with lawyers and prosecutors in a variety of legal cases. Previously he worked as a CFO and Finance Director in industry. Since 2001 Joseph has run preparatory courses for CPA, CMA, CFA and CIA exams. He is a global expert in teaching for multiple choice question (MCQ) examinations. His current focus is on CIA – thousands of hours, from Baltics and Russia to Balkans and Middle East. Joseph is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA).