Six Steps to Earning a Certification in Internal Auditing
Below are the six steps an internal auditor should review when making the decision to become certified in the profession.

Step 1: Decide Which Certification Is Right for You
The IIA's Certified Internal Auditor^® (CIA^®) certification is the only globally accepted designation for internal auditors. It is a four-part exam that remains the standard by which individuals demonstrate their comprehensive competence and professionalism in the internal auditing field.

The IIA also offers three specialty certifications: 1. Certification in Control Self-Assessment^® (CCSA^®); 2. Certified Government Auditing Professional^® (CGAP^®); and 3. Certified Financial Services Auditor^® (CFSA^®). Individuals may choose to take a specialty exam as credit for Part IV of the CIA exam or individuals who do not meet the CIA program education and experience eligibility requirements may wish to take one of the specialty certifications, which are one-part exams.

Step 2: Determine Your Eligibility and Skill Level
Each of The IIA certification programs has unique and specific education eligibility requirements that a candidate must meet to take the exam. In addition, you may want to assess your skill level by taking a practice test using the sample questions on the Web site. Although your score on a practice test will not necessarily indicate what your score would be on a certification exam, a practice test may assess your readiness and lets you know in what areas you need improvement. Click on exam links in Step 1 for more about eligibility requirements.

Step 3: Register for the Exam
The IIA's certification exams are now offered through computer-based testing, year-round at more than 500 locations worldwide.
Apply and register for the CIA exam.
Apply and register for the CGAP exam.
Apply and register for the CFSA exam.
Apply and register for the CCSA exam.

Step 4: Prepare for the Exam
You determine the method(s) in which you need to prepare for the exam. We provide you with a list of available resources for your consideration. Click on exam links in Step 1 to find preparation resources.

Step 5: Take the Test
With the transition to computer-based testing (CBT), The IIA's certification exams are administered through the worldwide network of Pearson VUE Testing Centers. The Pearson VUE network increases the availability of the exam from approximately 250 exam sites to over 500 exam sites. For more information on the testing experience, read the Candidate Handbook.

Step 6: Receive Your Certificate
Once you have passed the exam and met all other program requirements, your certificate will be issued to your local IIA institute for distribution.