CIA vs CPA: Which certification is right for you?

An accounting degree sets you up with the background to go far in your career. But earning additional credentials will help you define a specialization, increase your income potential, and advance into leadership positions. 

If you work in auditing, two highly regarded professional credentials are the Certified Internal Auditor^® (CIA^®) certification and Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license. Compare the CIA vs CPA to help you decide which credential (or both?) will best help you reach your career goals. 

CIA vs CPA: What are they?

Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) 

The Certified Internal Auditor credential sets the standard for the practice of internal auditing. Governed and administered by The Institute of Internal Auditors^® (The IIA^®), it certifies auditors’ expertise in the area of internal auditing and ensures that all those with the title meet a set of rigorous professional standards. 

Earning your CIA certification requires that you demonstrate a deep understanding of internal auditing knowledge and skills by passing the CIA Exam and gaining industry experience. 

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) 

The Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license—arguably the best-known and most venerated accounting credential—certifies its holders’ expertise in all things accounting services. Covering accounting fundamentals, auditing, and tax areas, the CPA license sets you up for work in public accounting across specialties. 

The CPA license also requires that you understand and implement GAAP practices and external reporting processes, which are vital to public accounting and compliance. 

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CIA vs CPA: Career differences 

Both the CIA certification and CPA license give you the credentialing necessary to advance your auditing career. That said, when considering CIA vs CPA, there are significant career differences that you should understand. 

CIA professionals typically work as part of an organization’s internal finance team. Internal auditing focuses on reviewing processes within the company and improving efficiencies or fixing any incompliances before an external audit that needs to be publicly reported. As a CIA, you focus solely on your organization, understanding your market and industry, the company’s activities and financial management, and reporting and advising to internal decision-makers. 

CPAs, on the other hand, often work in public accounting—that is, for third-party accounting firms that provide services for many clients. If you’re a CPA working on the auditing team of a public firm, you’ll perform external audits for multiple different companies, which you then publicly report to stakeholders and entities like the SEC as part of their legal compliance. 

CIA vs CPA career trajectory 

While both CIA and CPA credentials offer benefits including more opportunities for growth and increased earning potential, the CIA certification equips you to focus solely on internal auditing and advance within this field. 

The CPA license, on the other hand, grants you more flexibility, enhancing and certifying your expertise in additional areas of accounting like taxes, public reporting, and information systems. Considering this aspect of CIA vs CPA, the CPA license may be a better choice for those who aren’t sure if they want to grow in auditing and would rather explore multiple areas to discover their specialization; while a CIA certification is key for professionals who know that they want to advance within internal auditing roles. 

CIA vs CPA requirements 

CIA requirements 

If you’re wondering how to become a CIA, you must follow a specific process and meet the requirements set by the certification’s governing body, The Institute of Internal Auditors^® (The IIA^®). 

1. Join the CIA Program through The IIA. You must meet one of the following requirements to join: 
   1. Hold a bachelor’s degree or higher 
   2. Be a student in your final year of university 
   3. Have five years of relevant experience, which can include quality assurance, risk management, external audit, internal audit, audit and assessment, compliance, and internal control 
   4. Hold a qualifying and active internal audit practitioner designation 
2. Pass the CIA Exam. 
   1. Understand the CIA Auditor Exam format, topics, and tips to pass. 
3. Meet CIA experience requirements.  
   1. Your level of education will determine how many years of experience you need to complete for certification: 
      1. If you hold a master’s degree or higher, you need one year of professional internal audit experience. 
      2. If you have a bachelor’s degree, you need two years of professional internal audit experience. 
          

CPA requirements 

Each State Board of Accountancy defines its own specific requirements for CPA licensure and it’s important to check with your Board to learn your state CPA requirements. 

However, you can understand the basic steps in how to become a CPA by learning the "three Es": 

• Education: You must complete your State Board of Accountancy’s education requirements, generally at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and 150 semester hours of coursework. 
• Exam: The CPA Exam is the key challenge that all candidates must overcome on their path to licensure. It consists of four separately taken parts: three Core sections, plus one Discipline section of your choosing. 
• Experience: You need at least one year of qualifying experience for CPA licensure, with some states requiring more. 
   

Is the CPA Exam harder than the CIA Exam? 

Both the CPA Exam and CIA Exam are challenging, meant to test candidates’ ability to provide relevant, quality services in the profession. However, they differ in scope and content. The CPA exam covers a wide range of accounting and business topics and requires a deep understanding of complex regulations and standards. The CIA exam, while rigorous, tests exclusively on internal auditing principles and practices. 

In this light, candidates often find the CPA Exam more demanding—it’s longer, more comprehensive across subject areas, and requires more extensive preparation. However, the difficulty of either exam can vary based on an individual's background, strengths, and professional experience, and both exams require that you invest time and effort to pass. 

CIA vs CPA: Which is better? 

There’s no one “right choice” in CIA vs CPA. In fact, many professionals end up earning both credentials during their career growth and advancement. But choosing between the two, or which to earn first, depends entirely upon your goals. 

If you know you want to grow a career within a single organization, performing internal audits and advancing into people leadership and executive financial positions, a CIA certification may be the ticket you to need to get on the right track. 

If you want to keep your options open, gain a broad spectrum of knowledge, and work in the public space, a CPA license will expand your opportunities and set you up for career-long success. 

It’s important to understand that, no matter which credential you choose, continuing to learn throughout your career and adding additional certifications to your resume is always a great option to advance in your specialization or pivot into a new one. 

Earn your credential with Becker 

Whether you choose to pursue CIA vs CPA, Becker is here to support your journey. 

We provide both CPA Exam Review and CIA Exam Review options so that you can earn the right credential for your career goals, with the most trusted exam review provider in the profession.