Career growth as an internal auditor comes as you specialize your knowledge and earn credentials that show your expertise. Since the international gold standard in this area is the Certified Internal Auditor® (CIA®) certification, obtaining this can make a big difference in reaching your career goals. To earn this prestigious credential, learn everything you need to know about the CIA Auditor Exam. We're sharing the format, topics, length, and how to pass so you can start your journey toward excelling on CIA Exam day.
Table of Contents
- What is the CIA Auditor Exam
- CIA Auditor Exam format
- CIA Auditor Exam topics
- CIA Auditor Exam length
- CIA Auditor Exam cost
- When to take the CIA Auditor Exam
- How to pass the CIA Auditor Exam
- Pass the CIA Auditor Exam with Becker
What is the CIA Auditor Exam
The CIA Auditor Exam is the three-part test that all CIA candidates must take and pass to earn their CIA certification. The Institute of Internal Auditors® (The IIA®) creates and administers the exam, which covers all the concepts vital for internal auditors to understand and offer in practice to their clients and organizations.
Passing the CIA Auditor Exam is a Certified Internal Auditor requirement, and you cannot become a CIA without it.
CIA Auditor Exam format
Starting January 2025, The IIA re-structured the three sections of the CIA Auditor Exam to stay relevant to and holistic with the profession’s needs.
This new exam structure, going live in May 2025, is:
- Part 1: Internal Audit Fundamentals
- Part 2: Internal Audit Engagement
- Part 3: Internal Audit Function
Like the old version, the new exam format is still broken up into three parts, each focusing on a specific set of internal auditing concepts. Likewise, the CIA Audit Exam is still composed on entirely multiple-choice questions.
- Part 1: 125 questions
- Part 2: 100 questions
- Part 3: 100 questions
CIA Auditor Exam topics
Each part of the CIA Auditor Exam focuses on a different subject area essential to the practice of internal auditing. Within that concept area, the test dives deeper into specific scenarios and questions, as defined by The IIA’s CIA Exam syllabi.1 Below are the outlined topics in each exam Part’s sections.
- Part 1: Internal Audit Fundamentals
- Section A: Foundations of Internal Auditing (35%)
- Section B: Ethics and Professionalism (20%)
- Section C: Governance, Risk Management, and Control (30%)
- Section D: Fraud Risks (15%)
- Part 2: Internal Audit Engagement
- Section A: Engagement Planning (50%)
- Section B: Information Gathering, Analysis, and Evaluation (40%)
- Section C: Engagement Supervision and Communication (10%)
- Part 3: Internal Audit Function
- Section A: Internal Audit Operations (25%)
- Section B: Internal Audit Plan (15%)
- Section C: Quality of the Internal Audit Function (15%)
- Section D: Engagement Results and Monitoring (45%)
CIA Auditor Exam length
From the time that you join the CIA program with The IIA, you’ll have three years to pass all parts of the CIA Audit Exam and complete the experience requirement for your certification. For each exam part, you’ll have:
- Part 1: 150 minutes (2.5 hours)
- Part 2: 120 minutes (2 hours)
- Part 3: 120 minutes (2 hours)
CIA Auditor Exam cost
To sit for the CIA Auditor Exam, you must pay both an application fee and a separate exam fee for each part.2
CIA Auditor Exam fees | |||
Member of The IIA | Non-member | Student | |
CIA Exam application | $120 | $240 | $65 |
CIA Exam Part 1 | $310 | $445 | $245 |
CIA Exam Part 2 | $280 | $415 | $215 |
CIA Exam Part 3 | $280 | $415 | $215 |
It's important to understand that you must pay the exam fee for each part, every time you sit for the exam—even if you're only retaking a failed exam part. In this light, while you may be hesitant to put extra money toward a CIA Exam Review course, it's well worth the investment. A great review course exponentially increases your chances of passing the first time. Not only do you save yourself the discouragement of failure and headache of retaking the exam, but you also gain a return on investment by avoiding duplicate exam fees.
When to take the CIA Auditor Exam
When you sit for the CIA Audit Exam is, in part, up to you. Before you sit for the exam, you must be part of The IIA’s CIA program and have met at least one of the internal auditor requirements needed for entry:
- A master’s degree
- A bachelor’s degree
- A qualifying professional auditing designation
- 5+ years of experience as an internal auditor
- Enrollment as a student in your final year of university
- You may apply for a professional auditing designation at this stage in your education. Earning the designation will then grant you the ability to join the CIA program and relieve you of having to take and pass Part 1 of the CIA Exam. However, you can’t earn your full CIA credential until after completing your degree.
Once you’ve become a CIA candidate with The IIA, however, you can schedule your CIA Auditor Exam whenever you’re ready. Exam dates are available throughout the year and you can choose to take the separate exam parts in whatever order you choose.3 In other words, you can start with Part 2, then take Part 1, and finally, Part 3; or 1, 2, and then 3; or any other order that you think will bring you the most success.
How to pass the CIA Auditor Exam
When you take the CIA Auditor Exam, the questions that you answer correctly will be converted into a scaled scoring system ranging from 250 to a maximum 750 points. To pass, you must earn at least 600 points on each exam part.4
You can explore these specific tips to pass the CIA Exam. However, passing the CIA Audit Exam really boils to this: preparation!
Even if you’re an experienced internal audit professional, it’s vital that you dedicate time to study both the content and format of the exam.
- Reviewing the exam syllabus and exact concepts you’ll see on the exam will ensure that you refresh your knowledge and grow in the areas where you aren’t yet experienced.
- By getting comfortable with multiple-choice questions, you’ll perform to the best of your abilities.
Pass the CIA Auditor Exam with Becker
Becker—The IIA CIA Exam Review course is coming in March 2025!
We’ve partnered with The IIA to migrate The IIA’s CIA Exam review to Becker’s platform, rolling out an updated course experience that’s optimized for the new CIA Auditor Exam. Our curriculum experts worked with The IIA to leverage our 60+ years of professional exam review experience with content from the team who wrote the exam itself.
Becker—The IIA’s CIA Exam Review provides the best choice to help you pass the exam the first time. It includes:
- Engaging video lectures designed around exam content
- Practice multiple choice questions
- Simulated Exams
- Academic support team
- Expert and experienced instructors
- Personalized study planner