Best CMA Review Course

CMA review courses are technology-led prep courses for the CMA examination. The professional management accounting certification exam comprises two parts, each four-hour long. Being a challenging exam, determining the best CMA review course may help you gain the necessary support to earn the title. 

You must appraise the individual course packages, prep technology, best feature, quality and quantity of study material, and pricing to make a mindful decision. The chosen prep course must complement your study needs, schedule, and budget. 

On that account, here lies a detailed discussion of the top five CMA prep course providers. Check out the pros and cons of each before picking the right exam prep partner!

Contents

1. Becker CMA Review
2. Surgent CMA Review
3. Gleim CMA Review
4. Wiley CMA Review
5. CMA Exam Academy Review

Impressive Content

Brief overview

Becker CMA Review has a reputation in the prep course industry backed by the trust of over one million CMA candidates. Being a strategic partner of the IMA (Institute of Management Accountants), its credibility is undisputed. It provides the perfect mix of modern technology and traditional learning methods to bring forth two review course packages: Advantage and Pro. 

Becker offers quality content, exceptional instructors, and user-friendly prep software with a personalized learning experience. Its exclusive Proficiency badge tracks your efficiency level in different sections. It pinpoints areas for improvement and reveals the topics you have mastered. Besides, with its large repository of practice questions, you have the option of creating any number of customized practice tests. 

Furthermore, it also offers upgraded content with complete coverage of the ICMA (Institute of Cost & Management Accountants) Learning Outcomes Statements. Besides, you have access to success coaches who mentor you throughout your CMA prep journey.

Becker has 4000+ multiple-choice questions (MCQs), 76 essay questions, 500+ flashcards, video lectures, simulated exams, LiveOnline classes, unlimited practice exams, SkillMaster videos, simulated exams, etc.

Pros

• Brilliant Adapt2U technology
• User-friendly interface
• Complete content coverage
• One-on-one live tutoring (Pro package)
• Unlimited access (Pro package)
• Experienced professional instructors

Cons

• Pricey
• No pass rate data

Frequently Ask Questions (FAQs)

Ideal Choice: It is best for students willing to spend over $1500 for a comprehensive course with upgraded content and other exclusive features. 

Focused Study Approach

Brief overview

Surgent CMA Review uses adaptive learning technology to design the shortest route to complete the CMA exam. It blends its award-winning A.S.A.P technology with AI-powered ReadySCORE to make you exam-ready within 70 hours.

The AI-enabled technology recommends customized study material to fill your knowledge gaps. It helps you study only the required content saving hundreds of hours of study. In addition, it develops a customized exam planner and reflects exactly when you are ready to ace the test.

It presents three review course packages with optional financing through Affirm: Essentials Pass, Premier Pass, and Ultimate Pass. Surgent claims that an average student concludes its program within 61 hours.

It comes with 3495+ MCQs, 65+ essay questions, 60+ short video lectures, and more exciting features. Like Becker, Surgent is also a strategic partner of IMA with upgraded study material. In addition, its mobile-friendliness ensures that you can study comfortably on the go. 

Pros

• Unlimited practice exams
• Adaptive technology
• Pass or money-back guarantee
• Relatively inexpensive 

Cons

• No live lectures
• Extremely short free trial period (3 days)

Frequently Ask Questions (FAQs)

Ideal Choice: It is best for students on the lookout for a targeted study approach adaptable to their schedule.  

Affordable, Trustworthy, and Comprehensive

Brief overview

Gleim leverages its 40+ years of industry experience to sustain its 99% satisfaction rate. It is chosen by over 300 universities for CMA exam preparation and recommended by 97% of Gleim students. Moreover, the prep course paves a custom-tailored learning path to ensure complete content coverage. 

Gleim approaches you with learning materials designed to build an in-depth understanding of management accounting concepts. At its core lies the SmartAdapt online platform that takes on the role of your personal exam tutor, identifying your strengths and weaknesses and guiding you through your studies until you get exam ready.

Besides, the content is presented in different formats like digital and printed textbooks, audio lectures, and unique instruction videos. Furthermore, it also offers constant personalized support through a team of accounting experts and personal coaches.

Gleim brings forth three review course products: Mega Test Bank, Traditional, and Premium. In addition, Gleim’s list of features includes exam quality MCQs, the best essay question bank, unlimited practice tests, a realistic test environment, in-depth answer clarifications, and a lot more. 

The higher-priced packages also include exclusive features like audio lectures, Gleim instruct video series, MCQ and essay walkthrough videos, final review mode, mock exams, digital flashcards, etc. If you are still doubtful, you can try out its free premium review demo and decide if it serves you right. 

Pros

• SmartAdapt technology
• Personalized counselors
• Large test bank
• Free Premium review demo
• Audio lectures
• Award-winning student support
• All-inclusive coverage

Cons

• Inept for students without an accounting background
• No live lectures
• Unlimited access only for Premium users

Frequently Ask Questions (FAQs)

Ideal Choice: It is best for students who want to try multiple learning styles and need personalized support. 

Results-driven Game Plan 

Brief overview

Wiley’s 200+ years of industry experience come with an 80% pass rate (almost double the global pass rate) on both CMA exam sections. It employs an award-winning adaptive learning platform that offers diagnostic exams, performance metrics, bite-sized lessons, and a personalized exam planner. 

Its Score Predictor gives you an idea of how well you are doing in each area by assessing your topic-wise performance. As a result, you identify and focus your efforts on parts that need greater attention, thereby reducing the prep time considerably.

It also provides one-on-one mentoring sessions for better student assistance. You can also enroll for live online instructor-led CMA classes held in 6-week series to clarify all your doubts.

Wiley offers two review product packages: Pro and Platinum. In addition, the Wiley CMA Review offers the largest set of 5500+ practice questions with brief explanations, 750+ digital flashcards, 66+ hours of online video lessons, and a lot more.

Pros

• Largest set of practice questions
• Unlimited access period for all packages
• Free 14-day trial period
• 11th-hour Final review with Platinum course
• Mobile app
• Free Microsoft Excel Course

Cons

• Live lessons only for Platinum users
• No audio lectures

Frequently Ask Questions (FAQs)

Ideal Choice: It is best for students or working professionals with a tight budget looking for a high-quality prep course. 

A Breath of Fresh Air

Brief overview

CMA Exam Academy offers a weekly-guided program with a two-part combo CMA review course. You can opt for an individual part review course as well. Founded by CMA coach Nathan Liao, it is backed by employees from leading firms. 

It utilizes a convenient 16-week study plan per part with weekly assignments and progress reports. It makes you exam-ready with less than 20 hours of a weekly study schedule. In addition, your training is released in weekly units in its members-only, private portal. 

CMA Exam Academy has notable features like 100+ micro-sized HD video lectures, an online test bank with 3000+ MCQs and 35+ essay questions with answers, exclusive weekly support calls, and a flashcards mobile app. It also offers a private CMA community to let you connect with fellow applicants.

Pros

• Audio lectures
• Excellent personalized coaching
• Pass or refund guarantee
• Free shipping worldwide
• In-person exam test drive 
• 1-year CPE subscription

Cons

• Limited practice questions
• No unlimited access

Frequently Ask Questions (FAQs)

Ideal Choice: It is best for students who wish to get just the right number of questions or are looking for a supplemental review course. 

Picking the best CMA review course in such a competitive marketplace is undoubtedly a tiring process. Thus, we hope that this guide helps you make the right decision. As mentioned above, each prep course provider has different benefits and drawbacks.

So, it all comes down to one question: what do you want? Evaluate your learning objectives, lifestyle, available study hours, budgetary preferences, and then make a move. Considering all these factors will keep you focused and make you choose the right card among the deck of prep course providers!

A Guide to Best CMA Review Course. Here we discuss the top five best CMA review courses like Becker, Surgent, Wiley, Gleim, and CMA exam academy with their pros & cons. You may also have a look at the below articles to compare CMA with other examinations –

• CPA vs CMA
• CFA vs CMA
• CMA vs ACCA