How we rank CMA courses
Our CMA pages are at an earlier stage than our CPA rankings, and we would rather say so than pretend otherwise. Here is what the current pages are based on, and what changes when hands-on testing is done.
What the CMA pages are based on today
Every CMA comparison currently uses each provider’s own published course details and list prices, checked in October 2026, plus official figures from IMA. We have not completed hands-on testing, so the review scores are editorial research scores built from published details and third-party review consensus, and the reviews make no claims about how a course feels to use.
What hands-on testing will add
Each course will be scored from 0 to 5 in five categories, adapted from our CPA rubric for the CMA’s format:
| Category | What we look at |
|---|---|
| Question bank | Volume, realism, and whether explanations change how you answer the next question |
| Case-based practice | How closely practice cases match the new exam format and interface |
| Teaching | Clarity and pacing of lectures and written material |
| Platform and mobile | Whether you can study properly on a phone, not just answer questions |
| Value for money | Cost per month of access, not the sticker price |
How affiliate money is handled
We do not currently earn a commission on any links, and commission would not decide which course fits which situation, and every comparison names when the other course is the better buy. No provider sees a page before it is published.
Keeping it current
Prices and packages change often, and the exam format changed in 2026. Each page states when its details were checked; if something has changed, the provider’s live checkout is the final word.