CIA

About the Certification

The Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) is the leading global credential for internal auditors, offered by The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA). It is ideal for professionals in or moving into internal audit, risk, controls, governance, and compliance roles.

Who It's For

This certification is designed for individuals pursuing careers in:

• Internal audit
• Risk management
• Controls and governance
• Compliance

Certification Structure

The CIA certification consists of three parts:

• Essentials of Internal Auditing
• Practice of Internal Auditing
• Business Knowledge for Internal Auditing

Additionally, candidates must hold a degree and have relevant work experience.

Time and Cost

Completing the CIA certification typically takes 1–2 years.

Skills You'll Build

• Internal audit standards
• Risk and controls
• Governance
• Fraud awareness
• Data analytics

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Practicing CIAs are required to complete 40 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) hours annually.

Best Free Resources

• IIA — Internal Audit Resources

  Free guidance, standards, and webinars from The Institute of Internal Auditors. Some resources require free registration. Browse theiia.org resources.

• Gleim & Becker — Free Practice

  Free question banks and short trials for CIA and other certifications. Access free practice questions.

• Big 4 Free Webcasts (Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG)

  Free, CPE-eligible webcasts on audit, tax, accounting, and regulation. Register for sessions.

• Microsoft Learn — Excel & Power BI

  Free, self-paced training on essential analyst tools. Optional paid certification (PL-300) available. Start free training.

• Coursera & edX

  Thousands of university finance and accounting courses available to audit for free. Financial aid available for certificates. Explore courses.

See the full free-resource library

Get free CPE hours

Alternative Certifications

• ACCA

  The most popular global accountancy qualification, flexible and recognized worldwide.

• CPA

  The premier U.S. accounting license for audit, tax, and reporting.