CIA recipients represent the elite members of the internal audit profession. To be eligible for the CIA exam, candidates must meet certain eligibility requirements to take the exam. The education and character requirements must be met before a candidate is approved to take the CIA exam. The professional experience requirement may be met before or after taking the CIA exam parts, but must be completed and submitted before a candidate can become certified and use the CIA designation.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent 3-year academic qualification plus 3 years’ relevant experience

OR

• An Honours degree or equivalent 4-year academic qualification plus 2 years’ relevant experience

The academic qualifications must be from an accredited tertiary institution. Relevant experience means experience in audit/assessment disciplines, including external auditing, quality assurance, compliance and internal control, or experience adjudged to be appropriate in an internal audit function. Candidates may apply and sit for the CIA exam prior to satisfying the professional experience requirement, but will not be certified until all program requirements have been met.

CHARACTER REFERENCE
CIA candidates must exhibit high moral and professional character and must submit a character reference from a responsible person such as a CIA, supervisor, manager, or educator.

MEMBERSHIP
Any person wishing to register to take part in the IIA SA CIA examination will have to be a fully paid-up member of IIA SA.