What is CIA: Full Form, Course Duration, Admission 2025, Colleges, Salary & Scope

Parul ThapaAssistant Manager
CIA full form is Certified Internal Auditor. CIA is a certification which is recognised globally and is pursued by those who are aiming to become internal auditors. Internal auditors are company employees only who takes care of its financial position.
One becomes a CIA after passing CIA exams which are divided in Level 1, 2 and 3. If we talk about eligibility generally, candidates should have a UG degree and relevant professional experience for around 5 years without degree. Fees can range around INR 70,000 lakh to INR 90,000 lakh which includes fees for exam, coaching and also extra study tools/resources.
After passing exam, one can become Internal Auditor, Risk Consultant, Compliance Officer, etc. Candidates can work in KPMG, EY, Deloitte, PwC, etc.
CIA Course Details
Candidates can see detailed information about CIA below -
| Particulars |
Details |
|---|---|
| CIA Course Full Form |
CIA Full Form in Commerce is a Certified Internal Auditor |
| CIA in India Course Level |
Certification |
| CIA Course Duration |
6 months – 2 years |
| CIA Course Structure |
3 Parts: |
| Conducting Body |
Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) |
| CIA Course Eligibility |
Bachelor’s degree + relevant work experience (or 5 years work exp. without degree) |
| CIA Course Fees |
Approx. INR 70,000 – INR 90,000 |
| CIA Average Salary |
INR 7 - 10 LPA |
| CIA Job Profiles |
Internal Auditor, Risk Consultant, Compliance Officer, Audit Manager |
| CIA Top Recruiters |
KPMG, EY, Deloitte, PwC, Barclays, Citi, HDFC, TCS, Amazon, and MNCs |
Note: The info is taken from other sources and can be different.
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- CIA Eligibility & Admission
- CIA Exam Pattern
- CIA Course Syllabus
- CIA Career Scope
- CIA Courses: FAQs
- Popular CIA (Certified Internal Auditor) Colleges in India
- Popular Private CIA (Certified Internal Auditor) Colleges in India
CIA Eligibility & Admission
Candidates should know that eligibility can be different according to the courses. This is why they should check it. Failure to fulfill the eligibility can lead to cancellation of candidature.
Candidates can see the general outline of the eligibility below:
Courses |
Work Exp. |
|---|---|
|
PG degree |
12 months of internal audit experience or equivalent |
|
UG degree |
24 months of internal audit experience or equivalent |
|
Associate degree, three A-level certificates with a grade of C or higher, or equivalent |
60 months of internal audit experience or equivalent |
Character Reference: You must provide a character reference, typically from a CIA holder, supervisor, or professor.
CIA ID Requirements
Students can check out the table below for the listing the acceptable and unacceptable forms of ID -
| Acceptable Forms of ID | Unacceptable Forms of ID |
|---|---|
| Passport | Work Badge or Employee ID |
| Government-issued driver's license | Insurance card |
| Alien registration card | College or University ID |
| Military ID | Expired Photo ID |
| Government-issued local language ID | ID without photo/name/DOB |
CIA Certification Admission Process
Candidates can check a general overview below -
- Check the Eligibility and if you are fulfilling it
- Apply Online with the IIA
- Submit the Required Documents
- Get Approval
- Register & Schedule the Exam
- Pass All Exam Parts
- Complete Work Experience
- Receive the CIA Designation
Relevant Links for CIA Course:
Cost & Management Accounting course
Management Accounting Certification in India
You need to fill the form available online on google for CIA course, they are available throughout the year, firstly you have to create a CCMS profile, then you have to apply to the CIA programme, after that to have to upload the requisite documents, then register for the CIA exam, take the scheduled exam, after the result if you have cleared it you will become a CIA fees for it is rs 5928.56 for application, they will charge other then it for the exams, it was divided into three parts P1 - rs 14407.77, P2 - 11926. 05, P3 - 11926.05. You can find the CIA portal online and apply there.
CIA Exam Pattern
The CIA exam is done in an online mode which has MCQ type questions. It consists of 3 parts: Essentials of Internal Auditing, Practice of Internal Auditing and also Business Knowledge.
Candidates can see the exam pattern below -
| CIA Exam Part | Number of Questions | Exam Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1 - Essentials of Internal Auditing | 125 questions | 150 minutes |
| Part 2 - Practice of Internal Auditing | 100 questions | 120 minutes |
| Part 3 - Business Knowledge for Internal Auditing | 100 questions | 120 minutes |
Helpful Links for CIA Courses:
How to Schedule a CIA Exam?
Candidates can see the steps below -
- Create an IIA Global Account
- Submit Your CIA Application
- Pay the Exam Fees
- Receive Authorization to Test (ATT)
- Schedule with Pearson VUE
- Prepare for Exam
- Take the Exam
Important Exam Dates
| Dates | Upcoming Exam Dates |
|---|---|
| 01 Nov ' 25 - 15 Dec ' 25 | CGCUET 2026 Registration ONGOING |
| 16 Oct ' 25 - 15 Dec ' 25 | CSEET 2026 Registration- January Session ONGOING |
| 01 Dec ' 25 - 31 Jan ' 26 | ICSI CS Executive June 2026 Registration- Single Module ONGOING |
| 16 Dec ' 25 - 15 Feb ' 26 | CSEET 2026 Registration- June Session |
| 22 Dec ' 25 - 29 Dec ' 25 | ICSI CS Executive December 2025 Exam |
| 05 Jan ' 26 | CA Final Exam Jan 2026 Group I Paper 1 |
| 06 Jan ' 26 | CA Inter Jan 2026 Group I Paper 1 |
| Dates | Past Exam Dates |
|---|---|
| 09 Dec ' 25 | Christ University Entrance Test CUET 2026: Last date of Application (Non-ET) |
| 01 Dec ' 25 | Christ University Entrance Test CUET 2026 (ET Session 1) |
| 17 Nov ' 25 - 19 Nov ' 25 | CA Final Exam Registration Jan 2026 (with late fee) |
This is a well-respected certification from the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) in the USA, and you can take the exams right here in India at authorized centers. The certification involves passing three exams, all done on a computer at Pearson VUE centers in various cities across the country.
Below is an overview of the CIA exam pattern:
| CIA Exam Part | Number of Questions | Exam Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1 - Essentials of Internal Auditing | 125 questions | 150 minutes |
| Part 2 - Practice of Internal Auditing | 100 questions | 120 minutes |
| Part 3 - Business Knowledge for Internal Auditing | 100 questions | 120 minutes |
The Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) course equips professionals with a robust skill set necessary for effective internal auditing. These skills collectively enable CIAs to perform comprehensive and effective audits, contribute to organizational improvement, and uphold the standards of the internal auditing profession.
The purpose of the CIA exam is to identify candidates who meet the competencies in current internal audit practice. Therefore, candidates must have the following skill sets.
| Skills Required for the CIA Course | |
|---|---|
| Critical thinking | Analytical ability |
| Verbal communication | Research oriented |
CIA Course Syllabus
The CIA course syllabus for each part is given below -
| CIA Course Part I | |
|---|---|
| Foundations of Internal Auditing (15%) | Independence and Objectivity (15%) |
| Proficiency and Due Professional Care (18%) | Quality Assurance and Improvement Program (7%) |
| Fraud Risks (10%) | - |
| CIA Course Part II | |
| Managing the Internal Audit Activity (20%) | Planning the Engagement (20%) |
| Performing the Engagement (40%) | Communicating Engagement Results and Monitoring Progress (20%) |
| CIA Course Part III | |
| Business Acumen (35%) | Information Security (25%) |
| Information Technology (20%) | Financial Management (20%) |
CIA Course Fees
The CIA course fees structure for all the levels is given in the table below -
| CIA Course Fees | IIA Member | IIA Non-Member | Student |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | $115 | $230 | $65 |
| CIA Exam Fee - Part 1 | $280 | $395 | $230 |
| CIA Exam Fee - Part 2 | $230 | $345 | $180 |
| CIA Exam Fee - Part 3 | $230 | $345 | $180 |
Note: The fees is taken from the other sources and can be different. And to avail for 'Student' fees, candidates must have been enrolled for UG (at least 12 semesters) and PG (at least 9 hours) courses.
CIA Course Fees - Other Fees
The CIA course fee structure for other things is given in the table below -
| CIA Course Fees | IIA Member | IIA Non-Member |
|---|---|---|
| Registration Extension Fee | $100 | $100 |
| Exam Rescheduling/Cancellation Fee | $75 | $75 |
| One-time, 12-month certification program eligibility extension | $275 | $275 |
| CPE Reporting | NA (for North American members) | $120 |
| Reinstatement Fee | $100 | $250 |
Note: The fees is taken from the other sources and can be different.
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CIA syllabus is divided in 3 parts, for the first part, called "Foundations of Internal Auditing," you'll need to understand the basics of internal auditing, making sure auditors are independent and objective, doing your work professionally and carefully, having a system to check and improve the quality of audits, and knowing about fraud risks.
The second part, "Practice of Internal Auditing," focuses on how to actually do an audit. This includes managing the whole internal audit process, planning each specific audit, doing the audit work itself, and then sharing the results and keeping track of any improvements needed.
The third part of the CIA exam, "Business Knowledge for Internal Auditing," tests your broader understanding of the business world. This section focuses on four main areas: having a good grasp of general business principles (which makes up 35% of this part), understanding how to keep information safe (25%), knowing about information technology (20%), and being familiar with how finances are managed (also 20%). So, this part checks if you have the wider business knowledge needed to be an effective internal auditor.
CIA Career Scope
CIA course graduates are now in high demand because they contribute to key business functions including corporate governance, risk management, internal control, fraud detection and prevention, operations etc. Candidates who graduated from the CIA course can become internal auditors, internal auditing managers, auditors, chief internal auditors, quality assurance managers, internal audit directors and auditing managers.
CIA Jobs
Candidates can see the job options that they can choose from after completing the course below -
CIA Jobs |
Average Salary |
|---|---|
|
Internal Auditors |
INR 2.8 LPA - INR 14.6 LPA |
|
Internal Auditing Managers |
INR 4 LPA - INR 34 LPA |
|
Auditors |
INR 2.2 LPA - INR 11.4 LPA |
|
Chief Internal Auditors |
INR 15 LPA - INR 1 Crore |
|
Quality Assurance Managers |
INR 6 LPA - INR 36 LPA |
|
Auditing Managers |
INR 3 LPA - INR 30 LPA |
Note: This salary is taken from Ambitionbox.com.
CIA Recruiters
Candidates can see the list of recruiters below -
|
CIA Top Recruiters |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Tata Motors |
ABC Consultants |
EY (Ernst & Young) |
|
JP Morgan Chase & Co (JPMCC) |
DMart |
HCL Technologies |
|
WELLS FARGO |
PwC |
Master Card |
|
Deloitte |
BirlaNu |
HP |
|
KPMG |
Groww |
TATA |
How to Become a CIA?
To become a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), follow these steps:
- Meet the Eligibility Requirements
- Apply for the CIA Program
- Pass the CIA Exam
- Maintain Your Certification
- Join Professional Networks
CIA Courses: FAQs
Candidates can refer below for FAQs regarding CIA courses.
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The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) certifies professionals as Certified Internal Auditors (CIA). The CIA designation is the world's most generally recognised internal audit credential. The CIA designation is a great asset for professionals interested in working in internal auditing.
CIA course demonstrates that the individual possesses the requisite knowledge and abilities to be an effective internal auditor. The CIA accreditation may also result in more work prospects and higher pay.