Current CIMA students can now choose a new method of study and assessment to earn their Professional Qualification

The CGMA® Finance Leadership Programme is a competency-based digital learning experience and your pathway to earn CIMA’s CGMA® Professional Qualification the CGMA designation. The Finance Leadership Programme is delivered via an online, learning and assessment platform founded on the CGMA Competency Framework and the 2019 Professional Qualification Syllabus. The programme sets out to in still the knowledge, skills, and competencies necessary to proceed through the Operational, Management, and Strategic case study exams – the points at which the programme converges with the CGMA Professional Qualification. 

The Finance Leadership Programme the outcome of our continuous engagement with students and employers. They have expressed their need for new and different learning options with greater flexibility while ensuring that the same standards of competence are maintained. The programme provides students and their employers with an alternative pathway which can meet their diverse needs in a different but equally valid way to that of the traditional CIMA pathway.

The general structure of the programme is almost identical to that set out in the CIMA’s CGMA Professional Qualification syllabus, and consists of three main levels: Operational, Management and Strategic. Each level follows the same structure: 

• The Topic is the most granular piece of learning content within the programme. Each assessed Topic will include a group of topic-level assessment questions (TLAs). These TLAs are what determines your proficiency and progression through the programme. There are approximately 300 topics in total across the programme, however not all Topics are assessed. 
• A collection of associated Topics is grouped together into Skill Sets, which are primarily used to capture and display your progression on the student dashboard. There is no assessment at this level. 
• A collection of associated Skill Sets is grouped together into a Competency Area. Competency Areas are the major milestone for you on your journey through the programme, and are the delivery point for the comprehensive, learning assignments called the Business Simulation Assignments (BSA). The BSA is a customized, learning assignment which you can apply your learning in a risk-free environment because you are not graded on them. BSAs can only be accessed after you successfully complete all Skill Sets within a Competency Area. 
• The Exam Review Course is available on its own tab on the student platform and provides insight on the exam purpose and structure and also includes mock (practice) exams, some of which are graded by an external tutor.  
• Case Study Exams are three hours and designed for you to demonstrate your mastery of the content by completing several simulated workplace tasks. To progress from one level to the next, you must take and pass the case study exam at your current level. After a student completes a CS exam , they can continue to a higher level of learning and progress further by completing competencies, therefore no delays in moving forward with their study. This flexibility to progress whilst you wait on their exam results is unique to FLP and  if you fail the earlier Case Study you can repeat it whilst your higher level progress is retained. You are eligible to sit for the case study exam when you have passed all your assessment and completed all relevant BSAs your level (however you can book your Case Study exam well in advance when studying on the programme as soon as the respective exam window opens). Case study exams are proctored at Pearson Vue test centres or online. The same case study exam is used for all CGMA Professional Qualification students regardless of their learning path.

Both routes are founded on the same CGMA syllabus and teach the same competencies to prepare finance professionals for careers in management accounting. Regardless of which programme you take, you will be assessed on the same material and must demonstrate the same level of competency and experience to earn the CGMA® designation and CIMA® membership.

All the subject matter experts that we use to produce our learning and assessment content have extensive experience in working with the CIMA’s CGMA syllabus, delivering the CGMA qualification and developing learning content. Many of our partners will have worked with other, similar organisations, and we utilise this experience to enhance our own offer.  

There are many robust quality assurance processes and review stages to ensure that the content seen by students is off the highest standards. We also continuously monitor this content to ensure it is performing as expected, as well as providing feedback channels for students and other stakeholders. 

There are several flexible Finance Leadership Program package offerings designed with your goals and schedule in mind. These options are described below but are not available in all markets.

• Skills Core – develop the competencies you need to accelerate your career. Earn Skill Certificates to showcase your accomplishments. There are no exam credits or exam preparation materials included in this option.
• Skills Plus – develop competencies to accelerate your career and advance your journey toward the CGMA Professional Qualification by preparing for and taking the case study exams. Two exam credits per required case study exam are included in this option.
• Skills Premium – develop critical competencies, take the case study exams and advance toward CGMA with live, online, interactive classes  and support from expert tutors(Delivered by our partner Kaplan). Two exam credits per required case study exam are included in this option.

Some or all subscription options may not be available in all markets, and subscription length may vary. To see the subscription options and pricing available to you, please go https://enroll.cgma.org. Please note that local VAT may be added to prices when you pay for your subscription.

The table below gives a breakdown of what is included for each subscription:

The price depends on which subscription package and duration you select. From September 1 2022, these are the prices. These prices are including VAT.

Note: These prices will be available to students in the UK on September 6, 2022, which is the date launch date of FLP in the UK.

*For UK students, all prices are inclusive of UK VAT
**The Core product is not currently available in the UK. Core subscription does not include exam credits of Case Study Review Course

The October Learning class window live session dates are below for each level. All live sessions will run from approximately 6:00pm-8:30pm UK local time and are subject to change.

Operational Level: October 12; October 24; November 16; November 28; December 12; January 9; January 16; February 6; February 20; March 6; March 20.

Management Level: October 13; October 27; November 7; November 22; December 5; January 23; February 2; February 13; February 28; March 13; March 28.

Strategic Level: October 10; October 25; November 8; November 22; December 6; January 10; January 24; January 31; February 28; March 7; March 14.

Within the Finance Leadership Programme, student proficiency and progression are determined by topic-level assessments (TLAs). These are objective questions which students must successfully undertake to complete individual topics and progress through the programme. 

The main difference between TLAs and Objective Tests (OTs) is in their delivery. TLAs are linked to individual topics, meaning that students will undertake these assessments – and demonstrate their proficiency – continuously as they complete each topic rather than taking an exam in a test centre. This provides more flexibility to students, but also means that there is much more assessment: students will, on average, undertake three times more questions per subject area in the Finance Leadership Programme than through OTs.

For certain topics in the Finance Leadership Programme, students can also choose to ‘pre-assess’, or take the TLAs before they attempt the learning. Again, this provides more flexibility for students by allowing them to demonstrate prior learning or experience and use this to speed up their journey through the programme. Students can only attempt to pre-assess a topic once: the threshold for completing pre-assessment is higher and, if a student does not complete it successfully, they must then undertake the learning before attempting the assessment again.

Otherwise, the format, complexity and coverage of TLAs and OTs is identical. Individual TLAs for each topic are produced using the same processes, to the same standards and verb levels set out in the CIMA’s CGMA syllabus, as are questions used in OTs.

A key difference between the two programmes is how you learn. In the self-study route, you have the flexibility to find a learning provider that fits your needs, timelines and preferred learning format. In the CGMA FLP, the learning is part of the all-inclusive subscription package and delivered online in a self-paced e-learning environment.

The CGMA FLP allows you to learn and be assessed online, at your pace. As there are no objective test exam dates to schedule or work towards, you can study when you want, wherever you are and even learn the topics in whichever order you like.

The self-study route uses objective tests to assess topic proficiency within each of nine competency areas of the syllabus. These objective tests (OT) are multiple choice and taken via Pearson VUE, either at testing centres or online. You can decide when you are ready to take an OT and schedule your exam sitting at any time.

The CGMA FLP seamlessly blends learning and assessments to ensure you understand key topics and can apply new skills before you move on to more advanced business concepts. Topic proficiency is regularly assessed via multiple-choice questions that are embedded into the online learning experience.

In both programmes, you must pass the assessment of all competencies within a given level to be eligible and authorised to sit for a case study exam.  

Regardless of which programme you choose, you will take the same case study exams, under the same exam conditions and to the same standards. All case study exams are offered four times per year, administered worldwide via Pearson VUE either in testing centres or online.

All CIMA members must meet the same practical experience requirements. For complete details, click here. You will be advised on what steps you need to take leading up to, or upon completion of the strategic level case study exam. You will need to submit your PER and application, which can be accessed online from the My Account section.  

Yes, Awards are the same for both routes. Upon completion of the CIMA’s CGMA Professional Qualification, you will be awarded CIMA membership at either the ACMA or FCMA level. You will also be awarded the CGMA designation. For completing the Operational level or Management level you will earn CIMA’s CGMA diploma. In addition, Digital Skills Certificate are awarded upon completion of modules.  All CIMA students will get the same diplomas sent via mail when they pass the Operational Case Study Exam or Management Case Study exams.

Any CIMA student who wishes to transition to the CGMA Finance Leadership Programme route can do so by starting the registration process. During the registration process, you will be identified as a CIMA student and we will review your status, location and other relevant information to ensure you’re eligible for the programme. If you are eligible, the reviewer will send you a consent email, explaining the details of making the switch. You must then confirm that you wish to do so. Upon receipt of the confirmation, you will be transferred.

Eligibility for FLP is open to anyone with the relevant academic qualifications to exempt them from Certificate level.  Also, all current or lapsed CIMA students at Operational level or above are eligible to transition to the CGMA FLP. There is no re-registration fee, as all fees are covered in the bundled CGMA FLP purchase price.

Please note, if you’re on the apprenticeship route, you cannot move over to FLP.

Any person who is restricted from being a CIMA student for disciplinary or other reasons is ineligible for the CGMA FLP.

• If objectives tests have been passed, you will receive credit for the corresponding competency area learning and assessment. This means you will not be required to re-take the learning or assessment in competency areas where you have already proven your proficiency via Objective Test.
• If case study exams have been passed, you will receive credit for them in the CGMA FLP and will not be required to re-take them.
• No credit is given for learning taken with other providers, as it did not include the necessary assessment that is embedded in the CGMA FLP.

The online sign-up process will guide you to a recommended entry route to start your studies to the CGMA Qualification, based on your unique education, professional qualification, and experience. The rules are the same regardless of if you select to study via Finance Leadership Programme or traditional route taking Objective Tests.

If you already are a CIMA student and transition to the CGMA Finance Leadership Programme, your entry route decision will not change.

Everything you need to complete the CGMA FLP is included, no supplementary learning, tuition support or materials are required. Regardless of length, each subscription includes:

• Registration fee
• Student fees
• Case study exam fee
• All learning materials
• All assessment materials
• Interactive exercises
• 2 Case Study exam credits per level included in subscription period
  
• Business simulation assignments
• Access to tutor videos about how to approach your case study exam
• Video analysis of the pre-seen materials for your case study window
• Graded case study mock exams with personalised feedback

Mandatory learning depends on where you enter the programme. You must complete all learning (including embedded assessments) and case study exams to pass a level and progress through the programme. You have access to all levels of learning at all times, regardless of your entry route, therefore, earlier learning is always available to all students for revision, if needed.