"Your CIBA designation gives you access to the world's leading professional body for accountants"

We signed an MOU with CIMA for mutual membership recognition.

The Agreement

CIBA and CIMA entered into an MOU to offer CIBA members access to step into the CIMA learning experience, allowing CIBA members to become Chartered Management Accountants (CMA). The CMA designation leads to a Certified Public Accountants (CPA) with the AICPA.

CIMA students at various levels of their CIMA studies can apply for an appropriate CIBA designation.

• CIMA has granted exemptions available to different CIBA membership levels, based on a holistic review of entry requirements, competency frameworks and CPD.
• Similarly, CIBA offer CIMA learners support and accreditation, through our designations.
• CIMA levels match perfectly with CIBA’s exclusive designations.

Exemptions and Development

The MOU provides for various exemptions to enter CIBA or CIMA membership. In addition the institutes collaborate on providing practice management, business management, and technology courses, as well as specialist licenses to the CIBA community.

Go to www.saiba.academy to view the various courses.

The exemptions are paired together according to eligibility and levels as follows:

Certificate Levels

• CIMA:
  • A CIMA student with completed certificate level exams will automatically qualify for a CIBA associate membership, and after two years of work can apply for the CIBA BA(SA) designation.

Operational Levels

• CIBA:
  • BA(SA) + CIMA Operational Level: BA(SA) designation holders will begin at the operational level objective tests, leaving them with 12 exams required to obtain a CIMA qualification. This only applies to BA(SA) designation holders with a completed BCom Accounting or similar degree. CIMA exemptions do not apply to BA(SA) designation holders that followed an RPL route.
• CIMA:
  • A CIMA student with completed operational level will automatically qualify for a BA(SA) designation, after an RPL has been completed.

Management Level

• CIBA:
  • CBA(SA) or BAP(SA): CBA(SA) and BAP(SA) members will step into the management level case study, leaving them 8 exams to complete to obtain a CIMA qualification. This only applies to CBA(SA) designation holders with a completed BCom Accounting plus Honours Degree, or similar degrees. CIMA exemptions do not apply to CBA(SA) designation holders that followed an RPL route.
• CIMA:
  • A CIMA student with completed management level will automatically qualify for a CBA(SA) designation, after an RPL has been completed.

Strategic Level

• CIBA:
  • Certified Financial Officer(SA): Cert.Fin.Off (SA) members will be entered onto the professional gateway route, CIMA Strategic level, leaving them with 4 exams to complete the exams to obtain a CIMA qualification. This only applies to Cert.Fin.Off (SA) designation holders with a completed BCom Accounting plus Honours Degree plus MBA, or similar degrees. CIMA exemptions do not apply to Cert.Fin.Off (SA) designation holders that followed an RPL route.
• CIMA:
  • A CIMA strategic level student, can apply for CIBA Certified Financial Officer(SA) designation, with added recognition, obtained from this partnership. Designation qualification is dependent on years’ experience and committee interviews.

How to apply

• CIBA members joining CIMA:
  • CIBA members should login to their membership profile navigate to Rewards Partners, select CIMA and complete the application form.
• Approved Training Centre (ATC):
  • CIBA firms that also need to register as an ATC to be able to train student, claim grants and tax deductions may click here to read more. (ATC)
• CIMA students joining CIBA:
  • Click on the block to your right and start your application process. A membership consultant with review your application and apply the relevant exemptions.