What is the difference between a CGA and a CMA?
CGA stands for Certified General Accountant and CMA stands for Certified Management Accountant. Both of these are excellent career choices because there is so much demand for those who have this type of training.
About CGA
You need to be able to communicate well with others and to like interacting with a wide variety of people in order to do well as a Certified General Accountant. You don’t need to have a Bachelor of Commerce to be accepted into this program, but you do need to have a undergraduate degree from an accredited university.
About CMA
The duties of a Certified Management Accountant include managing the accounting tasks associated with management. There is a lot of competition in this field so in order to have an edge, you do need to be creative. You must write a CMA exam, but before doing so you must possess an undergraduate degree, preferably in business or commerce. The exam tests your business knowledge, verbal and written communication skills and analytical skills.
The difference between CFA and CMA
Both of these terms refer to accounting jobs, but they are different from each other. You don’t need to have a business or commerce degree to become a CFA, but you must have a degree. In order to write the CMA exam your degree must be in business or commerce. CGA programs focus on experience and face to face sessions with clients. CMA programs focus on correspondence as well as knowledge. You can become a CGA by enrolling in a strategic/leadership program, but in order to become a CMA you must have at least two or three years of work experience. Both require a combination of experience, education and interpersonal communication skills.
Summary
- CGA emphasizes experience; CMA emphasizes education
- You need to have good communication skills to become a CGA, but you need to be creative to become a CMA.