Advance your career with the CGMA® CIMA® Special Pathway
Your experience matters
The CIMA Special Pathway recognises your track record, exempts selected exams, and fast-tracks you to the CGMA designation.
What is the Special Pathway?
Suppose you already have substantial finance or business experience, a professional designation, or senior leadership exposure. In that case, the Special Pathway can exempt you from selected CIMA exams - helping you complete the CGMA® CIMA® Professional Qualification and earn the globally respected Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA)designation faster.
Who can qualify?
Applicants are pre-assessed against your:
• Existing work experience
• Academic and/or special qualifications
• Professional memberships
Experience
Qualifications
Memberships
Choose your route
Below is a plain-English summary.
CFO Executive Pathway
Typical profile:
- Candidates who hold membership of a recognised professional accounting body, a finance-related degree, or an MBA/Master’s in Accounting
- 10+ years strategic, finance and/or business experience; currently in a senior executive/management role.
• Entry point: Strategic Case Study (SCS).
CA(SA) + SAICA Route
Typical profile:
- Fully qualified CA(SA) (member in good standing with SAICA).
- 3-10+ years of progressive professional experience in finance, accounting, audit, management consulting, or leadership roles.
CGMA Senior Executive Programme
The Senior Executive Programme is aimed at senior professionals in accounting, finance or business.
Typical profile:
- 7+ years of senior management experience in business and/or finance.
- Often also has at least 3 years of managerial experience (i.e, being in a leadership or supervisory role)
- More broadly, the programme is for those who already have substantial experience and want a fast-track to CGMA without doing the full standard qualification.
- Entry point: Management Case Study (MCS) and Strategic Case Study.
What gets exempted?
Suppose you already have substantial finance or business experience, a professional designation, or senior leadership exposure. In that case, the Special Pathway can exempt you from selected CIMA exams - helping you complete the CGMA® CIMA® Professional Qualification and earn the globally respected Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA)designation faster.
CFO Executive Pathway
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CA(SA) + SAICA Route
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CGMA Senior Executive ProgrammeCGMA Senior Executive Programme
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Important to know
• Existing CIMA students with a lapsed membership must re-activate membership before applying.
• Any previously failed CIMA exams must be re-sat and passed before applying.
• Exemptions are awarded upon receipt of full payment.
Terms at a glance
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How to apply
Step 1: Gather your documents
- Completed application form
- Detailed CV
- Copies of all educational qualification certificates are submitted, including proof of your tertiary degree.
- Clear copy of your ID
- If applying via CA(SA), ACFE, or SAIBA routes: Letter of Good Standing and membership certificate(s)
Step 2: Choose your path below, and fill out the form
Step 3: Pre-assessment & confirmation
We will review your profile, confirm your route and exemptions, and guide you to your case study exam.
How fast can I complete?
That depends on your route and readiness for the relevant case study(ies). The pathway is designed to fast-track experienced professionals by exempting selected exams.
Do I need to be a current CIMA student?
No - but if your CIMA membership has lapsed, re-activate it before applying.
I failed a previous CIMA exam—can I still apply?
You must first re-sit and pass any outstanding failed exams, then apply.