CIA Part 2
Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) - Part 2
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Cheat sheet
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ExploreAbout this exam
The Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) is The Institute of Internal Auditors' global internal audit designation, held by more than 220,000 professionals across 170 countries. The credential is aimed at practitioners who want to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and competencies required to perform internal audit services anywhere in the world, and eligibility paths are tailored to a candidate's education and experience - master's degree, bachelor's degree, active Internal Audit Practitioner, or qualified accountant routes each carry different experience requirements.
The CIA program is a three-part exam, and Part 2 is the middle part, covering the engagement itself: how work is planned, performed, communicated, and monitored through to follow-up. It is a computer-based, multiple-choice exam of 100 questions with a 120-minute time limit, delivered at secure global test centers. The IIA does not prescribe the order in which the three parts must be taken, so Part 2 can be scheduled first if its content matches your day-to-day work.
Preparation should start with the current CIA exam syllabus, which sets out the topic areas and the weighted percentages of questions, then move to the CIA practice questions built from retired exam items with rationales for correct and incorrect answers. Study materials are not included with your application or exam registration, and the Certification Candidate Handbook is the authoritative source for policies, scheduling, and test-center procedures.
What you'll study
About CIA Part 2 preparation
How many questions are on CIA Part 2, and how much time do I get?
Part 2 contains 100 multiple-choice questions with a 2-hour (120-minute) time limit, delivered as a secure computer-based exam at a global test center. That averages out to a little over one minute per question, so pace control matters as much as content knowledge.
What does Part 2 actually test?
Part 2 covers the internal audit engagement from start to finish: planning the engagement, executing the work and gathering evidence, communicating results to stakeholders, and monitoring outcomes through follow-up. Confirm the exact topic weighting in the current CIA exam syllabus, which the IIA publishes and updates.
Do I have to pass Part 1 before I can sit for Part 2?
No. The IIA does not prescribe the order in which the three exam parts must be taken. You may sit for Part 2 first, or take parts in any sequence that fits your schedule, though the IIA recommends reviewing the syllabi to decide what is appropriate for you.
How long is my exam registration valid?
Once you purchase an exam registration, it is valid for 180 days, or until your certification program expiration date, whichever comes sooner. If you do not sit for the exam during that registration period, the registration is forfeited, so schedule and test promptly after registering.
How quickly will I get my score?
You receive a single, official exam result within three weeks of your exam date. When results become available you get a system-generated email notification, and the outcome is then visible in your CCMS account. Plan any resit or study decisions around that three-week window.
What does the exam cost?
The Part 2 exam fee is 280 USD for IIA members and 415 USD for non-members, separate from the 120 USD member / 240 USD non-member application fee. All fees are non-refundable and non-transferable, and your membership must be active at purchase to receive the member rate.
Are study materials included with registration?
No. Study materials are not included with the CIA application or exam registration. You can review the CIA exam syllabus free of charge and use the IIA's CIA practice questions, which are retired exam items with detailed rationales for both correct and incorrect answers, capped at two attempts per practice exam.
In what languages can I take Part 2?
The CIA exam is offered in Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Thai, and Turkish, with some language versions tied to specific syllabi and regions. Check the IIA's language notes before scheduling, since availability and syllabus version vary by language.
How long do I have to finish the whole certification?
You have three years from the date you are accepted into the CIA program to complete the program requirements, including passing all exam parts and completing experience verification. Because exam registrations last only 180 days, candidates who space parts too widely apart often run into the program deadline.