Prepare for CIA Exam changes in 2025
Certified Internal Auditor® (CIA®) professionals stand out for their exceptional skillsets and exacting knowledge of best practices in internal auditing. The Institute of Internal Auditors® (The IIA®) ensures these standards are upheld by requiring that you pass the three-part CIA Exam as part of the certification process.
While the CIA Exam is just part of becoming a Certified Internal Auditor, it is the primary benchmark that guarantees consistent, up to date standards of excellence for CIA professionals. To ensure that these standards are current, The IIA has enacted CIA Exam changes that take effect starting in May 2025.
While some CIA Exam content remains the same, the 2025 CIA Exam will reflect the evolving nature of the practice, the requirements of internal auditors, and the needs of their organization.
Changes to the 2025 CIA Exam
Starting in 2025, the CIA Exam will update its content to accomplish multiple goals outlined by The IIA:
- Align with the current internal auditing global practice and The IIA’s newest Global Internal Audit Standards
- Minimize overlapping concepts among the three exam parts
- Clarify the knowledge and skills candidates need to pass the exam
The first CIA Exam change refocuses and renames the exam parts.
| Old CIA Exam | New CIA Exam 2025 | |
| Part 1 | Essentials of Internal Auditing | Internal Audit Fundamentals |
| Part 2 | Practice of Internal Auditing | Internal Audit Engagement |
| Part 3 | Business Knowledge for Internal Auditing | Internal Audit Function |
More than just the name, each exam part will have a new accompanying syllabus that is updated to reflect the skillsets essential to that subject area. While there is overlap with the old exam, there are significant changes in the content of each CIA Exam part.
| Old CIA Exam Syllabus outline | New CIA Exam 2025 Syllabus outline | |
| Part 1: Internal Audit Fundamentals |
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| Old CIA Exam Syllabus outline | New CIA Exam 2025 Syllabus outline | |
| Part 2: Internal Audit Engagement |
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| Old CIA Exam Syllabus outline | New CIA Exam 2025 Syllabus outline | |
| Part 3: Internal Audit Function |
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What is not changing about the CIA Exam?
While the CIA Exam changes should equip new CIA professionals with the skillsets to lead in the practice, the CIA Exam’s leading logistics will remain the same.
Number of exam parts 3 | Length of exams Part 1: 125 questions Parts 2 & 3: 100 questions | Question format Multiple choice questions |
Time limit Part 1: 2.5 hours (150 minutes) Parts 2 & 3: 2 hours (120 minutes) | Cost Part 1: $310 (The IIA members) / $445 (non-members) Parts 2 & 3: $280 (The IIA members) / $415 (non-members) | Passing score Scaled score of at least 600 (of total 750) |
If you’ve passed one or more CIA Exam parts, you do not have to re-sit for the section(s) you’ve passed. However, you will need to take (and pass!) any new CIA Exam part that you sit for after its scheduled release date. Explore CIA single course study options if this applies to you.
CIA CPE requirements are also staying consistent for professionals who have already passed the CIA Exam and earned their certification.
- 40 hours of qualifying CPE
- 2 credit hours in ethics
- You may roll over up to 20 credits
2025 CIA Exam release schedule
English-language CIA Exam changes will take effect on May 28, 2025, with other exam languages following in release throughout the year.
- July 28, 2025: Japanese
- August 28, 2025: Thai, Korean
- September 28, 2025: Portuguese
- October 28, 2025: Spanish, French
- November 28, 2025: Polish, German
- December 28, 2025: Turkish, Russian
- January 28, 2026: Chinese Traditional
- September 2026: Arabic, Chinese Simplified
For individuals who hold CPA or CISA designations, there will also be an updated Challenge Exam in 2026, with the month to be released by The IIA at a later time.
How to prepare for the 2025 CIA Exam changes
Make sure the material you’re studying for the CIA Exam is updated for the new syllabi. You would never want to invest your time and dedication into studying outdated content!
Becker has partnered with The IIA to offer the best choice to help you pass the new CIA Exam. The unbeatable combination of trusted study tools and content from the team who wrote the exam, Becker—The IIA CIA® Exam Review guarantees that you prepare with the most up to date content aligned with all three 2025 CIA Exam Part syllabi.
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- 3-Part Review Course Access
- Practice multiple choice questions
- Adapt2U Technology driven, unlimited practice tests
- 2 Simulated exams per part
- Digital textbooks
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- Private Becker CIA Facebook community
Get Becker—The IIA CIA® Exam Review and be ready for the 2025 CIA Exam changes.