Become a Certified Internal Auditor: Preparing for the Exam as a Student

Become a Certified Internal Auditor

The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) provides the internationally recognized credential of internal auditor certification. This title includes evidence of your aptitude, expertise, and knowledge. Since this certification offers internal auditors a platform to advance their careers and take advantage of international networking opportunities, candidates seeking to earn this certification must carefully consider the steps that will lead them to become Certified Internal Auditors (CIAs).

This blog delves into the steps a student needs to take to prepare for the CIA exam and obtain the credentials for a scaling career. 

A. Understand the CIA Exam Structure

• Essentials of Internal Auditing: This section incorporates the foundations of internal auditing, including mandatory guidance, risk concepts, mandatory regulations, guidelines, tools & techniques for performing internal audit engagements. 
• Internal Auditing Applications: The practice of internal auditing includes the planning, reporting, and performing of internal audit engagements while also managing the internal audit functions. 
• Business Knowledge for Internal Auditing: This section of internal auditing review courses focuses on leveraging business acumen related to business ethics, governance, organizational structure, risk management, and informational technology. 

B. Familiarize yourself with the exam content, including the topics, sub-topics, and exam structure to create your targeted study plan. Moreover, your study plan can incorporate strengths and weaknesses in each section that will help you build achievable goals.

C. The Institute of Internal Affairs provides a range of pertinent study materials, such as online resources, textbooks, and mock exams. If you are a student, you need to improve your understanding of the CIA exam and leverage external review courses while also taking practice tests into your study plan.  

D. To improve your chances of CIA credential selection, try to devote additional time to practicing the areas or topics you are less confident in. This might feel challenging considering you already have your existing course to cover. However, taking instructor-led classes can strengthen your understanding of CIA topics and your ability to manage your time well for the test.

E. As a student, staying abreast of your regular course, while also making sure you are up to date with the CIA exam’s latest trends and updates, and finding the right material is overwhelming. This is why you should be cautious of the websites you refer to for CIA resources, rather than consult experts in the area or the IIA website. 

F. To make sure you understand the material you have already studied, you should take practice exams or mock tests regularly. Additionally, you need to go over the trouble spots again and look for more explanations in instructor-led classes or pertinent study guides. 

Students need to keep in mind that the exams for certified internal auditors might be difficult and intimidating. But when you combine it with practice sessions and an exam environment that is both instructor-led and encouraging, you help create a well-organized study plan that will help you pass the test the first time around. 

This is where Netrika Consulting helps students with an instructor-led course.  We have a team of seasoned staff with 2 decades of experience and elite certifications. Our CIA certification courses offer real-world insights tailored to the dynamic landscape of internal auditing. The certified internal auditor course keeps students up-to-date with the latest industry trends, ensuring a thorough CIA exam preparation for you to successfully obtain the CIA certification.