CMA Accelerated program - Workload?

[toskadrummer]

Could anyone give me an idea how many hours a week I should budget for the CMA accelerated program?

I'll have the prerequisite courses and experience as a bookkeeper and office manager, but I don't have a business diploma or business degree.

Does 30 hours a week sound reasonable, plus class time?

[ptxpress]

waaaaaaaaaaaay too much.


I would say that 10 hours a week is even way too much, though it might be what you want to put aside for doing work.

[toskadrummer]

I should clarify - I'll have the 5 courses that are prerequisite for taking the accelerated program, not all the prerequisites for the CMA exam.

[sleepyguy]

I beleive you have to have a University Degree.

Man, this post is gonna scare the crap outta my GF. She's taking the accelerated program in Sept (after complete her last prereq in 2 weeks). Working FT at a great company... I guess I'll be single again for a few years starting Sept :) -sg

[ptxpress]

Even with your clarification...10 hours on top of class time should be plenty.

I rarely spent more than 5-7 hours outside (with the exception of weeks before the exam, when your 20-30 hour estimate is more reasonable).

[Wanker]

I thought you needed a degree before you could start the accelerated program ??

[Ibuy]

So most people spend less than 10 hours total outside of class time to study and do classwork?

[ptxpress]

So most people spend less than 10 hours total outside of class time to study and do classwork?

I would say most people spend less than 10. Keep in mind that most people are working full time, and since class burns up Saturdays, and most people have families too, Sundays are really the only day available (it's tough to study after work during the week).

I'm not saying the course is easy...it's anything but; however, 10 hours a week and you should be able to get by without much difficulty.

[toskadrummer]

How about the Strategic Leadership Program? Once I complete the accelerated program, will I be looking at the same workload for the next two years while completing the Strategic Leadership Program?

[7jai]

How about the Strategic Leadership Program? Once I complete the accelerated program, will I be looking at the same workload for the next two years while completing the Strategic Leadership Program?

I think you are getting a bit confused, probably because the info you are asking is somewhat misinformed.

Firstly, you do need an university degree + the prerequisites to enter the accelerated program. Even if you have the prereqs, and don't have the degree, I don't think they will let you in.

Secondly, the Strategic Leadership Program requires you to get a company to somewhat hire you/sponsor you to gain the necessary "management position" experience to obtain the CMA designation. So I do not quite understand what you mean by "same workload" as the accelerated program, since you would be learning and working.

[toskadrummer]

I do have a degree, just not a business degree.

From the way I read the CMA website, there's a "Strategic Leadership Progrom" that needs to be completed concurrantly with two years work experience. I'm wondering how much time per week would be required to complete the assignments of the Strategic Leadership Program.

[ptxpress]

I do have a degree, just not a business degree.

From the way I read the CMA website, there's a "Strategic Leadership Progrom" that needs to be completed concurrantly with two years work experience. I'm wondering how much time per week would be required to complete the assignments of the Strategic Leadership Program.

The SLP requires 6 weekend long sessions spread over a 2 year period. They say that you need to do about 30 hours of preparation for each of the weekends, plus some more work afterwards.

From what I hear, it's all down hill though after the entrance exam.

[takethat200210]

Would anyone know what are the formats of these exams? Open book/Closed book?

Thanks.

[toskadrummer]

The SLP requires 6 weekend long sessions spread over a 2 year period. They say that you need to do about 30 hours of preparation for each of the weekends, plus some more work afterwards.

From what I hear, it's all down hill though after the entrance exam.

Thanks. That's good to know. Somehow I thought the entrance exam was the end of the road. When I found out I'd need two more years study (and about $6,500 tuition) after that, I was feeling a bit discouraged.

[takethat200210]

Where are the acclerated program classes being held? I gather that York University has classes, but what about U of T?

The CMA website really lacks info...

[sunnybono]

Thanks. That's good to know. Somehow I thought the entrance exam was the end of the road. When I found out I'd need two more years study (and about $6,500 tuition) after that, I was feeling a bit discouraged.

This has been in place since 1995 and the reason is that the Society wants to weed out the non successful ones out in the begining as opposed to the end of the program!!!!! I passed my entrance level exam in 1995 and then did the 2 year strategic leadership progam while working. Back then I was told by a member from the Society's office that the pass rate in the GTA was around 21% before they made the change. The year that I wrote the exam, the passing rate was less than 21%, but the Society wouldn't say how low!!!
The exam itself wasn't very difficult!!! The best advice that i can give is that if you know your management accounting, then I would suggest that you enrolll in the prep course the society has to offer in how to write the exam!!! This course only teaches you how to write the exam the way the society wants to see it!!!

sk

[cmasters]

Now they weed people out at the start, and the mid point.

I'm entering the SLP in sept. I'm pretty excited actually, now I just have to find a career. I wrote the entrance exam out of university, so I have no work experience

[confused]

I will also be enrolling in the upcoming fall term and am pretty pumped actually... just hoping the workload isn't a lot on top of a full-time job.

[watewate]

workload is a joke. second session may feel a bit long trying to get the slide decks ready, but you can recycle those in subsequent classes :)

[branat]

I will also be enrolling in the upcoming fall term and am pretty pumped actually... just hoping the workload isn't a lot on top of a full-time job.

Me too. I'm pumped and nervous at the same time. It's gonna be fun juggling kids, works and the course load. I went down to personally register for the course so I can get a spot at the classroom. Just before I signed the document, I changed my mind and elected the distance course. Wifey will have a fit if I take a Saturday off for the next 7 months. She still trying to get over my tutition fee.:cheesygri

[cmasters]

You already applied? I haven't received my enrolment package yet. They are quite slow with the mail/results. I checked online and I know I passed. So I'm just waiting for the literature. I actually don't really know much about the SLP at all, I'm just eager to get it started. I was so anxious and bored while waiting for my results, that I did the CSC to take my mind off the cma exam I wrote in june.

[branat]

I'm referring to the Accelerated program so that I can write the entrance exam. The SLP would be after this. I think you're ahead of me on this.

[cmasters]

yeah, true.

I'm have no details about the AP, as I didn't take it.
But good luck, and my recomendation is that you don't treat it as a regular university course, where you just coast through, and cram for the exam just so you can pass. Really LEARN this stuff, because you WILL need it for the entrance exam.

I feel bad for you guys just starting the A/P now, because after the October 07 entrance exam, the society is revamping the entrance exam completely. It is rumoured to be much much harder.

So study hard.

[Dragon120]

yeah, true.

I'm have no details about the AP, as I didn't take it.
But good luck, and my recomendation is that you don't treat it as a regular university course, where you just coast through, and cram for the exam just so you can pass. Really LEARN this stuff, because you WILL need it for the entrance exam.

I feel bad for you guys just starting the A/P now, because after the October 07 entrance exam, the society is revamping the entrance exam completely. It is rumoured to be much much harder.

So study hard.


It's true, all the non-core (soft) topics are back in 2008. The soft topics were not on the Entrance Exam in 2007 (only Mgmt Accounting, Financial Accounting, Tax, and Corporate Finance).

[toskadrummer]

...I passed my entrance level exam in 1995 and then did the 2 year strategic leadership progam while working. Back then I was told by a member from the Society's office that the pass rate in the GTA was around 21% before they made the change.sk

Is that a 21% pass rate for the exam, or the SLP?

[TRueter]

Is that a 21% pass rate for the exam, or the SLP?

That's got to be for the entrance exam in GTA (back in 1995.....)

[ggs]

work hard for the 8 months of the AP and you'll be fine.. second exam is a real tough one and it'll bring you down a bit, but you can bring it right back up with the third one. my 4th one is on saturday im so screwed omg. anyways, as long as you keep on top of it you'll be okay, study a little bit everyday after work, budget your time well. ie dont be like me lol

[confused]

work hard for the 8 months of the AP and you'll be fine.. second exam is a real tough one and it'll bring you down a bit, but you can bring it right back up with the third one. my 4th one is on saturday im so screwed omg. anyways, as long as you keep on top of it you'll be okay, study a little bit everyday after work, budget your time well. ie dont be like me lol

are you working full time at the moment?

[ggs]

are you working full time at the moment?

yep

[confused]

yep

i'm going to be leaving my job which is totally in a diff field to study and look for a part-time accounting job!

[Gold Monkey]

Hey, I just signed up for the Accelerated Program at the Mississauga campus. Hopefully I'll see a few of you there.

It's going to be tons of fun doing this for 8 months and having a full-time job...lol.

[gin]

Hi

For those of you who have taken/completed the SLP, can you comment on the workload. What exactly do we have to do - cases? research? presentations? And, how much time did you spend per week? Did you enroll in the Sept or Jan session? Is the Jan session much harder to do since it is condensed?

Thanks

[confused]

Hey, I just signed up for the Accelerated Program at the Mississauga campus. Hopefully I'll see a few of you there.

It's going to be tons of fun doing this for 8 months and having a full-time job...lol.

dayam, i've signed up to the York Uni classes... i'm also taking a head start b/c I have obtained all of the DVD's from a female friend whom is currently taking it now

[branat]

dayam, i've signed up to the York Uni classes... i'm also taking a head start b/c I have obtained all of the DVD's from a female friend whom is currently taking it now

I just look at the 2007 course outline, from their website and my first thought is

"Dear God, what have I done?". It's like all my acct/finance classes compacted into an 8 months period. If they include the soft skills, I'm royally @#$#@$.

[ggs]

I just look at the 2007 course outline, from their website and my first thought is

"Dear God, what have I done?". It's like all my acct/finance classes compacted into an 8 months period. If they include the soft skills, I'm royally @#$#@$.

soft topics you learn on your own time, you have a dvd package that you need to get through outside of class time. they're going to be tested on the june08 entrance exam.