The CIA Part 1 Exam is an introductory exam for CIA certification that focuses on the fundamental principles of internal auditing, governance, and risk management.

1. Introduction to the CIA-Part1 certification

Certified Internal Auditor IIA-CIA-Part1 Exam (CIA-Part1) is the first exam of the Certified Internal Auditor certification system launched by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), and is also the introductory and foundational step for obtaining the CIA certificate.

CIA is a globally recognized authoritative qualification in the field of internal audit, and the Part 1 exam focuses on verifying candidates' systematic mastery of the basic principles, professional ethics, governance and risk management framework, and internal audit standards of internal audit. The core goal is to ensure that candidates possess the core competencies and theoretical foundations to engage in internal audit work, laying a solid foundation for the subsequent study and examination of Part 2 and Part 3.

The exam content strictly follows the "International Professional Practice Framework for Internal Audit" released by IIA, which is a globally unified standard for measuring the entry-level ability of internal audit practitioners. It is widely recognized by enterprises and government agencies around the world and is the core "stepping stone" to enter the field of internal audit.

The core positioning of CIA-Part1 is "Basic Capability Verification for Internal Audit Practitioners," which does not involve complex audit practical skills, but focuses on the underlying logic and compliance requirements of internal audit, ensuring that candidates understand the role and value of internal audit in organizational governance, risk management, and internal control.

Unlike Part 2, which focuses on audit execution, and Part 3, which emphasizes cross disciplinary knowledge application, Part 1 places more emphasis on "basic cognition" and "professional ethics." It requires candidates to clarify the definition, objectives, and responsibility boundaries of internal audit, master the relationship between the board of directors, audit committee, and internal audit department in the governance structure, understand the full process framework of risk management, and strictly comply with IIA's professional ethics and professional practice standards.

2. The Competitive Edge of Certified Internal Auditor IIA-CIA-Part1 Exam (CIA-Part1) Certification

CIA certification is the highest standard in the global internal audit industry, recognized by over 170 countries and regions. Passing the CIA Part 1 exam means that candidates have mastered the core fundamentals of internal audit and possess the basic abilities to enter the field. Whether it is multinational corporations, state-owned enterprises, or government agencies, CIA certification is listed as a priority employment condition for internal audit positions, which is the core distinguishing factor between "nonprofessionals" and "professional beginners."

Internal audit is a core component of corporate governance, and practitioners with CIA qualifications have significant advantages in the job market. Globally, the annual salary of junior internal auditors is generally between $50000 to $80000, and can be increased to $80000 to $120000 after accumulating 3-5 years of experience.

The content of the CIA-Part1 exam is based on the IPPF framework of IIA, covering core knowledge of internal audit, governance, risk management, and internal control. It can help candidates establish a complete internal audit knowledge system and avoid the drawbacks of fragmented learning. 

Candidates who apply for CIA-Part1 can join the IIA Global Member Network to access the latest internal audit research reports and professional training resources; priority participation in IIA's Global Internal Audit Summit and regional seminars, exchange and learn from internal audit experts from around the world, expand industry networks, and connect with high-end career opportunities.

3. Core Components of the CIA-Part1 Certification

The Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) certification is a top tier global professional qualification in the field of internal auditing, and CIA-Part1 is the cornerstone of this professional journey. It is not simply an audit technique exam, its core goal is to systematically build a profound understanding of the strategic role and professional foundation of internal audit in modern organizational governance.

The exam content strictly follows the IIA official outline, which consists of two pillar modules with 35% each weight: governance, risk management and control, and internal audit foundation. The former requires you to master the core language of organizational governance, such as board responsibilities, risk management processes, and COSO internal control framework.

The latter focuses on the definition of internal audit itself, the principle of independence, workflow, and IIA's Professional Practice Standards. These two modules together answer the fundamental questions of "what is the environment in which internal audit relies on" and "how should internal audit conduct its work professionally?"

On top of this professional framework, the professional ethics module is the soul of CIA certification. It establishes the bottom line of behavior that internal auditors must adhere to when facing conflicts of interest, confidentiality, and other challenges through the four principles of the IIA Code of Ethics.

Finally, the role and positioning module of internal audit guides you to think about how internal audit can go beyond traditional compliance checks and add value to the organization through risk warning and process optimization.

4. What are the requirements to be a Certified Internal Auditor?

(1) Qualification prerequisites:

The application for CIA-Part1 must meet the combination of academic qualifications and work experience requirements set by IIA, as follows:

• Applicants with a bachelor's degree or above are not required to have prior experience in internal auditing when applying, but after passing all three exams, they need to accumulate 2 years of work experience in internal auditing or related fields
• College graduates need to accumulate 3 years of relevant work experience after passing all three exams
• Individuals without a college degree or above are required to accumulate 5 years of relevant work experience. 

(2) Training and examinations:

Certified Internal Auditor Part 1 - Essentials of Internal Auditing There are 125 Single choice question questions in total, including a large number of scenario analysis questions, which are closely related to the actual work scenario of internal audit. The exam lasts for 150 minutes. The maximum score is 800 points, and passing is considered to be 600 points or above. The exam adopts a globally unified scoring standard, and there is no fixed pass rate.

The exam fee is divided into three parts. For first-time applicants, an application fee is required, which is approximately $100 for IIA members and $150 for nonmembers. The exam fee for Part 1 is paid separately, approximately $250 for members and $380 for nonmembers. The membership fee can be paid or not at your discretion, and after payment, you can enjoy a discount on the exam fee, with a total fee of approximately $350-530. 

(3) Qualification maintenance:

After passing all three exams of CIA-Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3, submitting a work experience certificate that meets the requirements and passing the IIA review will result in obtaining the CIA certificate.

The CIA-Part1 certificate is valid for life, but you need to meet the requirements of continuing education and accumulate 40 continuing professional education (CPE) credits over two years; at the same time, it is necessary to sign the "Declaration of Professional Ethics" every year to confirm compliance with IIA professional ethics standards. If the standards are violated, the certificate may be revoked.

5. Comparable Certifications to CIA-Part1 Certification

• Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
• Certified Financial Services Auditor (CFSA)
• Certified Government Auditing Professional (CGAP)
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)