The forces that led to the creation of this certification in 1974 are similar to those that resulted in the CMA program. As an important part of the company’s control environment, internal auditors evaluate and appraise various activities within the company.
While internal auditors are independent of the departments being audited, they do report to the top management of the company.
Since internal auditing differs from both external auditing and management accounting, many internal auditors felt a need for a specialized certification. To attain the status of a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), an individual must pass a comprehensive examination designed to ensure technical competence and have two years’ work experience.