The Certified Internal Auditor Examination is administered by the IIA and tests professional knowledge across three distinct parts to evaluate competencies in internal audit fundamentals, engagement execution, and function operations in alignment with global standards and regulatory expectations for audit professionals worldwide during their practice.
Internal audit professionals and candidates pursuing the global certification designation to validate competency in audit practices, governance, risk management, and internal control methodologies.
Review exam syllabi across the three parts and study the Global Internal Audit Standards in detail. Practice sample questions regularly and focus your primary study time on high-weight domain areas such as engagement planning and audit fundamentals to ensure success.
Covers the fundamental purpose of internal auditing according to the Global Internal Audit Standards, mandates, responsibilities of the board and chief audit executive, and specific internal audit charter requirements.
Focuses on professional ethics, core values, and the required standards that internal auditors must consistently demonstrate and uphold during their professional practice and daily operations within their respective organizations.
Examines organizational governance structures, enterprise risk management frameworks, and internal control processes to help candidates understand how organizations manage uncertainty and achieve their strategic objectives effectively through structured practices.
Addresses essential fraud risk assessment methodologies, detection techniques, and prevention responsibilities that must be integrated within internal audit engagements to safeguard organizational assets effectively and maintain internal controls across all operations.
Focuses on planning individual internal audit engagements, which includes defining the audit scope, establishing clear objectives, and ensuring appropriate resource allocation before fieldwork begins across various operational areas.
Covers information gathering techniques, data analysis methods, and the evaluation of audit evidence during the execution phase of internal audit fieldwork to support valid and reliable audit findings.
Deals directly with engagement supervision practices, team oversight, and the effective communication of engagement results to relevant stakeholders, audit committees, and executive management teams during projects conducted by auditors.
Examines the operational management, strategic direction, and overall administration of the internal audit function to ensure it adds value to the organization while strictly adhering to professional standards and guidelines.
Covers the establishment, prioritization, and ongoing maintenance of the internal audit plan based on risk assessments, organizational priorities, and relevant stakeholder input gathered during the initial planning phases.
Addresses quality assurance and improvement programs designed to evaluate and maintain the overall quality and continuous improvement of the internal audit function across all operational and reporting activities.
Focuses on reporting engagement results accurately, monitoring management progress on action plans, and conducting structured follow-up processes to verify that identified risks and issues have been adequately resolved.
Arrive at the test facility prepared with required identification and necessary credentials. Manage your time carefully across the questions in each part, ensuring you pace yourself properly for the allotted duration.
Part 1 contains 125 questions, Part 2 contains 100 questions, and Part 3 contains 100 questions distributed across the three parts of the certification program.
The passing scaled score is 600, which is calculated on a standardized scale ranging from a minimum of 250 up to a maximum score of 750 for candidates.
Part 1 is 150 minutes long, Part 2 is 120 minutes long, and Part 3 is also 120 minutes long for candidates taking the test.
The examination consists of three separate parts covering internal audit fundamentals, internal audit engagements, and the overall internal audit function for professional candidates seeking certification.
Verified 2026-09-13
This overview is built directly from official IIA certification documentation, exam guides, and published syllabus data provided for candidates seeking certification.