Internal Audit Practitioner FAQ

To support students as well as new and rotational auditors, The IIA is pleased to announce the revised Internal Audit Practitioner program. The Internal Audit Practitioner designation is a great way to demonstrate internal audit aptitude. An active Internal Audit Practitioner designation opens a new pathway to the Certified Internal Auditor^®️ (CIA^®️) designation, the only globally recognized certification for internal audit practitioners.

The refreshed program utilizes CIA Part 1 as the assessment. This creates a clear pathway into the CIA program and means candidates only must complete Parts 2 and 3 should they decide to pursue a CIA certification.

The Internal Audit Practitioner designation demonstrates that the holder possesses internal audit aptitude and foundational knowledge of the Global Internal Audit Standards. It is also now a permanent credential, meaning that you will still hold a valuable internal audit certification should you decide not to pursue you CIA.

This program is ideal for:

• University Students
• Beginner Internal Auditors
• Rotational Internal Auditors
• Managers of Internal Audit Activities

The eligibility requirements for Internal Audit Practitioner are as follows:

• Government-issued ID
• Application

You may find the application and registration fees by visiting the Certification Pricing Structure web page.

IIA Membership is required in United Kingdom and Ireland, South Africa, Eswatini and Lesotho. You may contact the IIA Institutes in those countries by visiting the Find Your Local IIA webpage. While IIA membership is not required in other counties, we strongly encourage you to take advantage of the member benefits including exam fee discounts, networking opportunities, and more.

Complete the Internal Audit Practitioner application including proof of identification through The IIA’s Certification Candidate Management System (CCMS).

Once your application for the Internal Audit Practitioner is approved, log into CCMS to register for and schedule your exam.

To access the syllabus, please visit our dedicated syllabus webpage.

The exam consists of 125 multiple-choice questions. Candidates will have 2.5 hours to complete the exam.

You will have two years to finish the Internal Audit Practitioner program from the date you are approved into the program.

Effective May 28, 2025: the IAP no longer expires, and is instead a permanent certification. IAP holders will need to earn 20 hours of CPE each year and complete an annual certification renewal beginning in 2026.

The IIA does not provide printed certificates, instead, you will receive a PDF that you may download and print. In some countries or territories you will also receive a digital badge that represents your achievement. Candidates will be able to display their recognition through social badging. Social badging allows holders of IIA qualifications to digitally display their credentials on social and professional networking sites at no cost to the candidate. View more information on Social Badging.

The IIA Certification Registry is an up-to-date record of individuals who have earned an IIA certification and maintain it by reporting continuing professional education (CPE) to keep their credential active. All IIA active certification holders who choose to voluntarily opt-in will be included in the registry. The IIA Certification Registry allows you to provide evidence of your accomplishments and provides an opportunity for employers and recruiters to verify your IIA designations. You should opt into the certification registry to certify your credibility. Learn more.

Yes, with an active Internal Audit Practitioner designation you can apply for the CIA program. You could even receive a waiver for CIA Part 1, meaning you will only need to complete Parts 2 and 3.

• If your IAP was awarded after 27 May 2025, you will have four years to enroll in the CIA program and maintain the waiver for CIA Part 1.
• If your IAP was awarded on or before 27 May 2025, you will have until 31 May 2026 to enroll in the CIA program and maintain the waiver for CIA Part 1.

If your Internal Audit Practitioner designation has expired, The IIA will be restoring it to an active status, regardless of when you earned it. You will need to complete annual certification renewal beginning in 2026, if you would like to maintain the active status.