New standards, new designations, new opportunities
If 2024 was all about preparing for the new Global Internal Audit Standards, which came into force in January this year, 2025 is going to be focused on the IIA and Chartered IIA designations and the training routes towards achieving them.
The exams and syllabuses need to change to align with the Global Standards. However, the planned developments will go much further. The changes should both resolve current anomalies in the system and make the professional pathway smoother and more flexible for those who enter – and progress in – internal audit at all levels.
The designations are the foundations of internal audit professionalism and so it is essential that they train and maintain the skills internal auditors need now, and that they keep being updated to reflect skills that will be needed in the future.
What is changing in light of the new Standards?
For those new to internal audit and with little or no internal audit experience, the entry level certification will now be the Introductory Certificate in Internal Audit Practice (IACERT). This certification replaces the IIA Certificate in Internal Audit and Business Risk which is being retired as a designation but will live on as training courses.
Members with at least two years’ experience in internal audit will be able to enrol on the new Internal Audit Practitioner (IAP) and, while the title may be familiar, the certification will be based on the CIA Part 1. This will also become a permanent designation (rather than expiring after three years). Those holding it will therefore be required to complete and record their continuing professional education (CPE).
Removing the three-year expiry date will enable people to pause their training after completing the IAP. Basing the IAP on CIA Part 1 means that members can break their studies after completing the IAP while retaining credit for the CIA Part 1 exam – so will have one fewer exam to sit. This creates an incentive to carry on and gain that designation at your own pace.
The new CIA syllabus will align fully with the new Global Standards. At the top of the ladder, members will be encouraged to gain our Chartered Internal Auditor status (CMIIA), either via the learning pathway or by demonstrating their experience if they have already spent a substantial period in a CAE role. Chartered Internal Auditor remains the cornerstone designation of the Chartered IIA for those leading the profession.
The syllabus of our Chartered Leadership Programme will change to ensure that it follows on seamlessly from the new CIA syllabus. The new programme will focus on equipping senior internal auditors with a range of leadership skills applicable to many management roles. This will support those internal audit leaders who wish to progress their careers in executive or non-executive positions.
What's new with Chartered IIA apprenticeships?
The Chartered IIA is working with stakeholders to develop a new Internal Audit Technician apprenticeship at level 4. Registrations will open in June. The existing Internal Audit Practitioner apprenticeship has been closed to new entrants since November 2024. Those currently studying can continue with the workshops and courses identified by their tuition providers and take the exam before the end of this calendar year under a special arrangement with IIA Global.
For those members working towards the professional recognition, the Chartered IIA is supporting the development of a new Certified Internal Auditor apprenticeship at level 6, which is expected to go live in the autumn.
Offering a level 4 apprenticeship for those new to internal audit, which leads on to a level 6 apprenticeship that demonstrates your professional competency, makes progression and career advancement much simpler. Level 4 apprentices will also gain the IACERT designation and so will receive the same support as other members who are new to internal audit and need to acquire skills in their roles before deciding how to progress their training. Members who complete the level 6 apprenticeship will gain the CIA designation and voting membership.
The existing level 7 apprenticeship will continue in its present form for the moment, but will be updated. Details will be shared with stakeholders when we have more details.
For all the new apprenticeships, the professional exam is being integrated into the End Point Assessment, which will result in fewer assessments.
What does this mean for those currently studying for a designation?
Anyone who is currently studying for any of the IIA or Chartered IIA designations should already be informed about the changes and how they will be affected. The new CIA exams start on 28 May, so any exams sat before this date will be on the current syllabus. All exams taken after 28 May will be on the new syllabus. Anyone who is planning to take this exam after that date should be aware of this deadline.
What are the advantages of the new certification systems?
The new programmes will integrate our training and our professional designations better and enable people to progress their careers to different levels at their own pace while remaining part of the wider profession and undergoing CPE. Making Internal Audit Practitioners full members will also enable the Chartered IIA to support them better through the next stages of their professional journey.
The new CIA syllabus incorporates topics introduced in the Global Standards and supports more management training to help members increase their professional influence in their organisations. At the most senior levels, the new Chartered Leadership Programme will support senior internal auditors as they progress to the top of the internal audit profession and will open more doors to other leadership roles.