5 Best CIA Review Courses & CPA Challenge Options (2026)

Decision summary

Five active CIA review choices for August 2026

We ranked documented study fit rather than marketing superlatives. A course had to show a current purchasable product, alignment with the current syllabus, exam-style practice, support, and understandable access terms. Provider-published pass rates are not treated as independent evidence.

Affiliate disclosure: CPA Exam Guide may earn a commission from the Gleim links on this page, at no additional cost to you. They are marked sponsored. Becker, UWorld, Surgent, and HOCK are included with direct non-affiliate links.

Best official alignment

1. Becker–The IIA

The IIA's official review partner, with 3,300+ MCQs, six simulated exams, extensive video, academic support, and live classes in Pro.

Review Becker

Best structured depth

2. Gleim CIA

SmartAdapt, thousands of questions, realistic practice, 45+ video hours in Premium, personal support, and an until-pass option.

Review Gleim

Best high-volume QBank

3. UWorld CIA

6,000+ practice questions in full courses, 34+ video hours, detailed explanations, performance metrics, and mobile study.

Review UWorld

Best adaptive value

4. Surgent CIA

A $499 current full course with Predictive AI, ReadySCORE, 3,000+ explained questions, unlimited practice, and 18-month access.

Review Surgent

Best monthly flexibility

5. HOCK CIA

5,500+ MCQs, nine mocks, 30+ video hours, planning, community, and cancel-anytime access with a useful free preview.

Review HOCK

Verified CIA course features at a glance
Provider	Practice listed	Access	Regular displayed price/model	Best fit
Becker–The IIA	3,300+ MCQs; 6 simulated exams	24 months Essentials; unlimited Premium/Pro	$899 / $1,299 / $1,599	Official alignment and live support
Gleim	Thousands of MCQs; 3 or 6 mocks	18 months Traditional; until-pass Premium	$1,099 / $1,249	Structured, deep self-study
UWorld	6,000+ MCQs; mock per part	6 months per part Premier; 12 months Elite	Package pricing at checkout	High-volume explanations
Surgent	3,000+ explained questions	18 months	$499 Essentials	Adaptive, budget-aware study
HOCK	5,500+ MCQs; 9 mocks	Monthly; cancel anytime	$119.99/month regular rate	Low commitment and community

Prices and feature counts were observed August 9, 2026, and can change. Temporary promotions are excluded where their displayed deadline had passed. Providers count practice assets differently, so totals are not direct quality scores.

Current program

The standard CIA path in 2026

The three-part CIA exam is delivered through Pearson VUE and can be taken in any order. The English exam moved to the 2025 syllabus on May 28, 2025; most other languages followed, with Arabic and simplified Chinese completing the transition later in 2026.

Part 1: Internal Audit Fundamentals

125 multiple-choice questions in 150 minutes. Current member fee: $310; non-member: $445.

Part 2: Internal Audit Engagement

100 multiple-choice questions in 120 minutes. Current member fee: $280; non-member: $415.

Part 3: Internal Audit Function

100 multiple-choice questions in 120 minutes. Current member fee: $280; non-member: $415.

Eligibility and experience

A master's degree generally pairs with one year of accepted experience; a bachelor's with two years. Accepted work can include internal/external audit, risk, compliance, quality assurance, controls, and related assessment work. Candidates may test before completing experience.

Three-year completion window

The IIA gives candidates three years from program acceptance to complete exam and eligibility requirements. Each exam registration is valid for 180 days or until the program expires, whichever comes first.

Current IIA fees: application plus all three parts totals $990 for members before membership dues, or $1,515 for non-members. Fees are generally non-refundable and non-transferable; national-institute prices and taxes may differ outside North America.

The CPA shortcut

Active CPAs can use the one-part CIA Challenge Exam

For many readers of a CPA exam site, this is the most important update. An active CPA license from any U.S. state board is one of The IIA's approved qualified-accountant credentials. Instead of repeating the standard three-part route, an eligible CPA can apply for the one-part Challenge Exam.

Revised June 1, 2026

The updated exam contains 150 MCQs in 180 minutes and now aligns with the Global Internal Audit Standards. It covers professionalism/quality, audit operations and plan, engagement planning, performance, results, and monitoring.

Fees and timing

The IIA lists a $150 member application plus $845 exam fee, or $380 non-member application plus $1,245 exam fee. Approved qualified accountants have designated testing windows and a 180-day registration period.

Use a Challenge-specific course

Do not buy a standard three-part package by mistake. Becker and HOCK both publish dedicated 2026 Challenge products; verify the new syllabus and your eligibility before purchasing either.

CPA relevance test: the CIA is most defensible when your work touches internal audit leadership, SOX/controls, enterprise risk, compliance, governance, or audit committees. A CPA headed toward tax, small-firm attest, or general financial reporting may get less incremental value.

Detailed comparisons

Which CIA course fits your study plan?

1

Becker–The IIA CIA Review

Best for official syllabus alignment, academic support, and a live-class option.

Official partner

Becker became The IIA's official review partner and replaced the former IIA Learning System platform beginning in March 2025. All current three-part packages list 3,300+ MCQs, 650+ SkillBuilder videos, 250+ concept videos, six simulated exams, Adapt2U practice, digital books, Newt AI, a planner, flashcards, and academic support.

Pro adds scheduled LiveOnline classes.
Premium and Pro provide unlimited access.
Essentials provides 24 months at a lower regular price.
A 14-day trial includes a unit from each part.

Direct, non-affiliate provider link.Visit Becker–The IIA CIA Review

2

Gleim CIA Review

Best for candidates who want structured depth and realistic repeated practice.

Structured depth

Gleim's Traditional and Premium systems use SmartAdapt, detailed books and explanations, performance reporting, exam emulation, study planning, final review, and personal support. Premium adds 45+ video hours, accounting-expert access, six mocks, audio, and Access Until You Pass.

Thousands of practice questions with right/wrong explanations.
Traditional includes 18 months and three mocks.
Premium automatically updates while access remains active.
The free demo includes one unit from every exam part.

Sponsored link; preserves the existing Gleim CIA tracking parameters.Check Gleim CIA courses Try the Gleim demo

3

UWorld CIA Review

Best for a large QBank and visual, detailed answer explanations.

High-volume QBank

UWorld, which absorbed Wiley's accounting review products, lists 6,000+ practice questions in its full courses, 34+ video hours, 175+ lesson assessment questions, a mock per part, study guides, performance metrics, a planner, and mobile access. Its broader CIA page lists a 6,800+ QBank total.

Explanations address why choices are right or wrong.
Elite includes printed plus digital guides.
Access begins at activation, not initial setup.
A seven-day free trial is available.

Direct, non-affiliate provider link.Visit UWorld CIA Review

4

Surgent CIA Review

Best for adaptive diagnostics at a lower one-time price.

Adaptive value

Surgent's current Essentials course lists Predictive AI, ReadySCORE, 3,000+ explained questions, unlimited practice exams, ebooks, automatic updates, all-device access, an 18-month term, and a pass guarantee. It states alignment with the 2024 Global Internal Audit Standards used in the current syllabus.

Initial diagnostics target weak areas.
ReadySCORE provides a continuous readiness estimate.
Automatic updates are included during access.
Current regular price is substantially below most full packages.

Direct, non-affiliate provider link.Visit Surgent CIA Review

5

HOCK CIA Membership

Best for monthly access, a free preview, and professional community.

Monthly flexibility

HOCK lists current-syllabus books, audiobooks and podcasts, 30+ video hours, 5,500+ MCQs, nine mocks, a Pearson VUE-style interface, PassMap, readiness tracking, AI study support, expert help, and community access. The membership includes all three parts and can be canceled anytime.

Free membership previews units from every part.
One subscription includes every standard CIA section.
Separate Challenge and IAP products are available.
Professional-development material remains useful after the exam.

Direct, non-affiliate provider link.Visit HOCK CIA Membership

What changed

How outdated listings were handled

IIA Learning System: replaced

The governing body remains The IIA, but the old standalone Learning System course is no longer the current product. Becker–The IIA became the official replacement, so old IIA-course copy and prices were retired rather than presented as a separate company.

Lambers: not ranked

A current, transparent 2025-syllabus product page with enough comparable public detail was not verified. A familiar legacy name is not sufficient reason to keep a provider in a current top-five list.

Frequently asked questions

CIA course and credential FAQ

Is the CIA useful if I am already a CPA?

It can be highly relevant in internal audit, controls, governance, risk, compliance, SOX, and audit-committee work. It is less likely to add enough value for a CPA focused on tax, small-firm attest, or financial reporting with little internal-audit exposure.

Can every CPA take the Challenge Exam?

The IIA lists active CPA licenses from U.S. state boards among approved qualified-accountant credentials. You must document active good standing and satisfy the current application requirements. Verify your exact status in CCMS before buying prep.

What score passes the CIA exam?

The passing scaled score is 600 on a 250-750 scale. That is not a simple percentage. There is no penalty for an incorrect answer, so every multiple-choice question should receive an answer.

Do I need experience before taking the exam?

No. Degree-holding candidates may take the exam before completing the required experience, but all program requirements must be finished inside the three-year eligibility window.

What if I do not have a degree?

The IIA's current entry route starts with the Internal Audit Practitioner credential. An active IAP waives CIA Part 1; candidates without a degree generally need five years of accepted experience, including two recent years.

How do I choose a CIA review course?

First choose the correct path—three-part, Challenge, or IAP. Then compare current-syllabus alignment, access length, realistic MCQ explanations, mocks, instructor support, and a demo. Ignore expired promotions and unverified pass-rate claims.

Primary sources

How this page was verified

The IIA — Certified Internal Auditor (eligibility, fees, exam format, program window, languages and Challenge route).
The IIA Certification Candidate Handbook.
Becker–The IIA CIA packages and 2026 Challenge Review.
Gleim — CIA Review courses.
UWorld — CIA Review courses.
Surgent — CIA Exam Review.
HOCK — CIA Membership and Challenge Membership.

Last substantive review: August 9, 2026. Confirm fees, language transitions, eligibility, and testing windows with The IIA before registering.

Reviewed by Bryan Kesler, CPA

CPA Exam Guide founder. This comparison is educational and does not replace The IIA, a state board of accountancy, or employer guidance.

Best CIA Review Courses—and the Faster Route for CPAs