The Institute of Internal Auditors has stopped most of its in-person activities, including training, during the COVID-19 pandemic and will instead do online testing on a temporary basis for its certification exams.

All three parts of the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) exam and the Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA), will be available online, along with the CIA Challenge Exam.

New applicants and candidates who have signed up for in-person exams can now register for the online offerings, with scheduling expected to begin in late April or early May. Online testing will be available only on an interim basis. In addition, to help candidates during this period of uncertainty, the IIA is offering a 20 percent discount on new application and registration fees to its members for the CIA and CRMA exams until the end of May.

The IIA’s certification exams are usually administered only in person at on-site locations around the world, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the exam centers have been temporarily closed to safeguard public health. The IIA said Monday it understands that uncertainties during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic are forcing many people to reassess how they do their jobs. Internal audit professionals are often working remotely nowadays to provide assurance and evaluation of risk management and effective governance during these strange times.

The CIA certification has been awarded to more than 165,000 individuals since 1974. To become a Certified Internal Auditor, candidates need to meet educational and experience requirements, and pass all three parts of the CIA exam. Many CIAs today are chief and senior internal audit managers, vice presidents and directors at top global companies.

For more information on the online exam programs, visit the IIA’s certifications informational page.