Chartered Member assessment

To take the Chartered Member assessment, you must have completed the Company Directors’ Course (CDC) or an equivalent, or completed the requirements of recognition of prior learning.

Chartered Member assessment equivalent

If you have passed the Australian Institute of Company Directors’ Company Director’s Course assessment, you only have to take Part A of the CMA – the exam – not part B, the assignment.

Recognition of prior learning

If you are a highly experienced director, you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning instead of taking CDC. 

1. You must have at least five years' experience on two or more qualifying boards. At least one of these organisations must have more than $5m assets, more than $10m turnover more than 15 staff . The position on the qualifying board must be for 12 months or more.
2. You must have completed one full day of training with the IoD. This must be at post-Company Directors' Course level eg Audit and Risk Committees, Chairing the Board, or Advanced Health & Safety Governance.
3. You must submit a reflective review outlining a governance challenge you have faced and your approach to dealing with it.

Contact the Registrar to discuss eligibility and apply registrar@iod.org.nz 

Please see the fees below. You pay each fee when you register for that part of the assessment.

If you begin the assessment within six months of finishing the Company Directors' Course, you can take the assessment at no additional cost.

You have 75 minutes to answer 60 questions in the exam.

There is a specific number of questions on each of four groups of governance topics.

This is an open book exam. We supply a copy of The Four Pillars of Governance Best Practice and the relevant sections of the Companies Act. You cannot take any other materials into the exam room.

You can take the exam online at your choice of more than 20 locations nationwide.

When preparing for the assessment, consider

• It takes about 30 hours on average to prepare for and sit the exam and another 15-30 hours to prepare for and answer the assignment.
• Begin preparation about 4-6 weeks before you apply for the assessment by reading:
  - The Four Pillars of Governance Best Practice
  - Relevant sections of the Companies Act 1993
  - Your Company Directors’ Course materials.
• You may also find it helpful to review:
  - Finance Essentials course materials
  - Health and safety guidance
  - Risk management articles.

To start your Chartered Member assessment:

1. read the Chartered Member assessment candidate handbook
2. review your study materials
3. register your interest in taking the assessment

We email you confirming your eligibility to take the assessment. Our email includes a link to the assessment booking portal.

Set up your assessment profile in the booking portal. Through the portal, register to take each part of the assessment separately:

• the exam, at your choice of location
• the assignment

Each part of the Chartered Member assessment gives you 10 CPD points. These points do not depend on a pass mark. Find out more about CPD points here.

Once you’ve successfully completed the Chartered Member Assessment (CMA), you’ll receive a digital badge from Credly, our digital credentialing partner.

Your badge can be easily shared on LinkedIn, in your governance CV, email signature, or digital portfolio - giving you a simple and credible way to showcase your achievement and highlight your progress on the Chartered pathway. Learn more here.