Earning the Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA) is a powerful career accelerator, signaling to employers that you possess advanced expertise in governance and risk. However, there is a catch: to even sit for the CRMA, you must already hold the CIA and have significant audit experience.
This means almost every CRMA candidate is studying while working a demanding, full-time job—often managing audit teams, traveling to client sites, and dealing with 50+ hour work weeks.
How do you find the time to study? Here are strategies gathered from successful NexusGRC candidates who passed the CRMA while balancing high-pressure careers.
1. The "Pay Yourself First" Principle
By the time you finish a 10-hour workday, your cognitive battery is depleted. Trying to study complex risk appetite frameworks at 8:00 PM is a recipe for frustration and low retention.
Instead, study in the morning. Wake up one hour earlier and dedicate 60 minutes to your CRMA exam prep before checking your email or starting your commute. Treat this morning block as the most important meeting of your day—a meeting with your future career.
2. Leverage "Hidden" Time
Audit professionals often travel or commute. Reclaim this "dead time."
- If you commute by train, read the study material.
- If you commute by car, use text-to-speech apps to listen to your study notes or listen to GRC podcasts.
- While waiting in airports or hotel lobbies, complete 10-15 practice questions on your phone.
3. Micro-Studying: The 15-Minute Rule
Many candidates falsely believe they need a 3-hour uninterrupted block to study effectively. This leads to procrastination. Instead, embrace micro-studying.
Can you find 15 minutes during your lunch break? Do a quick quiz on ISO 31000 principles. 15 minutes between meetings? Review the Three Lines Model. These micro-sessions add up to hours of highly focused study time over a week.
4. Integrate Study with Work
Since the CRMA focuses on Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), find ways to apply what you learn to your current audit engagements. If you are studying COSO ERM, ask to review your organization's risk register at work. Applying theoretical concepts to your daily job cements the knowledge far better than reading a textbook.
Conclusion
Passing the CRMA while working full-time requires ruthless prioritization. You don't need more time; you need better energy management and consistent, daily execution.
