IIA Recognizes 150,000th CIA Recipient As Growth in Internal Audit’s Certification Standard Soars

Milestone celebrates advancement of the profession worldwide

LAKE MARY, Fla. USA (9 May 2018) — The 150,000th recipient of the internal audit profession’s premier certification, the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), was announced today at The Institute of Internal Auditors’ (IIA) 2018 International Conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Shuzhi Zhao, deputy manager of internal audit at Xinjiang Zhundong Petroleum Technology Company in China, was recognized for passing the CIA’s rigorous three-part exam, demonstrating competency and professionalism in the internal audit field.

The CIA was launched in 1974 to meet the growing need for internal auditors to demonstrate their knowledge and industry proficiency. Since its debut, demand for the CIA has grown exponentially, with The IIA celebrating the 100,000th CIA certification in 2011 and, just seven years later, the 150,000th, a 50 percent increase.

Today, the CIA exam is offered in 18 languages. The greatest increase in the number of CIAs globally has come from the Asia-Pacific region, which now accounts for 45 percent of CIAs awarded since the certification’s inception. North America ranks second and Europe is third.

“Considering the enormous responsibility that today’s internal auditors carry on behalf of their organizations, stakeholders require our professionals to have the highest level of proficiency and credibility. No other certification anywhere can attest to this in the way the CIA can,” said IIA President and CEO Richard Chambers, CIA, QIAL, CGAP, CCSA, CRMA. “The depth and breadth of this global certification program are unparalleled.”

Additionally, four awards are presented each year to internal auditors who perform exceptionally well on the CIA exam. These recognitions are named in honor of individuals who have been a driving force in The IIA’s global certification programs over the years. Announced today at The IIA’s International Conference:

• The William S. Smith Gold Award, for the Highest Scoring Candidate: Seyed Paul Arab (Tennessee, USA)
• The A.J. (Hans) Spoel Silver Award, for the Second Highest Scoring Candidate: Steven Dobberkau (Germany)
• The Kurt Riedener Bronze Award, for the Third Highest Scoring Candidate: Wendy Magno (Central Florida, USA)
• The Glen Sumners Student Award, for the Student Who Scored the Highest on the CIA Exam: Earl Jason Omega Gozon (Philippines)

“We congratulate each of these individuals for their accomplishments and commitment to the practice of internal auditing,” Chambers said. “We honor each as an outstanding member of our profession.”

Taking place since Monday at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, part of the Dubai World Trade Centre complex, the 2018 International Conference has focused on “Connecting the World Through Innovation” and delved into global issues impacting the profession.

For more information about the Certified Internal Auditor program, please visit The IIA’s North American or Global website.