Elevate Program Expands to Provide Merit-Based CIA Scholarships

JUNE 23, 2021 –The Institute of Internal Auditors, the internal audit profession’s widely recognized advocate, educator, and provider of standards, guidance, and certifications, and AuditBoard, a leading cloud-based platform transforming how enterprises manage risk, announced the expansion of their Elevate Internal Audit Scholarship Program to provide scholarships for internal auditors interested in attaining Certified Internal Auditor® (CIA®) status. This program expansion empowers qualified individuals to receive the training and testing necessary to achieve the CIA®, the only internationally recognized certification for internal auditing.

The Elevate program was launched by AuditBoard and The IIA in 2020 to provide scholarships to internal auditors who had been affected by layoffs and other financial hardship due to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and has extended aid for continuing education to over 200 internal auditors. With the economic recovery well underway, the program will now expand to support the continuing education and career development of internal auditors by also providing merit-based scholarships to cover the cost of training and certification for all three parts of the CIA® exam.

This expansion of the Elevate program reflects both AuditBoard’s goal of elevating the audit profession through technology and education and The IIA’s mission to advance the profession by providing educational and training opportunities based on a global set of standards. By providing access to CIA® training and exams for deserving individuals regardless of ability to pay, AuditBoard and The IIA are empowering them to attain the knowledge, skills, and competencies to advance their careers and their profession.

"The pandemic may be fading in North America, but the need for vigilance is not. In today’s world of complex and rapidly-evolving risk, it’s more important than ever for internal auditors to gain the skills to protect and drive value for their organizations," said Scott Arnold, President and CEO of AuditBoard. “We’re proud to support the internal audit community by partnering with The IIA to provide access to CIA® training and exams for those seeking to lead the industry through this historic inflection point.”

“To keep pace in this ever-evolving world, internal auditors must constantly acquire new knowledge and skills. The Elevate scholarship is intended to help those impacted by the pandemic increase their competencies and career options through IIA training programs and certifications, particularly the CIA, that will position them as vital to organizational success,” said IIA President and CEO Anthony J. Pugliese.

The application deadline for the first round of merit-based Elevate Internal Audit Scholarships is July 31, 2021. Internal auditors from the United States and Canada interested in completing the CIA® study program and examinations within a one-year window are encouraged to apply. Up to 15 scholarships will be awarded twice a year, with the inaugural set of winners to be announced in September 2021. Each scholarship is valued at more than $2,000 USD.

To learn more or to apply for an available scholarship, please visit Auditboard.com/Elevate.

About The Institute of Internal Auditors

The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) is the internal audit profession’s widely recognized advocate, educator, and provider of standards, guidance, and certifications. Established in 1941, The IIA today serves more than 200,000 members from nearly 200 countries and territories. The IIA’s global headquarters are in Lake Mary, Fla.

About AuditBoard

AuditBoard is the leading cloud-based platform transforming how enterprises manage risk. Its integrated suite of easy-to-use audit, risk, and compliance solutions streamlines internal audit, SOX compliance, controls management, risk management, and IT compliance. AuditBoard’s clients range from prominent pre-IPO to Fortune 10 companies looking to modernize, simplify, and elevate their functions. AuditBoard is the top-rated audit management and GRC software on G2, and was recently ranked for the second year in a row as one of the 100 fastest-growing technology companies in North America by Deloitte. For more information: www.auditboard.com.