CPA candidates, if you’ve self assessed within the Practical Experience Reporting Tool (PERT) as having “met” requirements, you’re probably wondering what the next steps are. Below are some tips and things to consider as you complete your final experience report and potentially prepare to apply for membership.
As soon as your experience reports show you have met the requirements, you will receive an action item: Completion Review Due. You will need to complete and request a CPA review, in which your reviewer will review your report and notify you of any additional information or revisions that may be required.
When completing reporting in PERT, candidates working in a pre-approved program (PPR) will have streamlined reporting as a result of the program having been reviewed and approved by the profession in advance. The required technical sub-competency areas are already populated into the candidate’s experience report. Candidates are then responsible for self-assessing their proficiency against these areas, as well as answering the enabling competency questions. Before experience reports are reviewed by the profession, they must be certified by the Pre-approved program leader.
Candidates in the experience verification route (EVR) are required to record details, via PERT, about their employer, their role, and the specific duties they are performing. These reports must be verified by a supervisor, who verifies the factual accuracy of the details in the report. The profession, at the time of review, may request additional supporting details.
Candidates, before submitting your CPA review, you should ensure:
- all reports are verified;
- your report dates don’t overlap;
- leave is calculated and reported accurately;
- your Consolidated Summary is reflecting that you have met the Practical Experience Requirements;
- all required mentor reviews are documented;
- the chargeable hours form is signed by the program leader and attached to the final report in PERT (applicable only if you are in public accounting); and
- that the enabling competencies are answered fully using specific examples.
Once your review is complete and finalized, you can proceed with your application to membership. When completing this application, you should keep in mind that the application is considered a legal document and must be witnessed by a Notary Public or a Commissioner for Oaths.
Candidates, you should also keep in mind that you are not permitted to use the designation until your application has been approved by the Registrar. It may take four to six weeks to process your application for membership, but you will receive an email when your application is approved.
Completing your final experience report is an exciting time in the CPA journey of any candidate, and CPA Alberta looks forward to celebrating the addition of those three letters after your name. If you ever have any questions regarding reporting your experience, you can reach the Practical Experience team at practicalexperience@cpaalberta.ca.
