As CPA candidates move through their work experience in either the Pre-Approved Program Route or the Experience Verification Route, it’s important that they have a strong mentorship relationship in place. Having a strong relationship means candidates will be able to navigate their path to completion confidently with the support of an experienced CPA.
Mentees and mentors need to meet at least semi-annually and record the mentor meeting dates and comments in the Practical Experience Reporting Tool (PERT). By meeting semi-annually, candidates and mentors can ensure they’re openly discussing technical and enabling competency development on a regular basis. At these meetings, mentors and mentees discuss learning plans and technical and enabling competency goals and progression, as well as any developmental concerns. These meetings are also a good opportunity for candidates to ask their mentor questions like what their mentor’s professional goals are or challenges their mentor has faced and how their mentor overcame them.
What should a mentor be reviewing, assessing, and providing guidance on?
When mentors meet with their mentees, it’s important that the mentor reviews the candidate’s experience reports by thoroughly reviewing the technical and enabling competencies the candidate has claimed in PERT. Mentors should discuss the nature of the candidate’s work as the candidate has described it and its relevance to the competency map and overall fit within the competency framework. The candidate’s learning plan and desired progression should also be examined to determine if they are on track.
There are many great questions mentors can ask themselves:
- Is the candidate on the pathway to achieving core, depth, and breadth? Are there any gaps in experience or focus areas that could be optimized?
- Are there any enabling competency development areas that could be further explored?
- Is the candidate in a role that provides sufficient experience to get to completion?
- Is the candidate claiming proficiency levels in line with their exposure and development?
Mentors are expected to provide candidates with an objective perspective on their development. The mentor/mentee relationship is integral to helping shape, build, and grow a mentee’s professional experience to meet the Practical Experience Requirements. For more information and resources on either becoming a mentor or providing more meaningful mentorship, check out CPA Canada’s mentor resources page.
