By Andrea Terrill CPA
What resources do I need to excel in each CPA PEP module? Where do I get these resources? Do I need a study plan? Will I have time for self-care?
If you’ve asked yourself these questions, you are not alone. During CPA PEP, Andrea Terrill CPA discovered that effective time management, using the right resources, and leveraging in-person workshops to build relationships played a big role in her success. In this two-part blog post series, she shares her ideas to help other CPA candidates navigate through the program.
Andrea is a Finance Officer at Parks Canada. She passed the May 2021 CFE and obtained her CPA designation in September of the same year.
Time commitment
When I first started CPA PEP, I struggled with time management. I spent too much time responding to cases and not enough time debriefing, and waited until the end of the module to study for the exam. I then learned how to allocate my time properly, and my most important takeaway was to create a study calendar at the start of each module.
In the calendar, I first entered case deadlines for each week, followed by the exam date. Then I scheduled around those key dates to ensure I had enough time to complete cases, debrief, and study for the exam. My calendar was consistent for each module and included the following layout:
- A few hours each night to work on a case.
- A few hours each week to debrief and go over a marked case. The debriefings helped me improve from RC to C in some areas.
- A few hours each week to study technical material for exams. This time was important as it allowed me to focus on improving areas of weakness.
- And to prevent burnout, I scheduled a day off each week to recharge my brain battery and ensure my mental health was in a good place.
Another key factor that helped me succeed was knowing when exams were happening and requesting the time off. My manager and I would go over my study and exam dates and block them off on the calendar, allowing me to rearrange my work-related meetings and deadlines.
Having a calendar and planning ahead reduced my stress levels and allowed me to use my time efficiently. I believe this approach is key for success in each module. In CPA PEP, you will find that there never seems to be enough time, so it is important to use each day to its full potential.
The views expressed in this post are those of the guest writer, Andrea Terrill CPA. Please refer to cpawsb.ca for the latest guidelines from the CPA Western School of Business.
If you need support maintaining your mental well-being while balancing your time in CPA PEP, please reach out to CPA Assist, which provides confidential counselling services and 24/7 crisis support to Alberta and Saskatchewan CPAs, candidates, and their immediate families. Visit cpa-assist.ca for more information or call the confidential support line (toll-free) at 1.855.596.4222.
