Getting started in the Practical Experience Reporting Tool (PERT)

CPA candidates are required to capture all practical experience in the online Practical Experience Reporting Tool (PERT).

Creating a PERT profile

Please visit the CPA Western School of Business for a detailed step-by-step

Practical Experience Requirements (PER) Start Date

The Practical Experience Requirements (PER) start date is the day you begin to accumulate qualifying practical experience. The PER start date is calculated in PERT when CPA candidates meet the following three conditions: 

• They are registered as a CPA candidate with the CPA Western School of Business (CPAWSB)

• They are working in a qualifying position

• They have a CPA mentor

Once approved, the PER start date will be calculated to the date the individual registered as a Candidate with the CPA Western School of Business (CPAWSB), or started in a position or identified a mentor (whichever date occurred later). 

CPA candidates must submit all of the required information in PERT, including any mandatory attachments, and CPA mentor information, within 90 days of either the date they registered as a CPA candidate with CPAWSB or the date they started employment (whichever date occurred later). If the information is provided outside of the 90 days, the PER start date will be calculated to the date the information was provided.

Prior Experience

• Prior experience is for experience gained before your PER Start Date.

• Depending on when your PER Start Date is, you may need to report a portion of your current role in a prior experience report.

• A maximum of 12 months of prior experience can be recognized towards your duration requirement in positions that have ended in the last 5.5 years.

• You can also report experience from a previous role, as long as it will demonstrate at least one of the competency sub-areas at Level 1 proficiency and was held for at least three months duration.

• More information on how to report prior experience can be found in the Candidate Reporting Prior Experience document below.

PERT Guide for Future CPAs

Changing Jobs While Reporting

The Changing Jobs While Reporting document below is available to assist with identifying whether you need to report your change of job and how to do it.

Questions? Please contact: practicalexperience@cpaalberta.ca

Reporting your Practical Experience

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An overview of how to document experience in PERT, along with helpful tips in relation to common struggles.

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