Understand the Requirements

CPA Practical Experience Requirements Overview for Employers

As an employer, you will have certain responsibilities to assist CPA candidates you employ to achieve their practical experience requirements for CPA certification.

The below document outlines what is required of employers during a CPA candidate's practical experience term.

Employer Factsheet: Practical Experience Requirements

CPA Candidate Requirements:

All CPA candidates must meet the following requirements to become a CPA, they must:

  • Have a minimum 30 months of qualifying duration with no more than 20 weeks of leave days
  • Have achieved the depth, breadth and core requirements of the technical competencies
  • Have achieved the enabling competency requirements
  • Be appropriately supervised when completing work
  • Be mentored over the course of their practical experience and meet semi-annually with their mentor to discuss their progression towards meeting the technical and enabling competencies

Two different reporting routes

There are two reporting routes available to candidates: the Pre-approved Program Route (PPR) and the Experience Verification Route (EVR).

Pre-approved Program Route (PPR):

These programs have already been reviewed and approved by the profession in advance of the CPA candidate beginning their reporting. Experience reporting is streamlined with pre-approved areas of technical competency development.

For more information, please visit the FAQs webpage. 

Experience Verification Route (EVR)

This is a self-directed route at an employer of choice that allows CPA candidates to demonstrate proficiency in their preferred areas of technical competencies and be reviewed and approved by the profession.

For more information, please visit the FAQs webpage. 

Practical Experience FAQs

Understanding the Competency Requirements

To understand what is required from CPA candidates when reporting on technical competencies, please review the below documents:

Guiding Questions and Rubric - Technical Competency Guiding Questions - Enabling Competency
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