Practical Experience

The chartered accountancy profession requires that each applicant for membership satisfies a specified period of required experience. The rationale for this experience requirement is to enable the profession to ensure that each new member has not only met stringent academic requirements but has also obtained experience in dealing with a broad spectrum of problems faced by professionals. It also provides prospective members with a quality and varied work experience under appropriate supervision in such a way as to develop a sense of professionalism and reinforce and expand upon technical working skills and administrative abilities.

Students should expect to achieve the following specific objectives from their period of required experience:

• opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge;
• reinforcement of technical education;
• development and exercise of judgment, initiative, and administrative ability;
• development of standards of integrity and independence;
• development of responsiveness to client needs;
• development of an entrepreneurial spirit; and
• enhancement of professional communication and interpersonal skills.

Each approved office agrees to provide a professional environment within which the student will be given an opportunity to satisfy the objectives outlined above.

All students are required to complete a 30 month term of experience in an Approved Training Office. All chargeable and nonchargeable activities carried out by a student while employed with an approved training office are generally acceptable for purposes of the 30 month requirement. Activities not recognized for experience purposes include paid or unpaid:

• vacation in excess of three weeks per annum;
• leave for study and examinations. This includes time spent on ASCA courses, preparation and writing of the Uniform Evaluation, and attendance at any other course, unless the course is specifically directed at job training for the approved training office;
• sickness, bereavement or other leaves of absence in excess of a reasonable amount as established by the approved training office. As a guideline to assist in consistent application, it is recommended that such leaves taken in excess of ten working days per year not be recognized for experience purposes

Students must obtain the following chargeable hours under the direct supervision and control of the approved training office during their 30 month term of experience:

In order for experience to qualify in each of the above areas, it must fall within the general scope of the corresponding sections of the CA Candidates' Competency Map.

No retroactive credit will be granted for experience gained prior to the date the student applies for registration with ASCA as a student of CA Newfoundland.