Practical Experience (in teach out)

Complement your educational training with practical work experience and professional mentoring

In brief

  • Completing practical work experience with guidance from a mentor is an important part of earning your CA.
  • It’s your opportunity to show how you are able to apply technical principles and professional skills in a practical working context.
  • You can choose your own mentor, but they must be an experienced full member with CA ANZ or a member of a Global Accounting Alliance (GAA) body which CA ANZ has a full recognition agreement with.

Please note: This Mentored Practical Experience module is delivered in the CA Program's accredited Graduate Diploma of Chartered Accounting course which is currently in teach out.

Show what you’ve learnt

To become a CA, you must complete the Practical Experience Program to be awarded the designation.

Mentored Practical Experience ensures your learning is applied in a professional context.

You will need to demonstrate competency in at least two of the following technical areas:

  • accounting academic
  • accounting information systems
  • auditing
  • external reporting
  • financial management
  • insolvency and reconstructions
  • management accounting
  • taxation
  • financial advice

You will also need to demonstrate competency in all of the following non-technical areas:

  • teamwork
  • organisational skills
  • research and evaluation
  • decision making
  • exercising ethical and professional behaviour
  • communication and interpersonal skills

You can start your practical experience before commencing any CA Program modules. You can find more information on the competencies and the logbook to record your progress by referring to the related downloads below.

Both your mentor and your manager will provide you with ongoing opportunities to develop and demonstrate your required competencies and help guide and monitor your progress.

Get help and support

Mentored Practical Experience is designed to help strengthen your professional judgement, leadership and teamwork skills.

Your mentor should provide career guidance, support and insights to the accounting profession.

Your progress will be regularly supervised and monitored by a mentor who:

  • Shares their knowledge and experience.
  • Helps you identify and find ways to fill any gaps in your knowledge.
  • Monitors your competency through regular face-to-face meetings.
  • Ensures practical experience meets your development needs as well as your employer’s needs.

When you’re ready to apply to become a Chartered Accountant, your Mentor will submit a report confirming your progress and achievements as part of your application.

Working arrangements

You need to be working in a relevant accounting role for at least 17.5 hours per week with a verified approved employer.

There are two types of approved employers:

  • An Approved Training Employer (ATE) who offers work experience and training that meets the practical experience requirements for Chartered Accountants.
  • A Recognised Training Employer (RTE) who offers an in-house training program that has been approved by Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.

Finding a mentor

You are responsible for finding your own mentor. An experienced Chartered Accountant at your work would be a good place start.

If that isn’t an option, an experienced Chartered Accountant elsewhere is acceptable.

All mentors must be an experienced Chartered Accountant who is a current member of with Chartered Accountants ANZ or a similarly recognised overseas body (a member of the Global Accounting Alliance).

Information for mentors

  • Why become a mentor?

    Mentoring is your opportunity to make a tangible impact on a candidate’s career path by providing guidance and support.

    Mentoring enables you to:

    • Grow your professional coaching skills and contribute to the success of others
    • Connect with a younger network and gain a diverse perspective on emerging trends
    • Have a direct impact on the development of your organisation’s team
    • Contribute to your profession by passing on the wisdom, guidance and support you’ve gained throughout your career
  • What's involved

    As a mentor, you are expected to monitor and support your candidate mentee’s progress throughout the Practical Experience component of the Chartered Accountant Program.

    You are responsible for recommending workplace activities for your candidate to demonstrate their competencies, and for assessing your candidate’s overall level of competence in an encouraging and goal-oriented way.

    Our Mentor Toolkit will help you set mentor and candidate expectations and guide your candidate through the program.

  • Who can be a mentor?

    You must be an experienced CA member, either with us or a similarly recognised overseas body (a member of the Global Accounting Alliance).

    You may work with the same employer as your mentee. You can also be an external mentor, as long as you meet the Program’s requirements.

    For further information you should consult the Mentor Practical Experience Guidelines and Candidate Practical Experience Guidelines below; or get in touch.

Read the CA Program policies

Access CA Program policies to be informed

Program policies

Warning:  This Mentored Practical Experience module is currently in teach out and is not open for new admissions.

Want to enrol in the new CA Program?

Click here for subject descriptions of the new CA Program.

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