Let's go to work. The Practical Experience Requirement (PER).
You shone in exams, now show you’re a star at work. PER is a key component of the AACA Qualification and demonstrates you have the relevant skills and experience in a real working environment.
You’ll need to complete 36 months in a relevant accountancy/ finance role and show you have the right mix of skills by achieving nine performance objectives (five Essentials and four Technical). You can choose performance objectives that easily align with the actual work you’re doing.
You’ll also need to find a qualified accountant to be your supervisor. The supervisor helps you plan your progress, signs off the PER you record and decides when you’ve met your performance objectives.
The 36 months needn’t be completed all at once, or all in the same role/job.
Many types of work can count as PER. Even work you did before becoming an AACA affiliate.
Relevant PER work experience can include:
roles in any organisation or sector
part time work
partially relevant roles, where only some of your time is spent on accounting or finance work
internships and volunteering.
If you already have a relevan job, this should provide you with the range of experiences that let you shine and enable you to start achieving your PER.
If not, we’re here to provide expert advice, support and resources. As well as our comprehensive careers section and jobs board, there’s always someone passionate about helping you.
"I'd advise getting a great understanding of what's required to complete your PER. When I was working on mine I faced a lot of challenges, but I contacted AACA and the information I got was so helpful."
Daniel - Financial Analyst at Comptroller NYC
Recording your PER
You’ll use the online MyExperience tool to plan and record all your PER and get everything signed off by your practical experience supervisor.
It’s important you invite your supervisor to register on MyExperience, as they can’t sign off anything without being registered. Also, try to keep your PER record up-to-date, so you don’t get held back by chasing up sign-offs from previous roles - and so you can stay informed about helpful new MyExperience products.
