Practical Experience Mentorship

Mentorship is a key component of your practical experience journey. Your mentor will help guide you to develop valuable enabling competencies that will advance your career.

Your mentor is a CPA member who volunteers to share their experience and expertise to help you become a successful CPA. Your mentor will meet with you at least twice a year throughout your work term to discuss your competency development. They can also help you identify further development strategies.

Key mentorship difference between EVR and PPR practical experience routes

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As a CPA Ontario student in the Experience Verification Route (EVR), you are responsible for finding your mentor. Your mentor can work in the same or different organization.
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As a CPA Ontario student in the Pre-Approved Program Route (PPR), you are appointed a mentor by your employer. Your mentor must be employed from within your organization.

Find and match with your mentor

After you have registered as a CPA Ontario student, and found relevant employment, it is time to match with a mentor and start your PE journey. Your mentor will use the Practical Experience Reporting Tool (PERT) to communicate your progress to CPA Ontario.

Learn the basics of Practical Experience on our Understand your PE page. Follow the PE Checklist to create your profile in PERT and set your PER Start Date.

EVR Students

How to match with a mentor

  1. Search your professional network for a CPA member you would like to be your mentor. Approach them and ask them to sign up to be a mentor if they aren’t already registered. If you cannot find a mentor in your network, use the Mentor Search feature found in PERT.
  2. When you have secured a mentor, add their email address to your PERT profile. Ensure it is the same email they used in their application to be a mentor.
  3. Your PER Start Date will be automatically set in PERT once you have added your mentor to your profile and your pre-assessment request is approved, as outlined in this video.

PPR Students

Linking up with a mentor

  1. Your mentor is assigned to you by your PPR. If you do not know who your mentor is, reach out to your Program Manager.
  2. Add your mentor’s email address to your PERT profile. Ensure it is the same email they used in their mentor application.
  3. Once you have completed the steps outlined in this video, your PER Start Date will be set.

Mentorship FAQs