New Brunswick Practical Experience Requirements

 

The CMA practical experience evaluation process gives candidates the opportunity to demonstrate how they satisfy the competencies expected for professional management accountants in the workplace.  The process included submission of an initial practical experience report which is assessed by the Practical Experience Evaluation and Review Committee, comprised of seasoned CMAs.

Those candidates who demonstrate they are functioning at a Competency Stage 2 are required to submit only one more practical experience report at the end of the Strategic Leadership Program.  Those who are not functioning at the required level will be assigned a CMA mentor, a seasoned CMA who will work with the candidate over a 12-18 month period to further assess the practical work experience of the candidate and dialogue with his/her employer to work toward obtaining the require practical experience.  When the candidate achieves the required experience, the mentor will then provide the PEER Committee with a recommendation that the experience be approved.

For candidates, the mentoring program offers the opportunity to discuss work issues with an experienced CMA and to place what is being learned in an applied context. For mentors, this program allows them the ability to connect with aspiring CMAs who will be tomorrow’s business leaders.

Competency Assessment Report

 

Instructions to Candidates

All candidates must demonstrate competency through verifiable work experience. Candidates must be able to apply the acquired knowledge and skills from the CMA Competency Map at an overall CS-2 level.

 

The duration of work experience will be twenty-four months and all experience must be pre-approved by the Provincial/Territorial Society, as must any changes. Provincial and territorial offices will continue to monitor work experience throughout the duration of the candidate’s accreditation process.

 

The candidate shall provide a written report on the nature, duration and time of the practical experience completed, which shall be verified by the candidate’s employer.

 

Steps to be followed:

1. Candidates are to complete a self-evaluation, using the tables provided. Candidates will look at each competency sub-category and asses where their competency should be ranked (i.e. CS 1 (Acquisition), CS 2 (Basic Proficiency), CS 3 (Advanced Proficiency) or CS 4 (Mastery)).
2. For every competency within each function and enabling competency category, candidates are to provide a recent example of how this competency has been demonstrated in the workplace. This will support your overall ranking in each area (i.e. CS 1 through to CS 4).
3. All reports must be verified by your manager.  The employer is verifying the examples provided, not confirming the competency level at which the candidate is working based on the self-evaluation. 
4. The candidate should then complete a self assessment for each level based on the work examples provided.  The candidate should then discuss their ratings with then assigned mentor. (Note:  Candidates are not expected to be at CS-2 in all competencies but the overall assessment should be at the CS-2 level.)
5. The CMA mentor will make an assessment of the candidate’s competency level based on the managerial summary and examples as well as discussions with the candidate.  The mentor should clarify where any discrepancies arise from the candidates self assessment and ensure that the candidate is aware of their overall rating and what can be done to improve.  The final report will include a recommendation of certification to the Board.
6. As a final check, the reports will be reviewed by the Director of Professional Development.  Those not meeting or working towards meeting the required practical experience level may be forced to defer the program until appropriate practical experience can be obtained.

 

Please note:

Although candidates must demonstrate they have acquired knowledge and skills from the CMA Competency Map at an overall CS-2 level, it is not necessary that candidates meet the CS 2 level in all areas.  The position assumed by the candidate within their workplace will also be considered.  Those candidates at a CS-1 level will require a second report.  If the candidate is at a CS-1 level then their manager, mentor and the candidate should develop a plan at the first meeting to ensure that the candidate can meet CS-2 on their second report.  Those Candidates at a CS-2 level do not need to report again until near program completion unless there has been a change in employment status