In December we invited you to submit your questions to us regarding the practical experience requirements (PER) for completing CIMA. Here we publish Part Three of the questions and answers.

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Question 13:

I completed TOPCIMA in May 2009, and I wish to know the exact date that I should submit my career profile according to the new syllabus.

Answer 13:

From completing your last exam, you have four years in which to make an application for membership. I would recommend that as soon as you have enough experience that you get your application submitted, this reduces the risk of any problems of getting your experience signed off.

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Question 14:

Under the section called 'Current Employment Details' of the Membership Application form, Do we need to mention the details of all the relevant jobs that we've done within the entire 3 years or only about our last job at the time that we submit our career profile for your assessments?

Answer 14:

The Current employment details refers to where you are working at the time of submitting your application. The details of your history of employment is recorded in the employment summary and your detailed write up of your experience.

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Question 15:

Can you please let me know that do we need to have all the points covered in our report which are listed in the Practical Experience guide or is it there is some minimum criteria set up to do the practical tasks according to the guide.

Answer 15:

In regard to the requirements, you are hopefully gaining a spread of experience. It is not a requirement to cover every element. Quite often in your career you are not exposed to certain areas until much later, so it's simply not possible to cover every area. As CIMA members can find themselves in quite diverse roles, the requirements have to reflect this to include a wide range of experience.

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Question 16:

I sat for the Test of Professional Competence in Management Accounting  (TOPCIMA) P10 in November 2009.  However, I have not submitted the Practical Experience Requirements yet although I believe I do have the experience but I was just late in writing it.  If I pass the P10 test will I have to comply with the 2010 syllabus or the 2005 syllabus?  If I deliver the Practical Experience Requirement before the year-end would this make any difference?

Answer 16:

As you have sat the last subject and are waiting for the results, my recommendation to you would be to get your application in now, that way you have got the ball rolling to get your qualification complete. Hopefully this also means that if you receive a positive result from your exam, you wouldn't have long to wait to also get the decision on your membership application.

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Question 17:

I completed TOPCIMA in November 09, I am currently busy with my practical experience and have just under a year to go in order to have 3 years of practical experience in the required fields.

What would change, if anything, with regards to the completing and submitting of my PER next year in light of the new 2010 syllabus?

Answer 17:

With the introduction of the new syllabus, it is the syllabus and structure that has changed, which includes incorporating the practical experience into the final subject. The practical experience requirements themselves remain the same.

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Question 18:

I submitted my work experience back in 2007 and I received a letter indicating that I acquired sufficient relevant practical experience. I sat November 2009 TOPCIMA and I did not do well. It is therefore likely that I will have to sit again this paper.

Is the work experience acquired from the 2005 syllabus still valid? I cannot see anything in the transition explanation. Thanks.

Answer 18:

Once your experience has been approved, it remains approved. All that will be required once you successfully complete your last exam is to fill out the front page only of the application form, sign it and send it into the team. The letter sent to you at the time of the approval should have included this information.

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Question 19:

What to do if the workplace experience is not quite fulfilling all of the PER criteria, but study is sponsored and the contract is "locked in"?

Answer 19:

When it comes to gaining experience, it is not necessary to cover all the requirements to gain membership, but to have a spread of experience, with at least 18 months (of the 3 years required) gained in the core area.

If you are looking for more variety to what you are doing you could try asking your employer for more scope to what you are doing to increase your experience base.

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To see the other questions and expert answers in this session visit:

Ask An Expert: Practical Experience - Part One
Ask An Expert: Practical Experience - Part Two

To discuss this further - go to the Practical Experience board.