What is PER?
PER or Practical Experience Requirement is the mandatory 36 months of supervised experience that students need to complete to gain the prestigious ACCA status. ACCA is not just a theoretical course; one has to prove their skills by implementing their learnings for real-life companies, brands, agencies, etc. This gives them the green flag to go ahead and complete their course and work as a full-time ACCA anywhere in the world.
In PER, students have to demonstrate exceptional skills and achieve 9 performance objectives. Only then are they qualified to complete their degree.
Process of PER
For beginners, PER can seem a long process, so let’s break it down and understand how students can complete their PER:
1. Experience: First, figure out the relevant role in which you will be pursuing your PER. This can be finance, accounting, etc.
Once you sort that out, find out in what kind of work will you fulfil your PER. The nature of the work can include a full-time role in any organization, a part-time role in any organization, multiple roles with the same employer, partially relevant roles, internships, and volunteering.
2. Find the right guide/supervisor: The whole point of PER is that it is to be supervised and documented. And for that, you have to find the right supervisor who will be able to guide you the right way in your 36 months period and acknowledge and approve the work done in the end. Some conditions about getting a supervisor:
- More than one supervisor is also allowed
- The supervisor you choose may or may not be a qualified accountant to approve your work, but should be a qualified accountant to approve your performance objectives
- Usually, a supervisor is your line manager, but if he is not a qualified accountant, then you can approach other managers or the organization’s external auditor or accountant to approve your performance objectives.
3. Choose the right performance objectives: Choose the performance objectives that align well with your relevant work role. Key points to note:
- There should be a total of 9 performance objectives (5 essential+4 technical)
- Plan it well with your supervisor about achieving the goals
- Link your objectives with your day to day work so you can work and simultaneously tick off your goals
4. Record your experience: When you start working, keep a record of your day to day workings as they will help you in both gaining experience & learning and getting your work approved in the end.
5. Complete 36 months: According to ACCA, you need to complete the PER in 36 months, and that doesn’t mean in just one go. You can begin, then take a break in between if you feel like it, and then begin again. Just ensure every time you plan to end a role, you sign off your objectives with your supervisor. In the end, the signed off work should constitute 36 months.
PER gives you a sneak peek into your daily work life that could be after you become a full-time ACCA. This means you get to work as an ACCA before becoming an ACCA. PER is more than just a formality training, but a tool to equip you with what the industry has to offer.