CMA Practical Work Experience

To be accredited as a CMA in Ontario, you must complete 24 months of practical work experience in a qualifying position in management accounting. This experience must be gained at the same time as you are completing the CMA Strategic Leadership Program. You may be able to complete this requirement through work experience gained outside Canada, depending on your professional affiliation.See Your Path to Becoming a CMA for eligibility requirements.

Your work experience must be verifiable. This means that your supervisor(s) must sign a letter describing your work experience, and you must provide the current contact information for your supervisor(s) to CMA Ontario. Your work experience must also be progressive. This means that, over the two-year period, your on-the-job responsibilities must increase—from providing information to identifying and evaluating possible courses of action and providing business advice.

Review examples of the duties and responsibilities that qualify.

Qualifying Practical Experience

You can meet the CMA practical experience requirement by working in a broad range of organizations. Here are some examples of the kinds of work experience that you need to gain in the first year of your practical experience:

Analyzing budget variances
Preparing cash flow projections and monitoring variances
Analyzing gross profit, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and inventory
Preparing quarterly earnings and expense reports
Assisting in the development of management information systems
Preparing internal income statements for profit centres and business units
Maintaining inventory and fixed-asset records
Preparing financial statements
Providing financial and cost/benefit analysis projects
Preparing government regulatory reports
Preparing working papers, account analyses, and account reconciliations

Examples of duties and responsibilities that fall within the next level of the practical experience requirement include these:

Developing standards to measure ongoing activities and monitor internal control procedures
Designing management reports for cost control and profit analysis
Developing and implementing a management information system
Analyzing new business opportunities and making recommendations to management
Providing advice to senior management on financial and management matters
Analyzing information systems and recommending improvements
Working with senior management to develop and update the company’s business plan
Developing internal audit programs, including determining the scope of the audit and the allocation of resources
Providing corporate tax advice on the interpretation of the Income Tax Act, minimizing tax liabilities and developing internal tax policy

If it is not possible for you to complete the experience requirement at the same time as you are completing the Strategic Leadership Program, you may be allowed to include up to 12 months of:

verifiable work experience in a qualifying position that you gain not more than three years prior to passing the CMA Entrance Examination
verifiable work experience in a qualifying position that you gain within one year after you have completed the CMA Strategic Leadership Program

CMA Ontario will evaluate your duties and responsibilities when you begin the Strategic Leadership Program and also when your duties change while you are completing the program.

To meet the practical work experience requirement, you must submit a detailed description of your 24 months of qualifying experience. This document must be signed by your employer(s).

e-Career Map: Certified Management Accountants (CMA)

Your Path to Accounting in Ontario

CMA Practical Work Experience

Qualifying Practical Experience

Requirements and Fees