Many of our June 2026 CFE writers have been messaging us about their PERT updates, and man, does that make us proud! If you’re sitting around patiently waiting for August 21st, why not do something constructive that will actually reduce your stress at the same time?
We understand the necessity of PERT, but in our experience, we have yet to meet a candidate who truly enjoys updating their Practical Experience Reporting Tool (PERT). If you’re reading this and you are a fan of it, be sure to reach out and tell us! Most CPA candidates find it to be tedious, the character limits are frustrating, and translating everyday work into CPA jargon can feel like pulling teeth.
Because of this, it is incredibly common for candidates to push it off. But if you know you are behind on your reports, or if you are dodging your mentor because you missed a meeting, listen up.
This is your sign from the universe to get this sorted NOW. Here is why avoiding PERT is a bad idea, why the clock is ticking faster than you think, and how you can catch up without completely overwhelming yourself before the fall.
Why You Can’t Keep Avoiding PERT
The biggest risk with PERT is the cumulative effect of neglect. Remembering what you did at work last month is relatively easy. Trying to remember specific, complex scenarios you navigated 14 months ago? Nearly impossible.
When you avoid PERT, you aren’t just delaying the pain; you are actively making the process harder for your future self. You risk forgetting the great examples that would have easily gotten you a Level 2 in a technical competency. Plus, even if you crush the CFE, you won’t get those three letters behind your name until your experience is approved. Don’t be the person who passes the exam but has to wait another year and a half to actually become a CPA because their PERT is a mess.
Give Yourself Time to Pivot if You Need To
Depending on your work experience and job details, you want to be absolutely sure that you are capturing sufficiently complex work experience examples within your planned competency areas. Unfortunately, one common problem we see is that candidates have an expected job plan, and then things change—a new role, a company switch, or perhaps a termination. This can throw a very significant wrench into someone’s PERT planning. It is critical that you keep a very close eye on your experience and how you plan to get your remaining levels.
This brings us to the importance of submitting PER on time. If you put your reporting off, you run the risk of getting unexpected feedback from the CPA reviewer, such as them disagreeing with the complexity of your examples or stating you lack the work evidence to support them. In some cases, candidates even need to request new work assignments from their employers to complete the necessary experience.
If you find yourself in a situation where you need to do this, and you don’t have enough time remaining in your PERT, you will have just created an incredibly stressful and challenging situation. We have seen this happen quite often. It’s not enjoyable for anyone, and it is entirely avoidable.
Avoid the PERT Extension Request
At the end of the day, waiting will not make PERT any easier. In fact, you run a serious risk of running into unexpected issues with your experience or scrambling to find required documentation from past employers.
We unfortunately see this happen quite often with students: they wait until the last minute, discover their experience isn’t hitting the right levels, and are suddenly put in a situation where they need to formally request an extension. Filing an extension request adds a massive amount of unnecessary time, paperwork, and stress to your plate. All of this can be avoided by staying on track, or catching up now, so you have a comfortable buffer of time to address any issues that come up.
While CPA Canada will often consider an extension request, the extra ‘life admin’ you are adding to your plate to do this is truly not enjoyable either.
Finish Within the Current Program
As all CPA candidates are aware, the new CPA Certification Program is being released in 2027, and this will include a brand-new PERT system. Candidates reporting under the current program will need to finish their reporting under the current rules, and then transition to the new program if necessary.
We are still waiting for specific details about the new program, but we don’t need the exact details to know that simply transitioning between a current program and a new program will cause some confusion—even for those who are fully caught up on PERT. Compounding this confusion with catch-up reporting or extension requests creates a very complicated problem for you to solve with the CPA reviewers.
You do not want to be caught in the messy middle. Transitioning half-finished, poorly documented experience into a brand-new system could mean unexpected delays or administrative headaches. Your goal should be to finish your experience requirements smoothly within the current program.
How to Start Now
If you are months (or years) behind, looking at the entire mountain of work will just cause you to procrastinate more. Instead, focus on building momentum so you have a lighter mental load going into the busy fall season.
Here is your step-by-step rescue plan:
- Lower the bar: Just do ONE fresh report. Do not sit down and try to write two years of experience in one weekend. Open the portal and commit to writing just one fresh, updated report for your most recent period. Getting a single report submitted breaks the seal of procrastination.
- Send the “awkward” email to your mentor. If you’ve ghosted your mentor, take a deep breath and send a brief, honest email. “Hi [Name], I know I’ve fallen behind on my reporting, but I am actively getting back on track. I am submitting a new report this week. Can we schedule a quick catch-up meeting for next week?” They have been through the CPA journey; they will understand. Just rip the band-aid off.
- Set a weekly 30-minute timer. Once that first report is in, block off just 30 minutes every Friday to brain-dump your work tasks into a Word document. Keep a running list of complex problems you solved, meetings you led, or analysis you performed. When your next report is due, the material will already be there.
Need help getting unstuck?
You don’t have to figure out the “PERT language” on your own. If you are staring at a blank screen, unsure of how to align your daily tasks with CPA competencies, or if your reports keep getting downgraded by reviewers, we have programs to help you. Take control of your PERT now. Get that one report in, schedule your mentor meeting, and step into the fall feeling lighter, prepared, and one step closer to your letters! Check out our PERT programs here.
As you’re getting started, check out our free resources in these articles: