CIMA - Practical experience

Practical work experience is useful during your CIMA studied as it helps you to understand the concepts being taught but after you pass all of the Foundation, Intermediate and Final level examinations you must gain at least three years of relevant practical experience before you can achieve full CIMA membership. Your practical experience must cover three areas: Basic, Core and Supplementary.

You are not expected to cover every element within each area, but you will need to gain wide experience across all three areas. The only requirement is that you get at least 18 months of your experience within the Core area.

Practical experience requirements

Area 1 - Basic experience

1a	Preparing and maintaining accounting records
1b	Statutory and regulatory reporting
1c	IT desktop skills
1d	Systems and procedure development

Area 2 - Core experience

2a	Preparation of management accounts
2b	Planning, budgeting and forecasting
2c	Management reporting for decision-making
2d	Product and service costing
2e	Information management
2f	Project appraisal
2g	Project management
2h	Working capital control

Area 3 - Supplementary experience

3a	Financial strategy
3b	Corporate finance
3c	Treasury management
3d	Taxation
3e	Business evaluation and appraisal
3f	Business strategy
3g	External relationships

You will be required to record your practical experience as part of your ‘Career Profile’ and it is recommended that you update this regularly. After you pass your final exams, you will have five years in which to submit your completed Career Profile and apply for CIMA membership.

The Career Profile is made up of the following three sections:

Personal information
A summary of your full employment history
An enhanced Curriculum Vitae, including a detailed history of your relevant practical experience, specifying the number of months you spent in each position and a description of the work you did.

If you are a new student to CIMA, do not worry about a career profile at this stage. After you register to study you will receive the CIMA Student Resource File. Full practical experience and Career Profile guidelines are in that document.

Lifelong learning

CIMA recommend that their members continue to expand their knowledge and develop their skills and flexibility through continuing professional development in order to maintain confidence and credibility.