Training Support (Training Support Queries)

1. What is the CA Diary?

   The CA Diary is an electronic tool which will allow you to record the acquisition of skills, values and competencies during the period of your professional development. For more information on the CA Diary.

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2. What is the purpose of maintaining the diary?

   1. To comply with regulatory and contractual (Training Contract students) requirements
   2. To assist you in planning your work activities
   3. To help you to understand how you have applied your competencies in the workplace
   4. To chronicle the acquisition of your skills and competencies
   5. To help you reflect on the effectiveness with which you have applied your competencies in your work environment

   To provide evidence to Chartered Accountant Ireland at the time of your application for admission to membership that you have acquired the requisite values, skills and competencies

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3. What is competency?

   Competence is defined as 'being able to perform a certain work role to a defined standard with reference to real working environments.' (International Federation of Accountants - IFAC).

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4. What are the mandatory competencies?

   All students must demonstrate the acquisition of competencies n Financial Reporting (FA1 - FA4), the broad Business Environment skills (CB1 - CB6), and throughout your period of training, the adoption of the professional values and the growth in your personal/interpersonal skills will be monitored (PV1 - PV7). Full definitions are provided in the Professional Development Requirements guide.

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5. How do I record my CA Diary entries?

   Each activity you perform is informed by a technical skill and invariably will require some personal/interpersonal input. When you complete a task, you will need to reflect on the skills and values that informed your actions in each work activity.

   1. You should firstly enter the time period for which you are making the entry by using the date selection boxes on the Diary Entry page. This will allow you to record the number of days you have evidenced.
   2. Your CA Diary entry needs to include a short narrative that describes your rational for recording each technical and non-technical competency element. This should  directly relate to the tasks/activities that you have completed over the time period for which you are making the entry.
   3. You also need to select the appropriate learning level of competency, in your opinion, to which you have carried out the assignment - understands, applies or integrates.
   4. You must at all times respect your client's confidentiality by not naming them in your CA Diary.
   5. In the diary entry title field, you are required to state the company or organisation where you worked at the time the experience being recorded was obtained  (Flexible Route students only).
   6. If, during the period being recorded, you were engaged in any audit work/audit training or assurance work, you will be required to provide specific information on these assignments.
   7. You will also be required to record a short summary of how you developed your skills, knowledge and competence during teh period being recorded

   Once all relevant information has been recorded, you can either save the diary entry or submit it to your mentor for review.  

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6. How do I know when I have achieved an adequate level of competence?

   Along with identifying the functional and other competencies you will acquire during your period of professional development the Institute has also identified three levels of proficiency which may be generic to every assignment carried out by you. These levels of proficiency will serve to demonstrate your professional growth during your period under training. You should always indicate the levels of proficiency when recording your experience in the CA Diary. The three levels are Understands Applies and Integrates.

   Set out below is a guidance to the interpretation of each of these levels. In the early stages of your professional development you are likely to perform tasks at the 'understand' level and to graduate to the 'integrates' level as you come towards the end of your training period.

    

   Level One: Understand	Level Two: Apply	Level Three: Integrates
   Student can grasp a clear understanding of the task assigned	Becomes pro-active in managing routine tasks	Identifies problems and resolves them.
   Can carry out tasks that are established processes.	Carries out assignment with a lesser degree of supervision.	Demonstrates an in-depth technical knowledge in defined areas.
   Works under supervision. Can take instruction from seniors/line manager	Performs as part of a team in planning and executing assignments	Demonstrates clear managerial/ leadership skills. Demonstrates ability to manage an assignment/project to completion.
   Collects, organises and analyses basic information using established criteria.	Assumes appropriate additional responsibility	Generates ideas and is proactive in implementing.
   Communicates verbally, and in writing to an in-house audience.	Communicates verbally in-house and prepares, for manager, written communication to clients	Communicates concisely and effectively, verbally and in writing, both in-house and to clients.

   When adding to your diary, please keep these competence levels in mind.

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7. How often should I make diary entries?

   Ideally, on completion of a work activity/ assignment you should reflect and be able to identify the competencies you have developed. Chartered Accountants Ireland recommends that you make your diary entries at the end of every month. Diary entries may be extended in duration and should include all periods of leave, including study leave.

   Flexible Route trainees: As part of the Flexible Route we understand that there may be gaps in periods of experience. If you are unsure if your experience is relevant firstly check the guidelines and then speak to your mentor. The more systematic and organised you are in recording your experience the quicker you can use the CA diary and work with your mentor to lock and review your experience.

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8. When will my diary be reviewed?

   It is intended that the Diary of Professional Development will facilitate the mentor in monitoring the experience gained by the student. It will also be of benefit to the student in that its review will provide regular opportunities for both parties to discuss the progress of the student's professional development during the REQ.

   Your mentor is required to review your CA Diary record, at a minimum, twice annually. This includes reviewing and approving (locking) CA Diary entries and recording a corresponding six-month review. Both parties should agree a timetable of regular contact and review, in order to avoid any accumulation of experience for review.

   The Training Support Unit will also undertake a review of your CA Diary record at the time of applying for membership.

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9. Is there guidance available for mentors to use the CA Diary?

   A number of guides for trainees and mentors are accessible via the CA Diary Resources section. This webpage also includes recorded webinars and links to onscreen tutorials.

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10. Are there sample entries available for Flexible Route students and mentors to read and assist them create entries and lock entries?

    Yes, information on content and sample entries that will assist students to understand the type of information they have to provide and the level of detail needed in the entries can be accessed in the Sample Entries document, which can be accessed through the CA Diary Resources section.

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11. What do I record as statutory audit in my CA Diary?

    For information on how to categorise audit experience, applicable to your diary entry, please see the relevant guidance, including the Guide to Recording Audit Days, which is accessible on the CA Diary Resources section.

    Students qualifying through the Flexible Route will generally not be able to meet the educational requirements for the audit qualification. For further information on these requirements, go to the Audit qualification requirements webpage.

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12. When can I apply for Admission to membership?

    In the Flexible Route Programme you have eight years from the date of your registration to evidence your required Recognised Experience for Qualification (REQ) and pass all of your exams. Once you have all the requirements met you are eligible to apply for associate membership of Chartered Accountants Ireland. You can find more information here.

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13. How many entries do I need?

    There is no set number of entries. What is important is your account for all of your training contract either through entries or in the calendar. A rule of thumb of one a month is sufficient.

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14. How many mentor reviews do I need?

    You are required to have one review every six months. So the length of your contract/training period will dictate the exact number. The system will automatically check that you have a minimum of five six-month reviews, as part of the requirements to avail of a Final Mentor Review.

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15. I cannot find a link to request a Final Mentor Review - why is this?

    Refer to the Trainee User Guide, which explains the criteria that have to be met in order to avail of a Final Mentor Review.

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16. What are the regulations to meet the educational requirements for the audit qualification?

    Please refer to the Audit Qualifications requirements page for details.

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17. How much is the application fee?

    The cost is €174/£118. However, if you were admitted as a member before 1 January 1990 there is a different charge.

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18. Is this fee an annual charge?

    No, it is a one-off fee.

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19. If I was admitted as a member before 1 January 1990, am I deemed to meet the educational requirement for Audit Qualification?

    Yes, as the regulations state, 'a member admitted before 1 January 1990 shall be deemed to meet the required standard. If you wish to received confirmation that you have meet the educational requirement for the Audit Qualification use the query form below to request this. There is a charge of €40 for administration 
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20. Once I have met the educational requirement under the regulations does this mean that I am authorised to practice?

    No, you must get in contact with the Professional Standards Department. The confirmation letter acknowledges that you have met the required educational standards. In order to accept appointments as an auditor you must first apply for and be granted audit registration, as set out in the Institute's Audit Regulations and Guidance 2017. Contact the Professional Standards Department for further details.

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