Bibliography: pages 180-181. / Since 1982 a form of co-operative education has been applied in the training of cost accountants in the School of Accounting of the Cape Technikon. The object of this research is the investigation and description of this application of co-operative education which is generally referred to as "practical work". An evaluation will be made of the following aspects of the training of cost accountants: the curriculum, the practical work that the students are expected to do, career opportunities and the training requirements of practice. It is confidently hoped to make suggestions which may lead to the improvement of the current curriculum of the National Diploma in Cost Accounting, the syllabuses of the subject Industrial Accounting as well as the system of co-operative education that is being used.