Articleship Consideration as Work Exp

Hi,

I have been hearing contradicting opinions from the industry. I want to understand for all the experts is can we consider our Mandatory Articleship Term as eqvivalent to Work Experience. The argument that many people specially engineers and others make is that Articleship is a insaperable part of education of Chartered Accountancy so it is similar to a apperenticeship done by MBA/ Engineers or other so cant be considered as WORK EXPERIENCE

Pls share your thoughts and if we have something in BLACK/WHITE pls share it with me

Regards