Fall 2008 Basic Education Catalog(1)

NOTICE TO CANDIDATES: Spring 2009 Exam Information

In response to candidate feedback received on the 2008 Member and Candidate Survey, the SOA will launch newly reorganized Education web pages to more clearly display the requirements for attaining the three designations. The new Education web pages will include the Spring 2009 exam information at launch. A launch date of November 12, following the Fall 2008 exam administration, was specifically selected to avoid confusion for candidates who might be accessing the site for last-minute information about the Fall exams.

Table of Contents

Updates-10.06.08

Admission Requirements to the SOA

Examination and Other Requirement Details

• Fall 2008 FSA Exams Book List  
• Fall 2008 Examination Fees  
• Fall 2008 Examination Dates  
• Tentative Spring 2009 Examination Dates and Times  
• Rules and Regulation/Instruction to Candidates  
• Study Note Order Form
• Exam P-09.24.08  
• Exam FM  
• Exam M-10.06.08  
• Exam MFE to be jointly sponsored by the SOA, CIA, and CAS in 2008  
• Exam C  
• Fundamentals of Actuarial Practice (FAP)
• FSA Modules
• CERA Operational Risk Module
• Advanced Finance/ERM Exam-08.05.08  
• Financial Economic Theory and Engineering Exam-07.10.08
• Group and Health Design and Pricing (DP) Exam  
• Individual Life and Annuities Design and Pricing (DP) Exam, U.S.  
• Individual Life and Annuities Design and Pricing (DP) Exam, Canada  
• Retirement Design and Pricing (DP) Exam, U.S.  
• Retirement Design and Pricing (DP) Exam, Segment A Canada-07.18.08  
• Retirement Design and Pricing (DP) Exam, Segment B Canada  
• Enrolled Actuaries Examinations  
• Validation by Educational Experience (VEE)
• Associateship Professionalism Course (APC)
• Fellowship Admission Course (FAC)
• Conversion Mapping

General Information

• Exam P/1, FM/2 Computer-Based Testing (CBT)
• Refunds
• Examination Locations
• Special Arrangements for Candidates with Disabilities
• Food & Beverage in Examination Room
• Acknowledgement Letter for Exam Admission
• Requirements for Admission to Examination Center
• Signatures on Examinations Answer Sheets and Envelopes
• Bilingual Examinations in Canada
• Use of Calculators and Other Assistance in Writing Examinations
• Examination Results
• Disciplinary Action
• Reporting an Infraction of the Rules
• Lost Examinations
• Defective Questions
• Hand Scoring of Exams
• Confidentiality of Examination Records
• Credit for Examinations Passed in Other Actuarial Organizations
• FSAs Writing Examinations
• Contact Information

Education System

• Organizational Structure of the Education Committee
• Review and Development of Course of Reading
• Development of Examinations
• Grading Process
• Determination of the Pass Mark

Suggestions for Candidates

• Study Methods
• Review Classes and Seminars
• Distributors of Textbooks and Study Manuals
• Approaches to Writing Multiple-Choice Examinations
• Approaches to Writing Written-Answer Examinations
• Structure Written-Answer Responses Accordingly
• Become Familiar with the Case Study
• Meet the Learning Objectives or Outcomes