Additional Information
You need to take a series of professional exams administered by the Society
of Actuaries (SOA) and the Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS). Those who complete
the entire series of eight exams become fellows -- fully-fledged actuaries.
After six exams, you become an associate.
The series of professional exams usually takes five to 10 years to complete.
Exams cover everything from calculus and finance to risk theory and insurance
law.
Many students begin to write their exams while still in school, so they
have at least two completed before they look for a job. That's because most
companies require their actuaries to have passed at least two upon hiring.
Associateship is generally reached within four to six years. As you work
in the profession, you must continue to take the exams to advance your career.
If you want to be an actuary, your first love has to be math. Experts recommend
taking as many math courses as you can in high school.
Technically, a university degree is not essential to becoming an actuary,
as long as you're able to pass your exams. Yet those in the field say it is
necessary to have a degree in order to pass the exams and find a job.
"My advice to anyone seeking to become an actuary is to take all the math,
finance, accounting and computer courses you can take in college," says Bruce
Marotta, a consulting actuary. "If possible, try to get a few of the actuarial
exams out of the way while still in school. Once out of school, studying for
exams is more difficult and, of course, we face many more distractions."
While a math degree is a good way to start, actuary Scott Martin says the
best approach is a degree in actuarial science. About 55 colleges and universities
offer degrees in actuarial science.
A great way to prepare for this profession is to take a co-op program at
a university. Co-ops allow students to alternate classroom study with work
terms. Martin says his co-op experience was invaluable.
"Companies are looking beyond the technical skills," says Wally Robinson,
an actuary for a large insurance company. "They're looking for people who
are versatile, those who can sell the profession to others."
Experts recommend that you be computer-literate if you want to work in
this field. They also recommend that you continually update your skills by
taking courses in insurance law, economics and accounting.
There is an increasing demand for actuaries who have a well-rounded education
and who are able to communicate well. Dick Humphries, an actuarial consultant,
recommends taking courses in English and history while at university.