Actuarial Notes

Associate of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (ACIA)

Associate of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (ACIA)

ACIA is the associate designation of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (CIA). Since its board approved new qualification pathways in June 2021, the CIA examines toward it itself, with modules and an exam of its own, beside the routes that recognise associate-level credentials from the SOA, the CAS and other bodies. An Associate who goes on to complete an FCIA specialty track becomes a Fellow.

Requirements

Pathway 1 — the CIA's own route

  • A degree from a CIA-accredited university program, with the courses the CIA mandates, and Student membership of the CIA from the first year, with its orientation module.
  • ACIA Module 1 — after the first year of the degree
    • Introduction and actuarial communications; the actuarial environment; actuarial work.
  • ACIA Module 2 — in the final year
    • Traditional actuarial solutions; advanced actuarial models and predictive analytics applications.
  • ACIA Capstone Exam — after the degree
    • An open-book, six-hour exam: a four-hour common section and a two-hour long- or short-term specialized section.
  • The CIA Professionalism Workshop, then an application for ACIA membership.

Pathway 2 — from another body's associate-level education

  • For candidates with full or partial associate-level qualifications from another actuarial organization — an associate designation of the ASSA, CAS, IAAust, IFoA, SAI or SOA; CAS credit for the VEEs, Exams 1, 2, MAS-I, MAS-II and the DISCs; SOA credit for the VEEs, P, FM, FAM, ALTAM or ASTAM and SRM — or fully qualified actuaries from other IAA member organizations.
  • ACIA Module 1 where not already covered (and for the fully qualified actuaries), ACIA Module 2 for all, the Capstone Exam for the fully qualified actuaries, and the CIA Professionalism Workshop.

A holder of a recognised fellow-level designation (Pathway 3) may also take the ACIA, but goes to the FCIA directly.

Further Reading