General Information
The Society of Actuaries Board of Governors and the Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS) Board of Directors are pleased to offer a measure designed to provide financial relief to eligible candidates of qualified countries. This program began in January 2001. This package describes the program details and contains the program application.
The CAS supports the program financially for any eligible property/casualty candidates while they are writing the joint CAS/SOA examinations (Examinations/Courses 1-4). The CAS also maintains a similar program for its examinations (Examinations 5-9) that are not offered jointly with the SOA. Candidates who are specializing in property/casualty or general insurance practice may direct any inquiries about fee discounts on the CAS upper-level examinations to the CAS at tdowney@casact.org.
Candidate Eligibility Requirements
The Candidate must be a current full-time resident of a qualified country. (A complete list of qualified countries is attached.) Residents of the U.S. and Canada are not eligible.
The Candidate must attest that he or she is personally paying for examination fees and study materials and that he/she is not being reimbursed by an employer, or a company or other individual or entity.
The Candidate must complete a one-time application for financial relief, attesting to the need for assistance.
The Candidate will lose eligibility upon leaving the country, or upon receiving financial support or reimbursement for examination fees and/or SOA published study materials.
If a candidate meets the requirements and is approved for assistance, should the country lose eligibility in a subsequent year, the candidate will retain the right to assistance for a period of three years, starting from the date that the country loses its eligibility.
Candidates must write their examinations within a qualified country.
Candidates may not register for more than two examinations per exam session under the discount program. Standard fees will be assessed on registrations which exceed this limit. This limit will be observed when candidates register for both CAS and SOA exams.
Candidates may attempt the same examination no more than three times under the reduced examination fee program.
Program Details
Examination Fees
Approved candidates will be charged reduced examination fees. A complete fee schedule will be sent to approved candidates.
Approved candidates may not register for more than two examinations per exam session under the discount program. Standard fees will be assessed on registrations, which exceed this limit.
Candidates may not register for Courses 5, 6, or 8 if they have not previously written and earned credit for a minimum of three of the four Basic Education Courses, 1-4. Standard registration restrictions applicable to all candidates for Course 7 Pre-test and Course 7 also apply to discount program candidates.
The SOA reserves the right to restrict registrations or purchases of study material.
Study Materials
Study notes for Courses 1-6 are available electronically at no cost to the candidate. Please see www.soa.org for more information.
Study notes for Courses 7-8 will be available at reduced prices plus the cost of shipping.
Textbooks published by the Society of Actuaries will be available at reduced prices plus the cost of shipping.
Approved applicants may purchase only one copy of a particular textbook or study note package.
Approved applicants may not purchase study materials, which are pertinent to courses for which they already have credit. Similarly, approved applicants may not purchase more than one type of Course 8 study notes.
Application Process
Candidates must apply to this program before attempting to register for an examination. Applications and exam registration forms will not be accepted concurrently.
The candidate must complete the attached application and submit it to the Society of Actuaries. Applications must be submitted before registering for an examination(s). It is recommended that applications be submitted no later than March 1 for the May examination session or August 1 for the November examination session. Upon approval, candidates will be sent specially marked examination registration, study note and textbook order forms. These order forms will indicate the reduced fees and prices available to the approved applicant. It is important to note that approved candidates are requested to not distribute these forms to other candidates.
Applications are not accepted via e-mail. If you fax your application, please do not submit a duplicate via mail.
For subsequent examination sessions, candidates who previously received assistance, and who continue to meet the criteria, will receive specially marked forms by January 1 for the May examination administration/July 1 for the November examination administration. Candidates need only apply for assistance once.
Candidates or employers may direct questions to Leslie Fausher, Core Studies and Global Initiatives Administrator at the Society of Actuaries, lfausher@soa.org, 847·706·3547, phone or 847/273-8547, fax.
2003 Assistance Qualified Countries
Albania
Algeria
Angola
Argentina
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bangladesh
Belarus
Benin
Bolivia
Bosnia
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China *
Colombia
Congo
Costa Rica
Croatia
Czech Republic
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Ghana
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Haiti
Honduras
Hungary
India
Indonesia
Jamaica
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Lithuania
Macedonia FYR
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Mali
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Moldova
Mongolia
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Nepal
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Pakistan
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Romania
Russian Federation
Rwanda
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Slovak Republic
South Africa
Sri Lanka
Syrian Arab Republic
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Trinidad & Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Uganda
Ukraine
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe
* Excluding Hong Kong & Taiwan
Note: Examination centers are not established in all qualified countries. Also, the accessibility of examination services in the following countries is contingent upon the availability of secure and reasonable shipping methods: Algeria, Central African Republic, Congo, C?te d'Ivoire; Iran; Iraq; Kyrgyz; Lao PDR; North Korea; Sudan; and Tajikistan.
Examination and Study Material Fee Discount Program Application
The Society of Actuaries Board of Governors and the Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS) Board of Directors are pleased to offer a measure designed to provide financial relief to eligible candidates of qualified countries. This program began in January 2001. This package describes the program details and contains the program application.
The CAS supports the program financially for any eligible property/casualty candidates while they are writing the joint CAS/SOA examinations (Examinations/Courses 1-4). The CAS also maintains a similar program for its examinations (Examinations 5-9) that are not offered jointly with the SOA. Candidates who are specializing in property/casualty or general insurance practice may direct any inquiries about fee discounts on the CAS upper-level examinations to the CAS at tdowney@casact.org.
Candidate Eligibility Requirements
The Candidate must be a current full-time resident of a qualified country. (A complete list of qualified countries is attached.) Residents of the U.S. and Canada are not eligible.
The Candidate must attest that he or she is personally paying for examination fees and study materials and that he/she is not being reimbursed by an employer, or a company or other individual or entity.
The Candidate must complete a one-time application for financial relief, attesting to the need for assistance.
The Candidate will lose eligibility upon leaving the country, or upon receiving financial support or reimbursement for examination fees and/or SOA published study materials.
If a candidate meets the requirements and is approved for assistance, should the country lose eligibility in a subsequent year, the candidate will retain the right to assistance for a period of three years, starting from the date that the country loses its eligibility.
Candidates must write their examinations within a qualified country.
Candidates may not register for more than two examinations per exam session under the discount program. Standard fees will be assessed on registrations which exceed this limit. This limit will be observed when candidates register for both CAS and SOA exams.
Candidates may attempt the same examination no more than three times under the reduced examination fee program.
Program Details
Examination Fees
Approved candidates will be charged reduced examination fees. A complete fee schedule will be sent to approved candidates.
Approved candidates may not register for more than two examinations per exam session under the discount program. Standard fees will be assessed on registrations, which exceed this limit.
Candidates may not register for Courses 5, 6, or 8 if they have not previously written and earned credit for a minimum of three of the four Basic Education Courses, 1-4. Standard registration restrictions applicable to all candidates for Course 7 Pre-test and Course 7 also apply to discount program candidates.
The SOA reserves the right to restrict registrations or purchases of study material.
Study Materials
Study notes for Courses 1-6 are available electronically at no cost to the candidate. Please see www.soa.org for more information.
Study notes for Courses 7-8 will be available at reduced prices plus the cost of shipping.
Textbooks published by the Society of Actuaries will be available at reduced prices plus the cost of shipping.
Approved applicants may purchase only one copy of a particular textbook or study note package.
Approved applicants may not purchase study materials, which are pertinent to courses for which they already have credit. Similarly, approved applicants may not purchase more than one type of Course 8 study notes.
Application Process
Candidates must apply to this program before attempting to register for an examination. Applications and exam registration forms will not be accepted concurrently.
The candidate must complete the attached application and submit it to the Society of Actuaries. Applications must be submitted before registering for an examination(s). It is recommended that applications be submitted no later than March 1 for the May examination session or August 1 for the November examination session. Upon approval, candidates will be sent specially marked examination registration, study note and textbook order forms. These order forms will indicate the reduced fees and prices available to the approved applicant. It is important to note that approved candidates are requested to not distribute these forms to other candidates.
Applications are not accepted via e-mail. If you fax your application, please do not submit a duplicate via mail.
For subsequent examination sessions, candidates who previously received assistance, and who continue to meet the criteria, will receive specially marked forms by January 1 for the May examination administration/July 1 for the November examination administration. Candidates need only apply for assistance once.
Candidates or employers may direct questions to Leslie Fausher, Core Studies and Global Initiatives Administrator at the Society of Actuaries, lfausher@soa.org, 847·706·3547, phone or 847/273-8547, fax.
2003 Assistance Qualified Countries
Albania
Algeria
Angola
Argentina
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bangladesh
Belarus
Benin
Bolivia
Bosnia
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China *
Colombia
Congo
Costa Rica
Croatia
Czech Republic
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Ghana
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Haiti
Honduras
Hungary
India
Indonesia
Jamaica
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Lithuania
Macedonia FYR
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Mali
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Moldova
Mongolia
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Nepal
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Pakistan
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Romania
Russian Federation
Rwanda
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Slovak Republic
South Africa
Sri Lanka
Syrian Arab Republic
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Trinidad & Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Uganda
Ukraine
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe
* Excluding Hong Kong & Taiwan
Note: Examination centers are not established in all qualified countries. Also, the accessibility of examination services in the following countries is contingent upon the availability of secure and reasonable shipping methods: Algeria, Central African Republic, Congo, C?te d'Ivoire; Iran; Iraq; Kyrgyz; Lao PDR; North Korea; Sudan; and Tajikistan.
Examination and Study Material Fee Discount Program Application