Evolution Enhancements
- Flexible pathway – Focus on a single practice area or create a combination of courses relevant to you
- Transition rules – no exam credit is lost
- Improved source materials – enhanced syllabi, course strategy guides, guided examples with solutions, more focused study materials and relevant past exam questions
- Faster grading – grading reduced from 11 weeks to four weeks
- More frequent courses – high-demand courses offered three times per year
- More course feedback – detailed score reports available if you do not pass and personalized written feedback option for those close to passing
FSA Requirements
To earn your Fellowship, complete the following:
- All current Associate of the SOA (ASA) requirements,1
- Four technical courses, including a two-course sequence (101 and 201) in a single practice area,
- The Decision Making and Communications (DMAC) Course, and
- The Fellowship Admissions Course (FAC).
All previous exams will transition directly to courses in the new pathway; credits will not expire.
1 If an ASA was previously earned without passing or receiving transition credit or waiver credit for a current ASA requirement, earning an FSA requires successfully completing that component.
FSA Course Catalog
To complete the four technical courses required for fellowship, choose a 101-201 sequence from your desired area of practice below, then select any two other courses.
Some 201 courses have been designed for specific geographies:
- C: Canada
- I: International
- U: United States
Candidates can only choose one 201 course within the same practice area; for instance, a candidate cannot receive credit for both ILA 201-I and ILA 201-U.
Courses designated with the prefix “CP” are cross-practice courses designed to appeal to candidates in a variety of practice areas and situations.
There are no formal prerequisites for the technical courses. The syllabus will tell you if knowledge from other courses is assumed.
101 and 201 level courses in one practice area
Any other course outside of your two-course sequence
Courses designed for specific geographies
C: Canada
I: International
U: United States
Contains material relevant to multiple practice areas
Visit the Interactive Pathway Builder, a tool designed to help you select courses.
Cross Practice (relevant to multiple practice areas)
Other Required Courses
All candidates must also complete the Decision Making and Communications (DMAC) Course and the Fellowship Admissions Course (FAC). You are eligible to register for the DMAC Course after earning your ASA. You will receive an invitation to participate in the FAC after you have completed all other FSA requirements.
U.S. Regulatory Certificates
There are two standalone regulatory certificates for life and health actuaries who need to sign NAIC statements as defined in the Specific Qualification Standard (SQS) of the U.S. Qualification Standards. Together, the relevant FSA courses and regulatory certificates cover the knowledge statements that are required to meet the basic education requirements of the SQS. This includes fellowship courses ILA 101, ILA 201-U and CP351 for life actuaries and GH 101, GH 201-U and GH 301 for health actuaries.
Actuaries with a focus on General Insurance (Property and Casualty) meet the basic education requirements for signing, ensuring that all knowledge statements are covered by taking fellowship courses GI 101, GI 201, GI 301, and GI 302.
2 Completion of both the EA-2F and EA-2L exams gives credit for either RET 201 or one additional course. Other EA exams do not count towards credit in the FSA pathway.
Exam Transition Rules
- Every current exam awards credit for one course
- All exams transition to a specific course or provide credit for one additional course
Module Transition Rules
- Three modules (except DMAC) award credit for one additional course
- All three modules must be from the same track
- Only one set of three modules can provide transition credit for one additional course
- Modules must be submitted by December 31, 2025, to earn credit