Property & Casualty Predictive Analytics (PCPA)

Property and casualty subject matter experts have identified that organizations are increasingly turning to predictive analytics to solve difficult problems. The addition of the PCPA to the ACAS credential proves candidates have the skills in predictive modeling and analytics, as well as the ability to present and tailor communication of data to various audiences.

The PCPA tests a candidate’s ability to apply advanced practical skills to a scenario that is replicative of “real world” conditions, building upon the foundational knowledge and skills assessed in the MAS Exams.

The PCPA is designed to be a foundational assessment of predictive analytics knowledge and applied practice while the CSPA is a deeper dive into the topic. Neither is required for the attempt or completion of the other.

Candidates who have achieved the CSPA credential without waiver (meaning achieved by passing CSPA Exam 3 and not through IFM waiver) are eligible for a PCPA requirement waiver.

CAS offers an optional on-demand course called Building a GLM from Start to Finish. The course is available in R, Python, or SAS versions.

The CAS Institute (iCAS) offers an on-demand course called Building a GLM from Start to Finish for those who are interested in this topic. Those wanting a deeper exploration of the topic may also consider the CSPA credential from iCAS.

There are no prerequisites for the exam; however, candidates are highly encouraged to pass MAS-I, MAS-II and Exam 5 prior to attempting the PCPA.

No, candidates must pass the exam portion before attempting the PCPA Project

The exam is available continuously year-round, and the project is available during four administration periods throughout the year. These dates can be found in the PCPA Content Outline.

Candidate must pass the exam 3 weeks prior to the beginning of the project window to account for their official grade release (2 weeks) and the registration deadline (1 week prior to project start date). Specific dates can be found in the PCPA Content Outline.

No, a formula sheet is not provided for the PCPA Exam.

Yes; however, the project must be completed independently with no hands-on assistance from another individual or resource, meaning all work should be the candidate’s own. Colleagues and online resources may be consulted for general questions. Project instructions and data sets are proprietary to the CAS and should not be shared with any individual or online resource.

The use of generative AI tools (e.g, ChatGPT, Claude, Bard, etc.) may be used for general questions and or consultation, but all submitted work should be the candidate’s own. Instructions and data sets are proprietary to the CAS and should not be entered in part or entirety into any such tool.

The technical report may be up to 1,000 words. Candidates should ensure their report is clear, concise, and within this limit. Reports that exceed the word count will result in a failed attempt.

Instructions are provided as a download at the start of the project window accessed through the project portal. These instructions are written with all necessary information for candidates to be successful in their project attempt. A final checklist has been included in this document and should be consulted. Submissions not in adherence to the file format instructions will result in a failed attempt.

Candidates should consult their project instructions and reference the final checklist included therein. Submissions with additional supporting materials outside of the allotted amount will result in a failed attempt.

The same accommodations for other CAS exams administered in Pearson centers will be available for the PCPA Exam. Accommodations for the project will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The CAS religious/national holiday policy does not apply to the PCPA Exam or Project; there will be no extensions or exceptions.

Yes, both the exam and project are eligible for international and student discounts. Please review the discount programs page on our website for more information and specific details.

The exam is computer-scored with the total score determined by the number of correct responses, with no guessing penalty. The project will be human-scored against a rubric that will evaluate if a candidate meets the requirements to pass.

Both the exam and project are pass/fail.

If the candidate does not pass the exam, they are eligible to re-take the exam up to 3 times within one year from the date of the first exam attempt. The $300 exam registration fee applies for each exam attempt. There is a mandatory two-week waiting period between exam attempts. Candidates should plan to pass the exam at least 3 weeks prior to the start date of the project window in which they plan to participate to allow time for their official grade to be posted before registration closes.

If the candidate does not pass the project, they may register again for the project. The $700 project registration fee applies for each project attempt. The candidate may register and take the project multiple times within one year of their passing date of the PCPA Exam. The last opportunity to register for the PCPA project is on or before the one-year mark from passing the PCPA Exam. If the candidate does not pass the project after the last opportunity to register for the project, they will need to retake and pass the exam again before (re)registering for the project.

Preliminary exam results will be available directly after completing the exam on-screen at the testing center. Final exam results will be available through the CAS portal 15 days after completing the exam. Results for the project will be available through the CAS portal 6-8 weeks after the submission deadline.

A grievance is a candidate concern unrelated to the content of the exam or project, such as administration irregularities (noise or disturbances at the testing center, technology issues, etc.). Candidate grievances trigger a formal review and response by the Admissions Department. Grievances must be received via email to grievance@casact.org within 5 business days of exam date or project deadline. Feedback can be provided on the content of the exam or project. If a candidate would like to submit feedback, they should complete the feedback form on the CAS website. For more information, visit the Candidate Feedback and Grievances webpage.

Statistics for the project are updated on a quarterly basis. For the exam, which is offered continuously, statistics will be updated annually.