Guide to the Future of CAS Admissions

2022 and Beyond
Admissions Transformation Plan
For years, employers have relied on the CAS to professionally validate individuals as qualified to work as credentialed actuaries. That’s not changing. What is changing is the content and structure of that validation. Maintaining the strong value of CAS credentials will be the top priority as we move forward.
Just as the profession is transforming and changing at an accelerated pace, so must the CAS revolutionize how it prepares our members for the future.
This will ultimately strengthen the value of our members’ credentials and uphold our position as the leading organization for credentialing property/casualty actuaries.
Benefits
Building on a solid foundation of over 100 years, the CAS is focused on an exciting future based on our Strategic Plan.
Integrate our existing best practices with certification industry best practices to enhance our professional credentialing program.
Continue to build skills for the future by updating our exam process.
Improved candidate experience, with the same dedication to rigor.
benefits

Features

Adopting New Exam Design and Development
Adopting new exam design and development process over the next several years
Incorporating New Exam Features
Incorporating new exam features - new test item types, quicker grading, score reporting

Updated Content Outlines (syllabi)
Updated content outlines (syllabi)
Revised or Newly Developed Study Materials
Revised or newly developed study materials including practice problems
Advance Notice of Any Changes
Advance notice of any changes will be provided at least six months prior to the first administration
Restructure Exams to Allow for Breaks
Updated exams that support scheduled breaks

Property and Casualty Predictive Analytics (PCPA)

The CAS is launching a new predictive analytics requirement for ACAS starting with the October/November 2025 administration. The new requirement will have an examination and project component. The project, which is being created by a team of experienced actuaries who specialize in predictive analytics in partnership with Pearson VUE and The Institutes, will utilize innovative predictive modeling techniques to help candidates and professionals in the actuarial field to gain a deeper understanding of key concepts and improve their predictive capabilities.

Highlights

What will result from the implementation of the ATP?

The value of CAS credentials will increase by becoming more relevant to employers and clients. The skills and knowledge that credentialed actuaries learn through the exam process will equip them with a unique skillset that cannot be found in another singular professional. By incorporating modern methods, like predictive analytics, and soft skills, credentialed P&C actuaries will be experts in evaluating risk and be able to communicate effectively to business leaders.

What is driving this transformation?

The evolution outlined in the ATP is inspired by the CAS Envisioned Future, as described in the CAS Strategic Plan, that sees CAS members as sought after globally for their insights and ability to apply analytics to solve insurance and risk management problems. We are enhancing our long-standing professional certification model by adopting certification industry best practices that will enable us to swiftly respond to market needs so that CAS credentials remain the gold standard for property-casualty actuaries.

Job Task Analysis

To determine the right content for exams and courses, some of our credentialed members participated in a Job Task Analysis (JTA) in 2020. Conducting a JTA is standard practice for other credentialing systems to hear from active members on what they do at work, and the CAS was guided by a psychometrician (an expert in testing and validation) in conducting the analysis. JTA results are the guide for what is tested; if it’s not used in practice now or in the future, it doesn’t make it into the exam. The JTA included actuaries from diverse backgrounds and practice areas, including ratemaking, reserving, nontraditional roles and more. This is a reliable and repeatable process to update exam content in the future, so changes in what an actuary needs to know are reflected in what is tested. In other words, as new methodologies become relevant and old ones are replaced, exam content will change alongside them.

Updates to Exams MAS-I and MAS-II

The new Content Outlines for MAS-I and MAS-II are now available. Candidates will see a list of new question types in the Content Outlines. These item types may be used in future iterations starting in October/November 2023. Sample items will be available in 2023.

Updates to Exam 5

The new Content Outline for Exam 5 is now available. Candidates will see a list of new question types in the Content Outlines. These item types may be used in future iterations starting in October/November 2023. Sample items will be available in 2023.

Updates to Exams 6-9

Updates for CAS exams 6-Canada, 6-International, 6-United States, 7, 8 and 9 will be released at least six months prior to the administration. Updated exams 7 and 9 are planned for Spring 2024 and updated exams 6 and 8 are planned for Fall 2024.

Enhanced Candidate Experience

All impacts to our stakeholders are being carefully considered, with particular focus on our candidate experience and credential value to employers. Moving to computer-based testing opens up additional exam administration opportunities in the future that support scheduled breaks and accommodation needs as well as quicker score reporting.

Terminology

The terminology glossary defines the terms that will be commonly used in our professional certification model going forward, reflecting changes from past terminology to adopt certification industry best practices.

Read More

Volunteer with the CAS
How Can I Help?
There will be opportunities to get involved as we continue to enhance our exam design and development process. If you are interested in volunteering as an admissions volunteer, please select ‘Admissions’ as a general interest area using the Volunteer Interest & Participation (VIP) Survey.
What does your current journey to CAS membership look like for you?
As the ATP enhancements are implemented, you’ll see the membership journey updated to reflect the most up to date pathway.

News and Updates

CAS DISC: Introduction to Data & Analytics
Admissions Transformation, Exams & Admissions, Membership / Notices to Members
PCPA Graphic
Admissions Transformation, Exams & Admissions, Membership / Notices to Members, Volunteer
Admissions Transformation, Membership / Notices to Members
Volunteers Needed Fall 2023
Admissions Transformation, Exams & Admissions, Membership / Notices to Members, Volunteer
As the ATP is a multi-year plan, there remains an on-going opportunity for stakeholder feedback.