U.S. Qualification Standards

1. General Qualification Standard (indicated by the “I have complied” attestation option on CAS website)
2. Specific Qualification Standard (indicated by the “I have complied – NAIC Statement of Actuarial Opinion” attestation option on CAS website)

• 30 hours of relevant CE each calendar year of which at least 3 hours must be professionalism topics, 1 hour must be bias topics, no more than 3 hours may be on general business skill topics, and at least 6 hours must be “organized” activities.
• All other hours should be relevant continuing education to the actuary’s job.
• Hours of CE in excess of the annual requirement may be carried forward one year.

• At least 15 CE hours must be directly related to the topic of the SAO (see section 3.3 of the USQS)
• A minimum of 6 of the 15 hours must be “organized” or obtained through experiences that involve interactions with outside actuaries or other professionals.
• Hours that satisfy the CE requirement of the Specific Qualification Standard, may also be used to satisfy the CE requirement of the General Qualification Standard.
• All other hours should be relevant continuing education to the actuary’s job.
• Hours of CE in excess of the annual requirement may be carried forward one year.

• Broadens or deepens an actuary’s understanding of one or more aspects of the work an actuary does.
• Exposes an actuary to new and evolving techniques for addressing actuarial issues.
• Expands an actuary’s knowledge of practice in related disciplines that bear directly on an actuary’s work.
• Facilitates an actuary’s entry into a new area of actuarial practice.
• Relevant CE includes not only technical topics in the actuary’s area of actuarial practice, but also includes general business skill topics, bias topics, and professionalism topics.
• Ultimately, it’s an actuary’s responsibility to make a reasonable, good-faith determination of what continuing education opportunities will enhance an actuary’s ability to practice in a desired field.

Professionalism topics include content that assists in understanding and applying the Code of Professional Conduct, actuarial standards of practice (ASOPs), and related actuarial professionalism guidance. Professionalism continuing education includes studying, reviewing, or providing input on an exposure draft of an ASOP; studying or reviewing the Code of Professional Conduct; attending an actuarial professionalism webinar; and serving on the Actuarial Standards Board or a professionalism committee.

Bias topics include content that provides knowledge and perspective that assist in identifying and assessing biases that may exist in data, assumptions, algorithms, and models that impact Actuarial Services. Biases may include but are not limited to statistical, cognitive, and social biases.

General business skill topics include content that assists in developing client relationship management skills, presentation skills, communication skills, project management, and personnel management.

“Organized activities” include, but are not limited to, conferences, seminars, webcasts, in-person or online courses, or committee work that is directly relevant to the area of actuarial practice of the subject of the Statement of Actuarial Opinion. In-house meetings can satisfy the requirement of interaction with actuaries or professionals working for different organizations by using outside speakers (but remember, they must still be considered “relevant” CE).

“Other activities” include, but are not limited to, reading actuarial literature, statutes, or regulations; reading other books, or articles on relevant technical or professional topics; writing professional papers or articles; listening to recordings of actuarial meetings or other relevant seminars or conferences; relevant in-house meetings; studying for actuarial exams; drafting actuarial exam questions; or preparing to speak or lead a discussion at a continuing education activity.