Becoming an Actuary

Seattle Central College International Education Programs

Career Information Is Actuary for Me?

Actuaries are professionals who provide expert In order to pursue an actuarial career, you must advice and relevant solutions for business and enjoy studying subjects such as Math and societal problems that involves financial risk. Business and possess the following skills. Actuaries work in all sectors of the economy,  though they are more heavily represented in the Specialized math knowledge  financial service sector, including insurance Calculus, statistics, probability companies, commercial banks, investment banks  Keen analytical, project management and and retirement funds. Becoming a fully problem solving skills credentialed actuary requires a rigorous series of  Good business sense exams. This information sheet will discuss about Finance, Accounting and Economics how to become an Actuary in the United States.  Solid oral and written communication skills International students should consider their  Strong computer skills career options in their home country. Do you Word processing, spreadsheets, need to take Actuarial exams in U.S. to meet your statistical analysis programs, database career goals at home? What are the manipulation, programming languages requirements in your home country? These are some of the questions you will want to answer Exams and VEE requirement before making a decision about academic paths As you may know, there are series of exams to you commit to pursue. pass in order to gain professional status as an What majors/courses should I choose to Actuary. Most people achieve Associateship in become an Actuary? three to five years and Fellowship after several additional years. To gain an entry-level position Although there is a major called “Actuarial for an Actuarial career upon graduation, it is Science”, few universities offer this major. But recommended that students pass the first two don't worry! Students can major in math, exams. The remaining exams can be taken while statistics, economics, accounting or finance and working in the field as a prospective actuary. take combinations of particular courses to (Validation by Educational Experience) prepare for an Actuarial career. Following is a list VEE courses are of suggested courses to take: required along with exams to become an Actuary. It is recommended that students  Finance complete all VEE course before university  Micro Economics (ECON&201) graduation. VEE consist of the following:  Macro Economics (ECON&202)  Calculus I, II & III (MATH&151,  Economics (In general, Micro and Macro) MATH&152 and MATH&153  Corporate Finance  Linear Algebra (MATH 220)  Applied Statistical Methods  Business courses— such as Marketing Both Micro and Macro Economics classes at  Computer Science courses Seattle Central fulfill Economics VEE  Communication courses— such as writ- requirements*. ing, technical writing, speech, or drama *Seattle Central’s ECON& 201 and ECON& 202 meets VEE requirement when  Literature, history, art, political science transferred to institutions that has VEE approved equivalent courses.

Rev. Nov.’14/JF Becoming an Actuary

Seattle Central College International Education Programs

University Transfer Resources

Be sure to transfer to an institution where VEE Main Actuarial Organization in U.S. course are offered. Following is a list of four  year institutions in Washington State which have Society of Actuaries: soa.org  approved VEE courses: American Academy of Actuaries: actuary.org International Actuarial Organizations  Central Washington U.  Eastern Washington U. (Stat & Econ only)  Australia: actuaries.asn.au  Gonzaga U. (Econ only)  Finland: actuary.fi  Pacific Lutheran U.  France: institutdesactuaires.com  U. of Puget Sound  Germany: aktuar.de  U. of Washington  India: actuariesindia.org  Walla Walla U.  Ireland: actuaries.ie  Washington State U.  Israel: actuaries.org.il  Western Washington U.  Japan: actuaries.jp/ jscpa.or.jp  Whitman College (Stat & Econ only)  Lebanon (Arab World): muhanna.org  Whether you will pursue a major in Math, Malaysia: actuaries.org.my  Economics or Business, make sure to transfer to a Netherlands: ag-ai.nl  Norway: aktfor.no university where there are designated faculty  advisors forfuture Actuaries. Having faculty South Africa: actuarialsociety.org.za  advisors is helpful not only to receive up-to-date Spain: actuarios.org  academic/career advice but to enroll in classes Sweden: aktuarieforeningen.com  that are outside of your major. For an example, it Switzerland: actuaries.ch  usually requires faculty permission for a Math UK: actuaries.org.uk major to register for a junior level Corporate Finance class offered under the Business Local Actuarial Associations department. Because academic planning to The Actuary Club at the University of Washington: become an Actuary involves upper level courses students.washington.edu/actuary/ across disciplines, it is necessary to have a faculty who can be your advocate. Seattle Actuarial Club: seattleactuarialclub.org Casualty Actuaries of the Northwest Chris Najim (Safeco Insurance Companies) 4333 Brooklyn Ave. NE, T-14 Seattle, WA 98185 (206) 925-1636 [email protected]

Rev. Nov.’14/JF