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Just qualified

Congratulations on qualifying as an Associate or Fellow.

You can now enjoy the many benefits that come with membership of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. We support members throughout their careers, helping them maintain professionalism and career progression through a programme of events and courses backed by an extensive information resource.

A gallery of images taken at the New Qualifiers' ceremony held on 15 September 2011 at the Midland Hotel, Manchester, can be found here.

 

Professional skills

Professional skills is a key part of your training and ongoing development. Members are required to take the Professional Skills Course within one year of qualification, or between the fourth and sixth anniversaries of their admission to the Actuarial Profession, whichever comes first. A web-based version of the course will be available later in the year and details will be published on the website and via newsletters when available. As a qualified actuary you agree to continue to develop and maintain your professional competence, which includes spending at least two hours a year developing your professional skills. The Profession is developing a suite of professional skills events for experienced members through web-based modules in partnership with Leeds University’s Inter-Disciplinary Ethics Applied (IDEA) Centre with a view to re-introducing a revised mandatory requirement for experienced members by June 2013 (this event will replace the Experienced Professionalism Event).

The Profession also holds regular meetings, seminars and conferences to encourage and facilitate the exchange of technical and professional ideas. You can find out more about these activities through our website and other publications such as the British Actuarial Journal and The Actuary. In addition, our committees regularly discuss matters of concern or interest, such as professional standards, proposed legislation and technical issues.

The Actuaries’ Code

Since the launch of the principles-based Actuaries’ Code in 2009, the Profession has endeavoured to embed the principles of the Code in its education and training. As a student you will have become familiar with the Code and the standards the Profession has developed concerning how we agree to behave in the conduct of our business. The Code offers comprehensive written guidance on professional conduct by our members.

Continuing professional development

Your professional qualification shows your commitment to learning and achievement. The continuing professional development (CPD) programme helps you improve your skills and knowledge and will help you get more from your career, and achieve your career goals. You can record and update your CPD progress in the secure member login area of the website.

To help you maintain your CPD, you'll find relevant reading lists in the research and resources section of our website. In our events section there are details of events and activities to develop and maintain your skills and knowledge, and to help you network and keep in touch with other actuaries. If you are professionally active, you must complete a minimum level of CPD.

Professional skills and development

Attending courses and events throughout your actuarial career helps you stay in touch with what professional skills mean to you and the Profession. Using a variety of lectures, group discussions and case studies Professional Skills Courses alert you to some of the issues you may encounter in your professional life and help you prepare for and deal with them.

Professional Skills Courses

As mentioned above, attendance at a course is required within one year of qualification or between the fourth and sixth anniversary of a member’s admission to the Profession, whichever comes first.

Initially, members admitted to the Profession on or after 1 July 2006 who:

  • have not qualified as a Fellow by 1 July 2011; or
  • have not transferred to the category of Associate by 1 July 2011; or
  • have qualified as a Fellow by 1 July 2011 but who do not attend the current two day New Fellows Professionalism Course by the end of December 2011,

will be required to undertake the new Professional Skills Course.

For more information

For more information and advice on professional skills courses e-mail: professional.skills@actuaries.org.uk or call Cindy Checchia +44 (0)1865 2682122.

Professionalism courses abroad

We organise professionalism courses primarily for our members. However, we have approved many overseas courses as equivalent to UK versions, such as those organised by the:

  • Society of Actuaries
  • Casualty Actuarial Society
  • Society of Actuaries in Ireland
  • Actuarial Society of South Africa
  • Institute of Actuaries in Australia
  • Canadian Institute of Actuaries
  • Singapore Actuarial Society.

With increasing international membership, we aim to make it possible for more members based overseas to attend an approved course without travelling to the UK.

We also encourage overseas actuarial associations to develop and run approved equivalent courses. Those organising professionalism courses outside the UK who are interested in seeking equivalency approval should email Neil Hilary. Details of the approval process are set out in the Process for accreditation.

UK-based members should attend events organised by the Profession.

Disciplinary schemes

Our disciplinary schemes consider allegations of professional misconduct made against our members. We involve non-actuaries in our discipline process and we hold disciplinary tribunals in public. Matters which have a wide effect on public interest are handled by the Financial and Reporting Council’s Accountancy and Actuarial Discipline Board.

 

Ben Thomas Watch and listen ......
... newly qualified actuaries speak of their continued committment to learning as their careers progress.