Employer Exam Support: What to Negotiate For
Understanding and negotiating actuarial exam support benefits with your employer.
Standard Exam Support Components
Most actuarial employers offer some combination of the following: study materials reimbursement (manuals, online courses, practice exams), paid study time during work hours, exam registration fee coverage, and pass bonuses. Standard paid study time ranges from half a day to a full day per exam hour for each exam attempt. Pass bonuses typically range from $500 to $3,000 per exam, increasing for upper-level exams. Some employers also provide study seminars or in-house review sessions.
Negotiating Your Package
When evaluating job offers, compare the total exam support package, not just salary. A lower salary with generous study time and pass bonuses may be more valuable than a higher salary with minimal exam support. Ask specifically about study hours per exam attempt, whether study time is provided for failed attempts, the cap on study material reimbursement, and whether the company supports both SOA and CAS tracks. During negotiations, frame exam support as an investment in your professional development that benefits both you and the employer through faster credentialing.