Candidate Corner
Welcome to E&E’s Candidate Corner – the one stop for all your examination questions. If you have any questions that have not been addressed below please email us at education@asppa.org.
Education and Examination programs
Examination Procedures & Instructions
Study Materials
ASPPA Examination Policies
Examinations Grades
ASPPA Continuing Education Credit
View issues of The Candidate Connection
ASPPA Education Standards of Conduct
FAQs
Examinations, Procedures & Instructions
Examination Registration
You do not need to be a member of ASPPA to take an ASPPA examination. A candidate can register for an ASPPA examination in one of the following three ways:
Online: Register online over a secure network and receive immediate payment confirmation. Credit card payments accepted (MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover) If you do not have an account set up with ASPPA, you will be required to set up a secure account. This account will store your pertinent information, grade results, etc.
Fax: Complete the online exam registration form or the proctored exam registration form with credit card payment to 703-516-9308. Allow 5-7 business days for processing. If faxing your registration please do not send a copy via mail.
Mail: Complete online exam registration form or the proctored exam registration form with payment to ASPPA, P.O. Box 34725, Alexandria, VA 22334-0725. All forms of payment are accepted: credit card, check or money order. Allow 7-10 business days for processing.
Please provide an email address with your registration. Failure to do so will delay the registration process.
Examination Confirmation
Approximately 6-8 weeks prior to the beginning of the exam window, DC-1, DC-2, DC-3, DB, PFC-1, PFC-2, TGPC-2 and CPC exam candidates will receive an “eligibility” confirmation e-mail stating that they need to schedule an appointment with a Prometric testing center as soon as possible. It is up to the candidate to schedule an appointment. ASPPA cannot assist with scheduling.
ASPPA examinations are administered in the United States and Canada only. A candidate who does not receive a registration confirmation e-mail two weeks prior to any ASPPA examination should immediately contact ASPPA to request a copy. It must be understood that ASPPA and any jointly administering or sponsoring organizations will not be held responsible for difficulties caused by holidays or other delays in postal service or for the consequences of failing to receive correspondence as a result of inadequate postage or e-mail.
Study Materials
Order Study Materials
There are 4 ways to order publications:
- Online: You can order publications online from the E&E bookstore.
Mail: You can mail the publication order form, with payment, to: ASPPA-Publications, P.O. Box 79918, Baltimore, MD 21279-0918.
Fax: You can fax in the publication order form to the ASPPA Book Order Department, 301-843-0159. Important: fax all pages. Credit card information must be included.
Phone: You can place an order by calling 301-645-8001 between 9:00am and 5:00pm Eastern time, Monday - Friday. Please have your credit card information available.
ASPPA Examination Policies
Prometric Testing Center Information & Procedures
ASPPA examinations (DC-1, DC-2, DC-3, DB, PFC-1, PFC-2, TGPC-2 and CPC) are administered through Prometric Testing Centers in more than 300 cities in North America. To schedule an appointment, visit http://prometric.com/ASPPA or call the Prometric Candidate Services Call Center (CSCC) at 1-888-215-4136. It is necessary for you to supply the Customer Service Representative (CSR) with your candidate ID number (received in your eligibility e-mail) and state that you are scheduling an ASPPA examination. The CSR will advise you of the available dates and times at your chosen test center. You must be registered with ASPPA before you will be allowed to schedule your appointment through Prometric.
NOTE: ASPPA staff cannot assist in scheduling examinations. Saturday, Sunday, and evening hours are available at some locations; however, hours of operation vary from test center to test center.
- The CSCC hours of operation are: Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (ET)
ASPPA examination fees are nonrefundable; however, you may transfer the registration to another colleague or candidate.
Arrive 30 minutes before your appointment to check-in and begin the tutorial.
Take 1 form of ID - A candidate must present a valid, non-expired form of identification before he/she can test. That identification document must:
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-- Be government-issued (e.g., driver’s license, passport, state-issued identification card or military identification card). |
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-- Contain both a current photo (photo must look like candidate) and signature (if it does not contain your signature, you must present two identification cards: one with your photo and one with your signature).
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-- Have a name that EXACTLY matches the name used to register for the ASPPA exam (including designations such as “Jr.” and “III”). |
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-- Unacceptable forms of ID include: Social Security Card, birth certificate, parking/traffic tickets, or documents that are not originals (faxes, photocopies). |
Biometrics - Privacy Notice for Candidates: Beginning in the Fall 2008 ASPPA examination cycle, candidates will experience a more efficient and secure check in process when sitting for an ASPPA proctored examination at Prometric testing centers. Prometric is pleased to offer a Biometric Identity Management solution to increase security in their testing centers. [more]
Late Arrival: Examination candidates are permitted to enter the examination room as much as 30 minutes after the scheduled examination start time. After 30 minutes, no candidates will be permitted to enter the examination room. All candidates must finish the examination by the required ending time, regardless of the time they begin. If, due to inclement weather, an examination testing site closes on the day of the examination, the candidate can postpone the exam until the next cycle. To maintain the integrity of ASPPA’s examination program, examinations are given only on the dates scheduled.
Examination Materials: Candidates may not take scrap paper or other materials into or from the examination location. Any attempt to remove such materials from the examination location will be grounds for disqualification of the candidate’s examination. The copying or reproduction of any examination questions or answers is expressly forbidden and may be grounds for the disqualification of the candidate’s examination. ASPPA further reserves the right to disqualify the examination of any applicant who fails to write out and sign the statement on the examination registration form whereby the applicant agrees to be bound by these regulations.
Calculators: Beginning with the spring 2009 ASPPA examination cycle, candidates will not be allowed to bring in calculators to the Prometric Testing centers. Candidates will be able to use an onscreen calculator during the exam (image provided below). If requested, Prometric will furnish a handheld calculator that is silent, solar or battery-operated and nonprogrammable (without paper tape-printing capabilities or alphabetic keypads). Examples of the models available at most testing centers include:
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Calculator Make
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Sharp
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EL-233S
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Texas Inst.
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TI-1795+
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Casio
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MS-80TV
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Books, papers and electronic devices such as computers, pagers, palm pilots and cellular phones may not be brought into the examination room.
Lost Examinations: In the unlikely event of the loss or destruction of a completed examination, the examination fee will be refunded. ASPPA can assume no other obligation and candidates must take all examinations with this understanding.
Special Requirements: It is ASPPA’s intent to accommodate candidates who have physical, visual, hearing or other special needs. Specify any accommodations you require on the examination registration form and notify the Prometric testing center when scheduling your examination.
Special Circumstances: ASPPA has identified three categories where special consideration will be granted:
Illness (doctor’s note required, and it must indicate that the candidate was unable to sit for the exam on the date he/she was scheduled to take it); and
Act of God (or other unforeseen circumstance in which Prometric closes a test facility and cannot schedule a new exam appointment within the same window).
For these three categories, postponements will be allowed and the postponement and/or rescheduling fee will be waived. If a candidate cannot schedule a new exam appointment within the same testing window, ASPPA will postpone the candidate’s exam to the next testing window without any penalties and notify him/her once the process is completed.
Emergency Closings: Severe weather or an emergency could require canceling scheduled examinations. If such an event occurs, Prometric will contact candidates by phone or e-mail. Candidates can also check for testing site closures at www.prometric.com/sitestatus. If an exam site is closed, a candidate’s examination will be rescheduled without a rescheduling fee. If a test center is open for testing and a candidate chooses not to appear for his/her appointment, his/her registration fee will be forfeited. The candidate must then register and pay another full examination fee for the next testing window.
Retention Policy - Examinations are retained for two years. After two years, examinations will be destroyed.
Examination Refund & Transfer Policy
Fees for examinations and postponements are not refundable. The right to sit for an ASPPA examination belongs exclusively to the person named on the examination registration form. That person may transfer the right to someone else; however, the transfer must be in writing and must be received no later than the final registration date.
Examination Postponement Policy
A candidate can postpone a proctored examination to a future testing window by the examination postponement deadline identified below by completing the ASPPA Postponement Form, paying the postponement fee of $125 and canceling his/her scheduled appointment with Prometric. If a candidate does not submit a Postponement Form to ASPPA by the deadline, the candidate will forfeit his/her examination fee.
Postponement Deadlines:
Spring Examination Window: June 11
Fall Examination Window: December 1
CPC Exam Postponement Deadline:
Spring Examination Window: May 19
Fall Examination Window: November 12
If you fail to cancel your examination appointment within 48 hours prior to your scheduled appointment, you will not be allowed to postpone AND you will forfeit your registration fee.
The postponement form and fee must be received by ASPPA on or before the postponement deadline. The postmark date is irrelevant. The ASPPA staff cannot assist with canceling an appointment with Prometric. There will be no exceptions. If it is necessary to postpone an examination, note that the study materials purchased in preparation for the examination may not be the current study materials for examinations in a different calendar year.
Examination Appointment Rescheduling
A candidate can reschedule the date, time and location of a scheduled examination appointment within the same testing window – the candidate must contact Prometric by telephone or through their online system. Fees do apply and will be collected by Prometric at the time of rescheduling. The fees for 2009 include:
- Reschedule appointment 30 or more days before exam appointment – no fee is charged.
Reschedule appointment 2-29 days before exam appointment - $35 fee.
Reschedule appointment less than 2 days (48 hours) before exam appointment:
-- $80 fee for PFC-1, PFC-2, TGPC-2, DC-1, DC-2, DC-3 or DB.
-- $89 fee for CPC
Examination Cancellation Policy
ASPPA examinations cannot be cancelled and the registration fee is nonrefundable. If a candidate is unable to take an examination, the exam must be postponed or transferred to another candidate (see Examination Postponement Policy). Online examinations can only be transferred; postponements are not allowed. ASPPA reserves the right to cancel a candidate’s examination. Prior notification will be sent via e-mail and followed with a letter via mail.
Testing Center Appointment: Failure to Appear
If a candidate fails to appear for a scheduled ASPPA examination appointment or cancels his/her appointment less than 2 days (48 hours) before the scheduled appointment, the entire registration fee will be forfeited and postponement will not be allowed.
ASPPA Examination & Publication Candidate Inquiry Policy
ASPPA examinations are self-study. ASPPA's Education & Examination (E&E) Committee appreciates and welcomes candidate comments to continually improve our educational offerings. If a candidate wishes to have a submitted* examination/module question, practice examination question, or specific content within an ASPPA examination related publication reviewed the candidate should be advised:
- Any request MUST be submitted using the online Examination & Publication Candidate Inquiry Review Form. ASPPA will not accept phone calls or emails with the inquiry information (candidates will be directed to use thes form);
- An examination question appeal/request MUST be submitted by the exam candidate. The E&E Committee will not review any request that is remitted from an employer, instructor/trainer, colleague, etc. on a candidate's behalf. Only the candidate will be responded to, even if the inquiry identifies other parties (candidates are encouraged to review ASPPA's Education Standards of Conduct);
- A candidate must review any posted errata before submitting a request for review;
- Any publication content review must be submitted for only the current publication version or edition (as identified on the respective examination syllabi or ASPPA publication order form);
- Any question or text material submitted for review MUST be accompanied by supporting documentation;
- Any question review MUST be submitted via this form within 30 days after the examination submission date or by December 31 of each calendar year (whichever date is earlier) (No review will begin until supporting documentation is received);
- Candidate will receive a response from ASPPA within 10 business days ONLY IF an adjustment to a score is warranted or an errata to a practice examination or publication is determined. If no response is received within 10 business days, the candidate should conclude appeal/request has been reviewed and no score adjustment or errata was deemed appropriate.
*ASPPA will only review examination question inquiries from candidates that have completed and submitted an ASPPA examination or module.
ASPPA Exam Expiration Policy (ASPPA Exam Sunset Provision)
The ASPPA Board of Directors adopted an eight-year sunset provision that took effect January 1, 1998, which applies to all ASPPA-sponsored examinations. The provision (revised on June 28, 1998) now reads: credit for successful completion of an ASPPA-sponsored examination, needed to attain an ASPPA credential (i.e., FSPA, MSPA, CPC, QPA, QKA, QPFC, TGPC, APM), will expire six months past the eighth anniversary of the examination date, unless the candidate is an ASPPA-credentialed member who has met ASPPA's continuing education (CE) requirements for each CE cycle (including reinstatements) since the examination date. If the candidate is not currently a credentialed member, the candidate may receive credit for sunset-invalidated exams, and receive his/her credential by completing one of the following:
- The candidate must provide documentation of having earned 40 ASPPA CE credits with the 24-months immediately preceding the date of the application for credentialed membership; or
The candidate must retake and pass the invalidated examinations within eight years of the oldest valid examination.
Once all examinations required for an ASPPA credential have been passed, application for the credential must be submitted to the Board of Directors. A candidate has eight and a half years, from the date of the first examination, to complete all examinations and submit his/her application for a credential.
Each examination is valid for eight and a half years from the date taken and passed. Effective six months following the eighth year, the exam taken will become invalid. For example, if a candidate passes RPF-1 and RPF-2 on June 1, 2007, and DC-1, DC-2 and DC-3 in 2008, application for the QPA credential must be made by December 1, 2015, or the RPF-1 and RPF-2 examinations will become invalid.
Examinations Grades
Testing Results
Immediately upon completion of the DC-1, DC-2, DC-3, PFC-1, PFC-2, DB and TGPC-2 examinations at a Prometric Testing Center, the candidate will be notified whether or not he/she passed the exam and a score report will be issued. This report serves as your documentation of pass or fail and score reports will not be reissued by ASPPA. RPF-1 and RPF-2 exam candidates will also receive an immediate score upon completion and submission of the exam. A results page can be printed to serve as your records; ASPPA will not reproduce this documentation at a later date.
CPC examination results will be mailed to candidates approximately 8-10 weeks after the examination date.
Grading Process
Notification for examinations will include a score of 9, 8 or 7 (passing grade) or 6, 5 or “N” (failing grade). A score of “N” does not indicate that no points were credited; rather, the candidate’s performance was below the minimum acceptable standards. A score of 3 at Prometric is equivalent to a score of “N”. Because of the confidential relationship between examination candidates and the ASPPA education and examination program administrators, the ASPPA Office is permitted to provide grade information only in writing. Grades will not be provided by telephone, e-mail or fax. Grades will not be released to a candidate who fails to pay an outstanding balance on an examination or course fee. Raw scores, pass marks, pass percentages and copies of essay answers are not released. Candidates who wish to have their grades sent to anyone other than themselves must fill out a Grade Release Form.
Test Taking Tips
Multiple Choice examinations (DC-1, DC-2, DC-3, DB, PFC-1, PFC-2 and TGPC-2):
Here are some suggestions about test taking. While they may seem obvious, candidates frequently forget them while taking an examination so it helps to revisit them from time to time. This is particularly true if it has been some time since you have either been in school or taken a professional examination.
- Get plenty of rest the night before the examination. If you have studied the material, cramming at the last minute will not be needed and a good night’s sleep will prove much more valuable.
Check with the examination center prior to your testing date to confirm that the center will be open and to clarify driving and parking directions. Then plan on getting to the examination center early.
Read the instructions carefully. Even though you may have heard the instructions before, it never hurts to reinforce them. And, you never know, there might be some new ones!
Plan your examination time carefully. Allocate a few minutes at the beginning of the examination session to familiarize yourself with the examination. And, give yourself a few minutes at the end to review your work.
Know how much time you have to spend on each question and/or topic.
Allocate a certain number of minutes for each question. Then, if you spend too much time on one question, know that it will have to come from another question.
Finally, remember that the examiners really are not trying to create trick questions. If you have studied the material they want you to get the question right. So, when in doubt assume a logical approach to solving a problem — it frequently is the right approach.
Essay Examination (CPC)
The same tips listed above apply to the essay examinations.
- Know how much time you have to spend on each question and/or topic. Read through the entire examination and allocate your time in proportion to the point allocations that are shown for each question. The examination will contain suggested times for each question to assist you in planning your time.
While you are reading through the examination, pick out a few of the easier questions for answering first. Getting a few easy questions out of the way at the beginning of the examination may settle initial testing nerves, improve your confidence, and potentially start triggering your memory on some of the points that are covered on the harder questions.
Read each question through quickly to get a feel for the situation/facts and what is being asked. Try to recognize the key concepts. Then, return to the question and read it through slowly. Do this only after you have determined precisely what the question is asking you to do.
Make sure that your answer is relevant to the precise question being asked. While you may know a considerable amount of information, if your answer is not relevant to the question being asked you will get no points for it. You also will have lost valuable time that could have been used on other questions.
While you should make use of all of the supplied information in formulating your answer, you will get no credit if you merely rewrite the question.
You should not read obscure interpretations into a question. Each question is designed to be straightforward. Try to cover all aspects of the question in your answer, including pertinent facts and details (even if, based on your practical experience, they seem obvious).
Type your answers in short phrases or sentences. Misspelling will not count against you unless the word is unidentifiable or misinterpreted. If you type something you do not want to be graded, delete or otherwise indicate clearly the portion you do not want the grader to consider. If you have second thoughts, or you want to put in clarifying points, use the insert function to add these thoughts in conveniently and clearly. Remember that copying and pasting functions also are available.
Although we call them “essay questions,” many candidates produce their answers in the form of an outline. The outline presentation of an answer is quite acceptable. A brief outline is potentially the most effective way of presenting the knowledge that you have. However, make sure that your outline is not too brief. Add clarifying phrases and/or make liberal use of adjectives.
If an answer requires a calculation, please show all of your work. For clarification, if time permits, type a written explanation of the calculations you are performing.
Make an effort to answer each question. At a minimum, provide any relevant thoughts on the topic and try to earn partial credit.
Since each question is graded separately, your answer to each question should be self-contained. References to answers on other questions will not be graded.
If a question asks you to “discuss” an issue or proposal, you should include the significant arguments both for and against it.
Do not worry if your answer does not appear to be as organized as some “model solutions” that you may have seen while you were studying. The examiners recognize that an answer supplied under examination conditions will not demonstrate the same organization as the “model solutions.”
The abbreviation and code sections lists will be provided as part of the examination and may be used within the questions and by you in your answers as time-savers.
Remember that graders will make valiant efforts to read the answers that are provided, but they are only human. Try to present your answers as clearly as possible.
Study Time
The number of hours of study needed to prepare for ASPPA examinations varies from person to person depending on the length and breadth of a person’s experience in the field. It is assumed and expected that all the required readings will be read and studied. Many successful candidates begin studying several months before an examination date in order to allow sufficient time to cover all the material to the proper extent.
As in other professional examination programs such as law examinations, enrolled actuaries examinations and CPA examinations, it is not unusual for candidates to have to take the test more than once before passing.
ASPPA Continuing Education Credit
A candidate can receive ASPPA CE credit for the following activities:
- Receive a score of 7, 8 or 9 on any PFC-1, PFC-2, DC-1, DC-2, DC-3, DB, TGPC-2 or CPC examination, or a passing grade on the A-1, A-2, A-3 exams, not previously passed (20 credits/examination). Self-study time for these exams cannot be used for additional CE credit. Credits will be applied to the cycle in which you receive your score.
Receive a score of 5 or 6 on any PFC-1, PFC-2, DC-1, DC-2, DC-3, DB, TGPC-2 or CPC examination or a score of 5 on the A-1, A-2 or A-3 examinations, not previously passed (15 credits/examination). Credits will be applied to the cycle in which you receive your score. Self-study time for these exams cannot be used for additional CE credit.
Successful completion of the Retirement Plan Fundamentals Course, RPF-1, RPF-2 and TGPC-1 (7.5 credits per exam).
ASPPA exams, including those taken to earn the first credential, may be claimed for credits in the two-year CE cycle in which the grade is issued.
For more information on ASPPA Continuing Education click here.
ASPPA Education Standards of Conduct
ASPPA’s Education & Examination (E&E) Committee wants to ensure that all candidates are treated fairly during the examination process. It is important to note, in this regard, that any irregularity or suspected violation of examination rules will be investigated and may result in disciplinary action. The examination rules include the following points:
- Candidates may not give or receive assistance of any kind during the examination;
- Any cheating, any attempt to cheat, assisting others to cheat or participating in such activities or engaging in improper conduct will generally result in a candidate’s examination being disqualified; and
Improper conduct includes arranging for another person to take an examination for the candidate; disclosing the contents of an examination to any other person; presenting false information on an examination application; failure to follow examination instructions; and looking at and/or copying the answers of any other candidate during the examination.
In addition to the rules noted above specific rules also apply for each examination format:
Proctored Examinations:
- Improper conduct includes gaining access to examination questions before an examination; having access to or consulting notes or books during the examination; copying questions and answers to take from an examination room; consulting other persons outside the examination room during the examination; disturbing other candidates during the examination; threatening or physically or verbally abusing another candidate, proctor or test administrator; and tampering with the operation of the testing computer or attempting to use it for any function other than taking the examination.
Online Examinations:
- Improper conduct includes copying questions and/or answers to an examination and providing to another candidate; and looking at and/or copying the answers or work of any other candidate.
- By virtue of the format of the examination, candidates can study with other candidates, work with colleagues for advice/guidance and/or utilize other study materials or online resources, but the work submitted must be the candidate’s. Candidates cannot receive answers from employers, colleagues or other examination candidates, nor can a candidate have his or her examination reviewed by another party for the identification of correct or incorrect answers.
The Education & Examination Committee will pursue any evidence that a candidate has cheated or failed to follow the examination rules. Any irregularity or suspected violation will be thoroughly investigated. If a violation is confirmed, disciplinary action may involve disqualifying the candidate’s examination and/or disqualifying a candidate from taking an examination for several future administrations.
The Education & Examination Committee may also report its action to ASPPA’s Professional Conduct Committee. Finally, if an examination is jointly sponsored (e.g., the Enrolled Actuary examinations), the other sponsoring organizations may also be notified.
We recognize the importance that these examinations play in your careers and believe that equitable administration of the examinations, combined with enforcement of ethical standards of conduct, will prove to be of benefit to the entire organization.