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aspa.org

Membership Designations

> The FSPA and MSPA Designations
> The CPC, QPA, and QKA Designations
> The APM Designation
> Affiliate Membership

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The FSPA and MSPA Designations

ASPPA awards two professional designations to enrolled actuaries who are involved in the pension field.

Fellow of the American Society of Pension Actuaries

ASPPA sponsors a series of examinations that allows enrolled actuaries to demonstrate their professional competence in various actuarial and consulting aspects of pensions. These examinations cover advanced actuarial practice, financial and fiduciary aspects of qualified plans, and advanced pension consulting issues. By completing these requirements, candidates demonstrate that they are both enrolled actuaries with proven pension analytical skills and consultants qualified to provide actuarial and consulting support for all plan types. Enrolled actuaries who complete these additional examination requirements may apply to the ASPPA board of directors for the FSPA designation.

Member of the American Society of Pension Actuaries

Candidates who successfully complete the three examinations required for enrolled actuary status and have a minimum of three years of responsible actuarial experience may apply to the ASPPA board of directors for the MSPA designation.

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The CPC, QPA, and QKA Designations

ASPPA awards three professional designations to pension professionals who are involved in the consulting and administrative spheres of qualified plan work.

CPC - Certified Pension Consultant

The Certified Pension Consultant designation is awarded to benefits professionals employed in the fields of plan administration, pension actuarial administration, insurance and financial planning. CPCs work with employers to formulate, implement, administer, and maintain qualified retirement plans and other employee benefits programs.

An individual who has at least three years of experience in plan consulting and demonstrates competence in various aspects of pension and related employee benefits consulting through completion of the prescribed examination series may apply to the ASPPA board of directors for the CPC designation.

QPA - Qualified Pension Administrator

The Qualified Pension Administrator designation was created by ASPPA to recognize professionals who are qualified to perform the technical and administrative functions of qualified plan administration. QPAs assist employers, actuaries, and consultants in performing functions such as determination of eligibility for benefits, benefit computations, plan record keeping, trust accounting, and disclosure and compliance activities as required under current pension law.

An individual who has at least two years of experience in pension-related matters and who completes the prescribed ASPPA examination series may apply to the ASPPA board of directors for the QPA designation.

QKA - Qualified 401(k) Administrator

The Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA) designation recognizes retirement plan professionals who work primarily with 401(k) plans. QKAs come from a variety of professional disciplines and assist employers and consultants with the recordkeeping, nondiscrimination testing, and administrative aspects of 401(k) and related defined contribution plans.

An individual who has at least two years' experience in pension related matters and who completes the prescribed ASPPA examination series may apply to the ASPPA board of directors for the QKA designation. Download the QKA online kit.

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The APM Designation

APM - The Associated Professional Member

The APM designation was designed to recognize individuals with any of the following backgrounds:

  • Attorneys
  • Certified Public Accountants
  • Agents enrolled to practice before the IRS
  • Holders of the Master of Science in Financial Service degree from The American College
  • Members of the American Academy of Actuaries
  • Associates, Members and Fellows of the Conference of Consulting Actuaries
  • Associates and Fellows of the Society of Actuaries
  • Holders of the Accredited Pension Administrator designation from the National Institute of Pension Administrators
  • Holders of the Chartered Life Underwriter designation from The American College
  • Holders of the Chartered Financial Consultant designation from The American College
  • Holders of the Certified Financial Planner designation from a program accredited by the Certified Financial Board of Standards
  • Fellows of the Life Management Institute

Pension professionals who meet any of the above criteria and have a minimum of three years of experience in pension-related matters may apply to the ASPPA board of directors for the APM designation.

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Affiliate Membership

This classification is for those individuals who have an interest in the pension field. This membership does not require the successful completion of any examinations, but may be ideal for individuals completing requirements for credentials who wish to enjoy the benefits of ASPPA membership. However, affiliates may not vote, nor may they evidence affiliation with ASPPA in any written form.

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