Joint Board for the Enrollment of Actuaries - Examination Program - May 2017 Basic (EA-1) Examination

Sep 27, 2026

Uploaded by Bulrr

Examination program materials for the Joint Board for the Enrollment of Actuaries, describing requirements for the Enrolled Actuary designation through combined knowledge and responsible pension actuarial experience. The document outlines the EA-1 and EA-2 exam structures, including duration and key technical coverage: compound interest, life contingencies, pension law (ERISA and related rules), and pension funding through actuarial assumptions and contribution calculations. It also specifies exam format as multiple-choice scoring, calculator eligibility conditions, and the December/November and May administration schedule, including waiver pathways.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages35

Reading Time1 h 28 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

All Examinations

Basic EA-1 Examination

Pension EA-2 (Segment L) Law Examination

Pension EA-2 (Segment F) Funding Examination

JOINT BOARD FOR THE ENROLLMENT OF ACTUARIES AMERICAN SOCIETY OF PENSION PROFESSIONALS AND ACTUARIES SOCIETY OF ACTUARIES EXAMINATION PROGRAM MAY 2017 BASIC (EA-1) EXAMINATION MAY 2017 PENSION EA-2 (SEGMENT L) EXAMINATION NOVEMBER 2017 PENSION EA-2 (SEGMENT F) EXAMINATION January 2017 Revised February 02, 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 1 All Examinations .......................................................................................................................................... 2 Basic EA-1 Examination............................................................................................................................... 3 Pension EA-2 (Segment L) Law Examination .............................................................................................. 7 Pension EA-2 (Segment F) Funding Examination ...................................................................................... 20 INTRODUCTION The Joint Board for the Enrollment of Actuaries administers two actuarial examinations that must be successfully completed by individuals to satisfy the actuarial knowledge requirement for the designation of Enrolled Actuary. The actuarial knowledge requirement for enrollment is augmented by a requirement that a candidate have certain responsible pension actuarial experience. Through a combined knowledge and experience requirement, the Joint Board seeks to determine which applicants for the designation of Enrolled Actuary have the skills necessary to protect the interests of pension plan participants. The examinations are structured as follows: The EA-1 examination is two-and-one-half hours in length and covers (1) the mathematics of compound interest and practical financial analysis and (2) the mathematics of life contingencies and practical demographic analysis. The pension (EA-2) examination consists of two segments: (a) The EA-2 (Segment L) law examination (formerly EA-2 (Segment B)) is two-and-onehalf hours in length and covers relevant pension laws (in particular the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and related laws, regulations, and rulings) as they affect pension actuarial practice. The EA-2 (Segment L) examination presupposes knowledge of the topics covered in the EA-1 examination. (b) The EA-2 (Segment F) examination (formerly EA-2 (Segment A)) is four hours in length and covers the selection of actuarial assumptions and calculation of minimum required and maximum tax-deductible contributions under current pension law, along with the related actuarial mathematics. The EA-2 (Segment F) examination presupposes knowledge of the topics covered in the EA-1 and EA-2 (Segment L) examinations. EA-1 and the EA-2 (Segment L) examinations are given in May; the EA-2 (Segment F) examination is given in November. A candidate for enrollment may be able to satisfy part of the actuarial knowledge requirement of the Joint Board regulations by earning a degree in actuarial mathematics or its equivalent from an accredited college or university. Such candidates will not have to pass the EA-1 examination. The courses in the plan of study and their successful completion must comply with guidelines adopted by the Joint Board for determining what demonstrates the requisite knowledge. The Joint Board will grant a waiver of the EA-1 examination to any candidate who received credit from the Society of Actuaries (SOA) for Courses FM and MLC of the SOA’s education and examination program. Under either approach, the candidate must apply to the Joint Board for a waiver of the EA-1 examination as outlined on the Joint Board website at [http://www.irs.gov/Tax-Professionals/Enrolled-Actuaries/Joint-Board-Examination-Program](http://www.irs.gov/Tax-Professionals/Enrolled-Actuaries/Joint-Board-Examination-P

FAQs

What are the EA-1 and EA-2 examinations and what designation do they support?

They are actuarial examinations administered by the Joint Board to satisfy the actuarial knowledge requirement for the designation of Enrolled Actuary.

What topics are covered by the EA-1 exam and how long is it?

EA-1 covers mathematics of compound interest and life contingencies with practical analysis, and it lasts two and one-half hours.

How are the exams scored and what are the calculator requirements?

Exams consist solely of multiple-choice questions, each worth one to five points, scored for correct answers only. Candidates may use calculators only if they have self-contained power, are noiseless, and cannot retain text, and they must record the calculator’s make and model on the answer sheet.

Sep 27, 2026

Uploaded by Bulrr