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Covers eligibility timing, required programming languages (SAS, R, and Python), and strategies for choosing a toolset based on career needs. Provides practical workflow advice: model coding practice, outlining with Jupyter/Markdown, leveraging CAS and external learning resources, careful project instruction review, iterative code/model checks, and final report requirements including word limits and privacy of identity.",{"@graph":69,"@context":123},[70,84,106],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":20,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/exam/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/vol-32-no-3-september-2026-how-to-prepare-for-pcpa/399328/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/vol-32-no-3-september-2026-how-to-prepare-for-pcpa/399328.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"Kyle","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-11-09","2026-09-27",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":105},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",11,{"@type":107,"mainEntity":108},"FAQPage",[109,115,119],{"name":110,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":112},"How long is the PCPA Exam and what does it emphasize?","Question",{"text":113,"@type":114},"The PCPA Exam is two hours long and focuses on concepts and understanding rather than complex calculations.","Answer",{"name":116,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":117},"When must candidates pass the PCPA Exam relative to the project window?",{"text":118,"@type":114},"Candidates must pass the exam three weeks prior to the beginning of the project window, with specific dates listed in the PCPA Content Outline.",{"name":120,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":121},"What languages are required to complete the project?",{"text":122,"@type":114},"The project must be completed in SAS, R, and Python.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":125,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":127,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":129,"site_id":62},399328,1790549186,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":132},{"doc_id":129,"user_id":133,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":134,"doc_module":4,"category_id":19,"category_name":20,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":135,"file_id":136,"file_url":137,"file_type":138,"file_size":139,"view_count":105,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":39,"language":140,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":144,"read_time":46,"preview_page_count":4},3985741905716,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_994ba38a5ba835b3df7d355c54d3ed8d","Vol. 32 | No. 3 | September 2026 Produced by the Candidate Advocate Working Group  \nHow to Prepare for PCPA  \n􀂝 by KATHLEEN SMOLAK, CANDIDATE  \nREPRESENTATIVE  \nExam preparation  \nThe PCPA Exam differs from other exams. It is two hours long and focuses on conceptsand understanding rather than complex calculations. Review the Content Outline, focus on source material, and read through the Success Criteria for the Project. Some candidates find using a study prep vendor helpful, but it is not required.  \nProject preparation: Before the project window  \nCandidates must pass the exam three  weeks prior to the beginning of the project window. Specific dates can be found in the PCPA Content Outline. The project is offered four times per year.  \nPicking a language  \nThe project must be completed in SAS, R, and Python. If you are not familiar with any of these, do some research and choose a language you think will be helpful for your career. For example, if you know the actuaries at your company use R, then pick R. If you work closely with data scientists who  \nPage 2 􀄦  \n1 Future Fellows 􀄁 September 2026  \nUPCOMING EVENTS  \n\n| Î 2026 CAS Annual |\n| --- |\n| Meeting\u003Cbr>Honolulu, HI |\n| November 8–11, 2026 |\n| Î Ratemaking, |\n| Product and |\n| Modeling Seminar\u003Cbr>Indianapolis, IN |\n| March 15–17, 2027 |\n| Î 2027 CAS Spring Meeting Chicago, IL May 16–19, 2027 |\n\nLearn more & register:  \n[casact.org/calendar](casact.org/calendar)  \n􀄥 Page 1  \nuse Python, then pick Python. Each programming language has its pros and cons, so consider this when choosing which language to use.  \nModel coding basics  \nPractice building a model before starting your project. There are many great resources online to help you learn to do this, including the CAS “Building a GLM from Start to Finish”course. The course is available at a discount through the end of 2026 with the discount code provided via email confirmation once you pass the PCPA Exam. This course walks you through building a model and explains what you should consider from an actuarial perspective. Download and review the provided script files.  \n[Coursera.org](Coursera.org) also has courses on data analysis with Python/R that walk through the steps in the modeling process. YouTube also has numerous videos on coding concepts. If you know other actuaries or data scientists who code, ask them if they have any advice or recommended videos and materials.  \nOutline your project  \nBy now, you should have an idea of what you need to do to build a model. Use a Jupyter notebook, Markdown, or comments in your code to outline the steps in your project. It may be helpful to include specific code snippets for easy reference while you are writing your code. Keep in mind that if you are using a notebook, you will need to convert it to a script file before submitting your code.  \nAdditional CAS resources  \nThe PCPA page on the CAS website has a list of FAQs. Read through those to get an idea of what to expect when the project window starts. I highly recommend reading the PCPA Post Project Summary (found on the CAS Post Exam   \nSummary webpage) before you start your project so you can see some of the common errors from previous windows.  \nDuring the project window  \nDatasets and project instructions  \nWhen the project window opens, you will receive an email from the project portal. The email will provide a link to a project page containing all the information needed to complete and submit the project. Read the project instructions very carefully: There are specific guidelines about the file types and names for your final files. You will need to provide a final report, code file, and additional outputs from your code.  \nModel review  \nFrequently review your code to ensure it performs as intended. For example, compare your exploratory data analysis findings with your predictions by category—are your findings reasonable? Are your relativities as expected? These and similar considerations can be found in the CAS GLM cours","cbCaihjybQNkHoPK","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaihjybQNkHoPK","pdf",3112388,"English","# Exam preparation\n## Project preparation: Before the project window\n## Picking a language\n## Model coding basics\n## Outline your project\n## Additional CAS resources\n# During the project window\n## Datasets and project instructions\n## Model review\n## Final report review\n## Project submission","[{\"question\":\"How long is the PCPA Exam and what does it emphasize?\",\"answer\":\"The PCPA Exam is two hours long and focuses on concepts and understanding rather than complex calculations.\"},{\"question\":\"When must candidates pass the PCPA Exam relative to the project window?\",\"answer\":\"Candidates must pass the exam three weeks prior to the beginning of the project window, with specific dates listed in the PCPA Content Outline.\"},{\"question\":\"What languages are required to complete the project?\",\"answer\":\"The project must be completed in SAS, R, and Python.\"}]","Vol. 32 - No. 3 - September 2026 - How to Prepare for PCPA | PDF",1790496150]