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For questions on exam registrations, schedules, and centers, contact exams@soa.org.
For ALL other questions, including grading concerns, defective questions, syllabus information, general course studies, contact Education & Exams Ombudsperson.
Examination Services Frequently Asked Questions
- Address Changes:
How do I change my address for receipt of admission ticket or grade slip?
To change your address on our database, e-mail the correct information to exams@soa.org. Please put “Address Change” in the subject line of your e-mail. Include your date of birth and/or your previous address for positive identification. You may notify the Exam Department directly at (847) 706-3583.
- Applications:
When is the registration deadline?
Your application(s) must be received on or before April 1 for the Spring session, and September 24 for the Fall session. Applications received after the deadline will not be accepted. Please be aware that it takes approximately 10 days for your application to arrive by regular mail. We encourage you to use an overnight delivery service to ensure delivery by the deadline date. Please retain your tracking number in the event that you would need to trace your package for proof of delivery. Your original signature is required for your application to be valid. A photocopy or facsimile of your signature is not acceptable. Applications are processed in the order they are received. It may take a few weeks for your application to be processed due to the volume of applications received. When your registration is entered into our computer you will receive an e-mail confirmation.
Download Fall 2004 Exam Applications
- Calculators:
What are the approved calculators and how can I obtain one?
You may use the battery – or solar powered Texas Instruments BA-35 model calculator, BA II Plus, TI-30X, TI-30Xa, or TI-30X II (IIS solar or 11B battery). You may use more than one of the approved models during the examination. Upon entrance to the examination room, candidates must show the supervisor that the memory has been cleared for all of the calculators brought in. Calculator instructions are not allowed in the exam room. For the BA II Plus, clearing will reset the calculator to the factory default settings. You can purchase calculators at any office supply store or directly from: Texas Instruments, Attention: Order Entry, PO Box 650311, Mail Station 3962, Dallas, TX 75265. For phone orders please call 1-800-842-2737. The Texas Instruments Web site is www.ti.com.
- Candidate Numbers:
I’ve misplaced my candidate number and want to check if I passed, what can I do?
If you have lost or misplaced your ticket of admission indicating your candidate number, this information cannot be given over the phone, faxed or e-mailed. You may request your candidate number by e-mail to exams@soa.org. Please put “Candidate Number” in the subject line of your e-mail. You may also contact the Exam Department at (847) 706-3583. Please confirm your mailing address and date of birth. Candidate numbers are sent by mail only.
- Change of Center:
How do I request a change of center?
You may request a change of center by contacting the Exam Department at (847) 706-3583. There is a non-refundable fee of $50 which will be assessed at the time of the request. Candidates are not allowed to walk-in to take an exam at a center where they have not registered. Supervisors must confirm registration with the SOA prior to being allowed to write.
- Exam Fees:
How can I tell if my exam fees have been paid?
Can I still take exams with a balance due on my account?
Registration is confirmed by e-mail. However payment information is not confirmed at that time. Check processing takes approximately 2 weeks to clear the bank. Credit card payments are charged on a first come first serve basis and may take a few weeks to process due to the volume of applications received.
Upon payment approval, tickets of admission will be mailed out. If there is a balance due on your account due to insufficient funds or a declined charge transaction, an invoice will be sent to you and your ticket of admission will be withheld. Please note that a grade will not be released until exam fees are paid in full.
Candidates who use a company check or corporate credit card to pay for their exams are encouraged to check with their employers to be sure that a payment was sent on their behalf well ahead of the deadline date.
Candidates whose payment form is a personal check should check with their bank to see if their check has cleared.
Candidates who use a Visa, MasterCard or American Express card should contact their charge company to see if the transaction has been successful.
A candidate may take an exam while having an outstanding balance. Every effort should be made to clear up exam fees prior to the exam date. In the event that there is a balance due and a ticket of admission is not received, the candidate should report to the exam site with photo ID to show the supervisor at check in. Candidate instructions, exam dates, times and center locations can be found at http://www.soa.org/ccm/content/?categoryID=334002. The supervisor will provide an approved candidate number to use for the exam.
- Exam Locations
Where can I find out the address of the exam center?
Do exam locations ever change prior to exam day?
To find the exact address of where your exam will be held look at the Exam Center Locations pamphlet that accompanied your Ticket of Admission. Exact addresses are listed next to each center name. Be sure to look carefully at the location for your exam number. At some centers, exams can be given at several different locations within the same site.
Although it is not anticipated, exam locations can change from the time they are confirmed up until exam day. Often times this is due to scheduling conflicts, or is a direct result of the number of candidates registering for a particular site. In the event that there is a change to your center location you will be notified by e-mail and also a notice will be sent to you by regular mail. For the most up-to-date listing of center addresses, please check our website at http://www.soa.org/ccm/content/?categoryID=334002. We encourage you to check for location changes up until the day of your exam.
- Exam Times:
What time do the exams start and how long are they?
For exact dates and times please check the Instructions to Candidates found at http://www.soa.org/ccm/content/?categoryID=214009.
To avoid scheduling conflicts, please allow yourself enough time before and after the exam so that in the event of a delay you are prepared.
Please note the following procedures for the timing of the exams:
Supervisors are asked to open the exam room one-half hour before the scheduled start time to allow for admission procedures.
Once check-in is completed or at the scheduled start time the supervisor should begin reading the exam instructions aloud.
When all check-in procedures and verbal instructions are completed the supervisor will “re-set” the exam clock to the scheduled start time – the candidates will be instructed to begin work.
Candidates will be given the full amount of exam time according to the “re-set” clock to complete the exam.
- Grades:
When can I expect to receive my examination results?
Grades are released approximately eight to ten weeks after the examination date; results are located under the Education and Examination section of the SOA website. http://www.soa.org/ccm/content/?categoryID=214009; or you may call the SOA hotline number (847) 706-3579 for pass – fail results. You will need your candidate number to obtain this information. Approximate dates for the release of grades for the Spring 2004 examination session are as follows: Course 1-4 , Friday July 9, and Course 6, EA-1 and EA-2B, Friday July 16. For the Fall 2004 examination session; Course 1-4, Friday January 7, 2005; and Courses 5, 8, and EA-2A Friday January 14, 2005.
- Grade slips:
How can I get another copy of my grade slip?
You may request a duplicate grade slip by contacting the Exam Department by e-mail at exams@soa.org. Please put “Duplicate Grade” in the subject line of your e-mail. You may contact the Exam Department directly at (847) 706-3583.
- Refunds:
How do I obtain an examination refund?
If you have registered for but did not sit for an exam, you may request a refund by contacting the Exam Department at refund@soa.org. You may also mail in the bottom portion of your ticket of admission (indicating which exams need to be refunded). Faxed requests may be sent to (847) 706-3599. A $50 administrative fee is assessed on all refunds. The Exam Department must receive requests no later than June 30 for the Spring session and December 31 for the Fall session. Refunds will be processed approximately 6 weeks after all examinations have been administered for that particular session. Refunds will be returned in the payment form that accompanied the original exam application. If your employer paid your exam fee, the employer will receive the refund on your behalf.
- Signature Letter:
I have already received my ticket of admission but have also received a gold signature letter, what should I do?
This notice states that your registration is incomplete because it is either a photocopy, lacking a signature and/or is missing the required statement acknowledging the rules and regulations governing the examinations. It is necessary for the SOA to have a completed application with an original signature for our files. Please sign and return this notice. If you do not return the form, your exam grade slip will not be released.
- Special Arrangements for Candidates With Disabilities:
Whom should I contact?
To request special accommodations for the SOA exams a candidate must submit a written request and medical documentation by the registration deadline.
Additional documentation may be required depending on the nature of the disability and the arrangements requested.
For more information contact Anna Abel at aabel@soa.org
- Tickets of Admission:
I've already submitted my application. When can I expect an admission ticket?
Can I still take the exam if I do not have my Ticket of Admission?
Please allow 10 working days for the application to arrive. Applications are processed in the order they are received. It may take a few weeks to enter your application due to the volume of applications being received. Tickets of admission will be mailed starting March 1 for the Spring session and September 1 for the Fall session. If you receive a ticket of admission that contains incorrect information, notify the Exam Department at (847) 706-3583 or exams@soa.org. If you have not received or have misplaced your ticket of admission, you must contact the Exam Department to confirm registration and request that another ticket be sent out to you. In the event that a ticket of admission is not received, the candidate should report to the exam site with photo ID to show the supervisor at check in. Candidate instructions, exam dates, times and center locations can be found at http://www.soa.org/ccm/content/?categoryID=214009. The supervisor will provide an approved candidate number to use for the exam. Candidates are not allowed to walk-in to take an exam at a center where they are not registered – even if they have a ticket of admission from another center.
- Transcripts:
How do I obtain an official transcript?
You may request an official transcript indicating your examination credit by e-mailing exams@soa.org. Please put “Transcript” in the subject line of your e-mail. You may also contact the Exam Department directly at (847) 706-3583. Transcript information will not be given over the phone, faxed or e-mailed.
- Course 7 Seminars:
Did my application make it into the seminar?
Space in seminars is limited. To find out if your application was successfully registered for a specific seminar you may contact Judy Carney at (847) 706-3594 or you may e-mail her directly at jcarney@soa.org.
- Laptops for Course 7 Seminars:
What are the laptop requirements for the seminar?
All candidates are required to bring a laptop computer with 3.5” diskette drive to the seminar and will be responsible for the proper operation of the laptop during the seminar. Current requirements and configurations can be found on our website at http://www.soa.org/ccm/content/exams-education-jobs/candidate-and-exam-information/laptop_specs04/ | |
