Derek Cribb wishes IFoA students luck as they wait to embark on a journey full of opportunity
It's one of two times in the year when many of our student members around the world find themselves waiting nervously for their exam results. I remember that feeling from my own professional training - and it's not a pleasant one. So I wanted to use this column to wish those of you who have recently taken IFoA exams the very best of luck with your results.
As our exams are recognised around the world, they truly provide a passport that can take you wherever you want to go in your career. I would encourage you to look beyond your immediate horizons: be that in terms of practice area, industry or geographic region.
One competitive advantage that an actuarial education gives you is an understanding of risk: use that not exclusively to minimise your career risk but to find your optimum balance of risk and reward. There is a world of opportunity out there, and the best of these opportunities may take you outside traditional actuarial career choices.
It is vital that our exams reflect the diverse areas in which actuaries work and the increasingly broad skillset demanded of modern actuaries. We are therefore in the process of undertaking a strategic review of our qualification process, to ensure that the material covered continues to be relevant in today's business environment.
Last year, 31,559 individual exams were sat by candidates in 141 exam centres in 74 countries. The logistics involved are mind-boggling. The IFoA's dedicated registry team, alongside an army of volunteers, work very hard to make sure that the IFoA's written and online exams take place without a hitch. This partnership is crucial to the smooth running of the exams, helping to make the student experience as seamless as possible.
Good luck to all of you out there waiting for exam results. I hope to welcome you to the actuarial profession as a Certified Actuarial Analyst, Associate or Fellow of the IFoA in due course. In the meantime, know that your commitment and dedication, and the skills you are acquiring, will provide strong foundations on which you will build a successful and long-lasting career.
Learn more about the CAA qualification here.
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