A practical 2026 guide to becoming an actuary: requirements, exam path, timelines, first-job tactics, and where to find internships, ADPs, and entry-level actuarial roles.
How to become an actuary
Short answer: build a quantitative foundation, pass early SOA or CAS exams, get relevant experience (internship, ADP, or adjacent analytics), and land an entry-level actuarial role. Most people become actuaries through a multi-year path of exams plus on-the-job experience -- not a single certification weekend.
Browse: Entry-level jobs | Internships | Development programs | Salary
On this page
If you still need the "what is the job?" primer, start with what does an actuary do. This page is the how-to path.
Is actuarial work a fit?
You will spend a lot of time with data, models, documentation, and stakeholder questions. Strong fits usually like quantitative problem-solving, can tolerate long exam cycles, and can explain numbers clearly. If you want a day-to-day picture first, read a day in the life.
What you typically need
- Education: math, statistics, actuarial science, economics, or another quantitative degree is common (not always mandatory)
- Exams: early SOA or CAS exams before or soon after your first role
- Technical skills: Excel baseline; SQL increasingly expected; Python/R help
- Experience signal: internship, ADP, research, or adjacent analytics/insurance exposure
Deeper requirement detail: actuary jobs requirements.
Path by starting point
Student / recent grad
Prioritize 1-2 exams, an internship or co-op, and targeted applications to analyst / assistant / ADP roles. Browse internships and development programs.
Career switcher
Translate quantitative work into actuarial language, pass an early exam, and target true entry postings. See how to become an actuary with no experience.
Non-math background
Possible with deliberate coursework and exam progress. Read without a math background.
Exam roadmap (SOA vs CAS)
Pick a track that matches the work you want:
- SOA: often life, health, retirement
- CAS: typically P&C
Full comparison: CAS vs SOA. Early exams matter more for hiring than finishing every credential before you apply.
How long does it take?
Getting into the field can take months to a couple of years depending on exams and experience. Full fellowship often takes several more years while working. Dedicated timeline tactics live here: how long it takes to become an actuary (timeline guide).
Getting the first actuarial role
- Pass or schedule at least one exam if you can
- Target internships, ADPs, and entry-level analyst/assistant titles
- Show proof of tools (SQL/Excel/Python projects count)
- Apply where duties match, not only where the title says "actuary"
Useful hubs: entry-level, analyst, ADP guide.
Resume and applications
Lead with exams, quantitative projects, and any insurance/analytics exposure. Keep the resume scannable for ATS and humans. Guides: resume with no experience and standout actuary resume.
Ready to apply? Browse entry-level actuarial jobs or all jobs.
FAQ
Can I become an actuary without a degree?
Rare in the U.S. for traditional carrier/consulting paths. A quantitative degree or strong equivalent signal still helps most candidates.
Do I need exams before my first job?
Many internships hire with zero or one exam. Competitive full-time analyst roles often prefer at least one or two.
What is the fastest path?
Exams + internship/ADP + focused applications beats collecting credentials with no experience. See the timeline guide.
What should I do right now?
Pick SOA vs CAS direction, schedule an exam, and start browsing internships or entry-level jobs.