Professionalism Workshop

Completing the CIA Professionalism Workshop is a requirement to become an Associate of the CIA (ACIA). It is delivered through an e-learning module and a two-day virtual event that provides participants with a solid grounding in professionalism concepts, making extensive use of the case-study method. Topics covered include:

• What is a professional? 
• The CIA and governance of the actuarial profession in Canada 
• Rules and standards 
• Professionalism in practice and actuarial professionalism
• Communication skills 

Upcoming workshops and registration

The CIA usually offers 10 workshops per year, in English and French.

A CIA Student or Candidate membership is required to attend any CIA educational activity, including the Professionalism Workshop. If you are not a member, please apply before registering for a workshop.

Please note that there is no waitlist for the Professionalism Workshop. Once a workshop is full, online registration will be disabled; if a spot becomes available, registration will automatically reopen.

Preparing for the workshop

1. Review the following pre-workshop materials: These resources will help you prepare for the e-learning module, virtual session and discussions:
   • Rules of Professional Conduct
   • Standards of Practice – Part 1000: General Standards
   • Qualification Standard – Requirements for Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
   • The CIA Disciplinary Process
   • Policy on Administration of Member Rights and Privileges
2. Complete the e-learning module: This online module introduces key concepts and materials to prepare you for the virtual session. It must be completed before attending the virtual session. Details on how to access the module (and the virtual session) will be sent at least two weeks prior to the event.

Completion requirements 

To earn credit for the Professionalism Workshop, you must: 

• Complete the e-learning module before attending the virtual session. 
• Attend the virtual session. 
• Submit an attestation post-session. 

A certificate of completion will be generated once the attestation is completed.

CAS recognition of the Professionalism Workshop

The Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS) formerly recognized the combination of the CIA’s Professionalism Workshop and the discontinued Practice Education Course (PEC) as meeting the requirements for the CAS Course on Professionalism (COP). The CAS now accepts completion of the Professionalism Workshop as meeting the requirement for the COP for Canadian CAS candidates.

Transition until December 31, 2025

Participants who completed the Professionalism Workshop prior to March 30, 2024, are required to take only day 2 of the workshop to receive credit for the COP. After December 31, 2025, both days must be completed.

Participants who completed the PEC prior to December 31, 2023, but did not take the Professionalism Workshop prior to March 30, 2024, will be required to take only day 1 of the workshop to receive credit for the COP. After December 31, 2025, both days must be completed.

Five-year expiry on professionalism education credit 

Participants must meet the membership eligibility requirements and be confirmed as an ACIA within five years of completing the CIA Professionalism Workshop. This also applies to former CIA members who have let their membership lapse and who wish to be reinstated, either as an ACIA or FCIA. Members in good standing will not lose their Professionalism Workshop credit.

For more information on the Professionalism Workshop and how it pertains to your chosen qualification pathway, please contact [email protected]. 

Practical considerations 

Please note that the introduction of the CIA’s qualification pathways may affect your need to take the Professionalism Workshop.

• Effective January 1, 2023, the ACIA designation is no longer required for fellows of other recognized actuarial organizations seeking Fellowship in the CIA via Pathway 3. As a result, these participants are no longer required to take the Professionalism Workshop.
• Please note that there is no change in the requirements for participants pursuing the ACIA designation for other qualification purposes or for those using the Professionalism Workshop for credit with the Society of Actuaries (toward the ASA designation) or the Casualty Actuarial Society (toward the ACAS designation).

CIA Professionalism Workshop – General FAQs 

What is the CIA Professionalism Workshop and who needs to take it? 

It is required for the Associate of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (ACIA) designation and to meet key professionalism requirements. Delivered via an e-learning module and a two-day virtual event, it builds a strong foundation in actuarial professionalism using case studies. The workshop also earns credit toward the ACIA designation and can be used toward APC (SOA) and COP (CAS) credit.  

How is the workshop delivered, what topics are covered, and what must I do to receive credit? 

The workshop includes an e-learning module followed by a two-day virtual session. Topics include what it means to be a professional, CIA governance, rules and standards, professionalism in practice, and communication skills. To receive credit, you must complete the e-learning module before the virtual session, attend the session, and submit the post-session attestation.  

A completion certificate is automatically generated once the attestation is submitted. 

How do I register, and is there a wait list? 

You must hold CIA Student or Candidate membership to register for any CIA educational activity, including this workshop. If you’re not a member, apply before registering. There is no wait list – when a session is full, online registration is disabled; if a spot becomes available, registration automatically reopens. 

Is the workshop recognized by the Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS) or Society of Actuaries (SOA), and how does it work? 

The CAS and SOA accept successful completion of the CIA Professionalism Workshop as meeting their Course on Professionalism (COP) and Associateship Professionalism Course (APC) requirements, respectively, for candidates pursuing the ACAS and ASA designations. 

To receive credit, the CIA will send a list of successful participants to the CAS or SOA after the workshop. This process can take three to six weeks. If you would like credit for the APC or COP, you must consent to share your information with the CAS or SOA at registration. 

Is there anything else I should know about before registering (e.g., Pathway 3 and credit expiry)? 

Yes. Effective January 1, 2023, participants who are seeking Fellowship in the CIA via Pathway 3 are no longer required to earn the ACIA and therefore do not need to take the Professionalism Workshop.  

For other participants, including those using the workshop for ASA or ACAS credit, the requirements are unchanged.  

Credit for the Professionalism Workshop expires if you are not confirmed as an ACIA within five years. This limit also applies to former CIA members seeking reinstatement as an ACIA or FCIA. CIA members in good standing do not lose this credit.