Rule 11 – Collateral Obligations (Disclosure of criminal convictions)

A member shall disclose any criminal conviction pursuant to bylaw 4.3.6, 4.3.7, or 4.3.8.

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Ensuring conviction history is addressed

Criminal convictions are taken seriously by the CIA. Rule 11 requires members to disclose criminal convictions when applying for membership or within 30 days of a new conviction after enrolment. Following a set process, the CIA can then decide if disciplinary action or further investigation are required.

“Members and applicants have to disclose any criminal convictions to the CIA, which are reviewed anonymously by the Professionalism and Credential Monitoring Board with a lens of protecting the public and the reputation of the CIA and the profession. Only cases that may raise concerns are referred to the Professional Conduct Board for further review, and most convictions do not result in any action. These disclosures are never reported publicly.”
_{— John Dark, FCIA}

Why Rule 11 is important

Reinforces honesty and ethical behaviour
Requiring that members disclose any criminal convictions to the CIA builds confidence in the ethical standards of the profession.

Demonstrates commitment to transparency
Transparency about criminal history reassures clients, employers, and regulators that the profession prioritizes integrity and accountability.

Upholds the profession’s reputation
Preventing harm, public scandals or reputational damage from undisclosed criminal convictions helps protect the reputation of the entire profession.

Builds trust and credibility

A willingness to adhere to strict professional standards and assess all individuals with convictions for suitability to practice as actuaries builds trust with clients, employers and stakeholders.

Provides a clear framework for disciplinary action
Provides CIA with an established process to evaluate criminal convictions, determine if professional consequences are warranted, and carry out disciplinary action if necessary.

What Rule 11 means for members

You have a professional responsibility
The requirement to disclose criminal convictions applies to your professional and personal life. Disclosure is required to ensure that the CIA is aware of any matter that may reflect negatively on the reputation of the actuarial profession.

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All convictions must be disclosed
The nature of the conviction doesn’t matter. All convictions must be disclosed. You may consider it irrelevant to your actuarial work, but that must be determined by the CIA.

You must take responsibility for past actions
Disclosing and taking responsibility for your past criminal convictions is one way personal responsibility and professional integrity are maintained.

There is a process to ensure objectivity
Criminal convictions are reviewed and assessed based on established criminal conviction assessment criteria by the Professionalism and Credential Monitoring Board (PCMB), which may refer the matter to the Professional Conduct Board (PCB) and initiate CIA’s disciplinary procedures. The PCMB’s review and assessment process is undertaken anonymously (i.e., the name of the individual is not disclosed to PCMB and is only disclosed to the PCB if it is referred for further investigation.)