Actuarial Science Education and Training

Work towards a steady career with actuarial science training
By Shannon Tani It's certainly wise to get actuarial science education and training. The insurance industry is booming and they need to hire people with an actuarial education.

If you like mathematics, probability and statistics, then you will probably enjoy actuarial science courses. Most businesses prefer to hire people that have a 4-year college degree. It doesn't matter whether you get this degree online or at a traditional college, but you should try to get it to increase your chances of being hired.

Actuarial science training will enable you to:

1. Get a secure position within an insurance firm. All insurance firms need people with actuarial science degrees to help them assess the probability of certain risks.

2. Transition careers. If you are currently working a different job, consider taking evening actuarial courses to help you change to a better career.

3. Advance your career and get a higher salary If you continue to take actuarial classes even after you've received your degree, you can be sure that you knowledge is current. Employers will be more likely to promote you or give you a raise.

Attend a four-year college that gives actuarial science degrees

If possible, many people prefer to attend a traditional college to earn their degree. They feel that it is easier to learn when you can interact with other students. Fortunately, many colleges offer degrees in actuarial science, so it shouldn't be hard to find a school that you like.
Try:  Actuary.com lists a number of schools that offer actuarial science degrees, sorted by location. Every year, U.S. News and World Reports takes a look at the nation's colleges and ranks them according to a variety of factors, such as cost, student satisfaction and competitiveness. They also list colleges that have programs in actuarial science. Click on a school to view a full profile.

Take online actuarial courses to earn your degree

Not everyone has the time or money to go to college full-time. Fortunately, you can receive actuarial science education and training online. This is convenient for most people because you don't have to attend classes at a set time.
Try:  It's hard to find an online school that offers an undergraduate degree in actuary science. You may want to first get a degree in a field such as economics. Universities.com lists good online schools for this. Once you have the undergraduate degree, look for graduate programs. GradSchools.com lists online programs to earn advanced degrees in actuarial science.

Take actuarial courses to prepare for examination

If you want to be an actuary, you'll have to pass a certification test. You can easily study to pass this test at a seminar.
Try:  Georgia State University offers a seminar to prepare for the actuarial exam. Illinois State University also offers a number of prep courses.

• Before you spend a lot of money on actuarial schools, make sure that this is the right career choice for you. Ask for an informational interview with a working actuary so that you can better understand the ins and outs of the job.