All versions of the examination are constructed to be of comparable difficulty to one another. For the January 2023 administration of Examination P, an average of 71% correct was needed to pass the exam.

Difficulty: For most people the CPA exams are easier than actuarial exams. Actuarial exams test more difficult concepts and get harder as the candidate progresses through them. Number of Exams: Actuaries need to pass 10 exams in order to be fully qualified, whereas accountants have to pass 4 exams within 18 months.

Exam registration opens approximately 6 weeks prior to the registration deadline. Please check the individual exam pages for more information.

But unlike doctors or lawyers, actuaries need to, in order to become fully credentialed, pass a series of difficult tests called Actuarial Exams. These are very hard. Very very hard. The preliminary exams are 3 hours long, consisting of 30-35 multiple choice problems, and the pass rate is typically only 30-40%.