[tan] to [tan] Fastest to Fellowship?

[Incredible Hulctuary]

What's the shortest amount of time from first exam to FSA/FCAS that you know about? How old were they when they finished?

Don't forget to include those who started at an older-than-average age, but finished quickly once they got started.

[Phil]

While we're at it, what's the longest time anyone has taken to get to fellowship -- but still succeeded? (while actively taking exams the whole time)

[ykw]

FSA and EA exams (PD covered by 2000 transition) in 9 official sittings.

I usually like to conveniently forget the first sitting since I did not study and failed miserably.

[Voron]

Sorry for the off-topic, but I'm curious about you, Techguy. About a year ago, you mentioned that you'd want to switch from programming to being an actuary. I also recall that you'd had one exam behind your belt already. How did things progress?

The reason for my curiosity is that I'm facing a similar dilemma and I'd like to know your experiences in the career switch.

Thanks!

[Incredible Hulctuary]

A year ago I planned to go for Course 2 in November 2002, and started studying in sometime in the summer. Then when I saw the upcoming workload for the rest of the year, I could tell there would be sizeable overtime in the October/November time frame so I put it off till Spring 2003. I don't get any study time from my employer and I am in no mad rush to switch careers (partly due to the pay cut I'll have to take at first), so it wasn't worth it to struggle for the November sitting. I'm actually using some vacation days to get time off to study in the week leading up to the exam.

After Course 2 in May, I'll look into changing to an actuarial position, first within the insurance company I work for and if that doesn't happen I'll have to take a decision about how soon to pursue a job outside and whether to relocate. Or I may decide to go for Course 3 before attempting the switch.

[The Drunken Actuary]

Originally Posted by Voron

Sorry for the off-topic, but I'm curious about you, Techguy. About a year ago, you mentioned that you'd want to switch from programming to being an actuary. I also recall that you'd had one exam behind your belt already. How did things progress?

The reason for my curiosity is that I'm facing a similar dilemma and I'd like to know your experiences in the career switch.

Thanks!

What name were you using then?

[Voron]

What name were you using then?

I haven't registered back then, so no name

[Voron]

Originally Posted by techguy

A year ago I planned to go for Course 2 in November 2002, and started studying in sometime in the summer. Then when I saw the upcoming workload for the rest of the year, I could tell there would be sizeable overtime in the October/November time frame so I put it off till Spring 2003. I don't get any study time from my employer and I am in no mad rush to switch careers (partly due to the pay cut I'll have to take at first), so it wasn't worth it to struggle for the November sitting. I'm actually using some vacation days to get time off to study in the week leading up to the exam.

After Course 2 in May, I'll look into changing to an actuarial position, first within the insurance company I work for and if that doesn't happen I'll have to take a decision about how soon to pursue a job outside and whether to relocate. Or I may decide to go for Course 3 before attempting the switch.

Thanks for the reply, Techguy. It definitely feels better when you know someone with similar goals, problems, and aspirations!

[42]

I took 10 exam sittings. That was back in the old days (when exams were hard ) when there were 9 exams. I failed twice, but I also wrote and passed parts 2 and 4 in one sitting.

[Minerva]

I know 2 people (from the "old days") who passed the exams in 10 consecutive sittings - no failures, no doubling up.