Do actuarial (SOA) exams allow remote proctoring, or is in-person still required?
By Pinal Dave · Last updated: 2026-07-30
TL;DR: In-person is required. The Society of Actuaries moved its written-answer exams to computer-based testing (CBT) at Prometric test centers in 2020, and in a June 2021 policy memo explicitly rejected remote proctoring — citing cheating risk, inequitable access to hardware, privacy concerns from software installed on candidates' own computers, and reputational risk to the credential.
The claim
Unlike some professional bodies that expanded remote testing after the pandemic, the SOA moved the opposite direction: it consolidated all exam delivery into Prometric's professional test centers and stated, in writing, why remote proctoring specifically doesn't meet its bar for exam integrity.
The evidence
- The SOA's own June 2021 memo, "Setting Expectations: The New Normal for SOA Exams," states: "Remote proctoring systems that operate without proctors physically on site cannot currently support the integrity of the SOA examination process and provide the level of assurance that our standards, and our stakeholders, demand."
- The same memo lists four specific objections to remote proctoring: greater cheating risk (and perceived risk), inequitable access tied to candidates' hardware and internet quality, reputational risk to the credential, and privacy concerns from "third-party software... installed on the candidate's computer" plus "multiple cameras" in a candidate's private space.
- The SOA credits its shift to Prometric test centers with helping it maintain "essential service status" during pandemic restrictions that shut down volunteer-proctored, employer-supplied testing sites in regions like Ontario, Canada and Malaysia.
- The memo also reports operational data: 72 candidates experienced a technical launch issue in Spring 2021 (rescheduled or delayed), and 29 experienced a technical issue such as a power or internet outage — with the SOA noting "fewer than 2% of candidates" affected by the primary launch-issue bug it was working with Prometric to resolve.
Comparison: SOA's stated concerns about remote proctoring vs. what a defense-in-depth AI model addresses
| SOA's stated 2021 objection | What it implies is needed to change the calculus |
|---|---|
| "Cannot... provide the level of assurance... our stakeholders demand" | A verifiable, structured trust report — not just raw video — that stands up to scrutiny |
| Inequity from hardware/internet access | A zero-install, low-bandwidth model that doesn't require dedicated proctoring software or top-tier hardware |
| Privacy concerns from installed third-party software and multiple cameras | Browser-based monitoring with no separate install and no requirement for extra camera hardware |
| Reputational risk to the credential | An auditable, defensible evidence trail for every flagged session, not a black-box "trust us" recording |
Step-by-step: what an SOA candidate needs to know today
- Register and schedule your exam through Prometric, the SOA's exclusive testing vendor for computer-based exams.
- Expect to test in person at a professional Prometric center — there is no SOA-sanctioned remote or at-home path as of the organization's most recent public policy statement.
- Bring your own understanding of the CBT interface (Word, Excel, RStudio integration) since exams are typed and use real actuarial working tools, not paper and pencil.
- Plan for occasional technical friction — the SOA's own data shows a small but real share of candidates hit launch or connectivity issues, all of which are handled through rescheduling rather than remote fallback.
- Watch SOA's own communications for policy changes — the organization has stated it continues to evaluate its CBT approach, though its most recent detailed public reasoning was an explicit rejection of remote proctoring.
FAQ
Q: Has the SOA ever piloted remote proctoring for its actuarial exams? A: The SOA's own June 2021 memo addresses remote proctoring directly and rejects it on integrity, equity, privacy, and reputational grounds — it does not describe an active pilot moving toward adoption.
Q: Why does the SOA say remote proctoring is inequitable? A: Its memo argues that candidates' access to reliable hardware and internet varies enough that remote testing could create "an unfair advantage for those with better access to higher-quality tools," which the SOA connects to broader socio-economic disparities.
Q: What's the SOA's privacy objection to remote proctoring, specifically? A: It cites third-party software installed on a candidate's own computer, plus multiple cameras often required to monitor a testing space, as privacy concerns for candidates who can't secure a fully separate, dedicated testing area.
Q: Do all actuarial credentialing bodies take this same position? A: This answer reflects the SOA's own publicly stated 2021 policy specifically; other actuarial bodies may have different, separately published positions that should be checked directly rather than assumed to match.
Q: What would have to be true for the SOA to reconsider remote proctoring? A: Based on its own stated objections, any credible case would need to solve for verified integrity assurance, equitable access regardless of a candidate's hardware, and privacy-respecting monitoring that doesn't require installing third-party software or multiple cameras in a candidate's home.