The CIA expands access to Canadian actuarial education through new bilingual offering

OTTAWA, Ontario, Sept. 02, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- To mark International Actuaries Day, the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (CIA) is announcing an expansion to its education and qualification system through a new bilingual entry route into the CIA’s pathway to the Associate of the CIA (ACIA) qualification. The expansion includes a new course and exam designed to help individuals with degrees from non-CIA-accredited university programs enter the CIA’s education system.

“A strong profession depends on creating opportunities for talented people to enter it and contribute,” says Alicia Rollo, Executive Director of the CIA. “This expansion is an important step in strengthening the future of the actuarial profession and making our Canadian actuarial designations accessible to more participants.”

The new offering will support a broad range of learners, including:

• Graduates of non-CIA-accredited actuarial science programs
• Individuals with degrees in other disciplines from Canadian or international universities
• Professionals seeking a Canadian entry point into the actuarial profession
  

Available in both English and French, the offering reflects the CIA’s commitment to accessible, bilingual actuarial education and will help broaden access to Canada’s actuarial qualification system.

“Our ability to offer this program in both English and French reflects our bilingualism as a national association,” says Chris Cramer, Director, Education and International Affairs at the CIA. “It allows the CIA to support participants in both official languages, regardless of geographic location.”

The new course and accompanying exam are expected to launch by mid-2027 and early 2028, respectively.

By expanding access to the education required to pursue CIA designations, the Institute is helping more aspiring actuaries participate in Canada’s actuarial qualification system while maintaining the rigorous standards that support the profession in Canada.

Media contact
Josée Gonthier
Interim Director, Corporate Communications and Marketing
Canadian Institute of Actuaries
media@cia-ica.ca
613-236-8196 ext. 106
Subscribe to our mailing list to stay up to date on CIA news and announcements.

The Canadian Institute of Actuaries (CIA) is the qualifying and governing body of the actuarial profession in Canada. We develop and uphold rigorous standards, share our risk management expertise, and advance actuarial science to improve lives in Canada and around the world. Our more than 7,500 members apply their knowledge of math, statistics, data analytics, and business in providing services and advice of the highest quality to help Canadian people and organizations face the future with confidence.