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Confidentiality and Discipline Procedures

Confidentiality and Conduct Agreement

The contents of Actuarial Exams are copyrighted, proprietary, and confidential. Disclosure or reproduction of any portion of an Actuarial Exam to any individual or entity for any purpose whatsoever is prohibited. Such activity will result in the invalidation of test scores and may result in civil and/or criminal prosecution.

You can be disqualified from taking or continuing to sit for an examination, or from receiving examination results, or your exam may be disqualified if there is substantial reason to believe through proctor observations, statistical analysis, and/or other evidence that your score may not be valid or that you were engaged in collaborative, disruptive, or other unacceptable behavior during the administration of this examination.

Computer Based Testing Center Regulations

To ensure that all candidates’ results are earned under comparable conditions and represent fair and accurate measurement, it is necessary to maintain a standardized testing environment. Upon arrival, candidates will sign-in and provide valid identification as stated above. Small lockers will be available to place purses, briefcases, etc. There will also be a coat rack available. After the initial process had been completed, the candidate will be taken into the test room. The following regulations are strictly enforced. No papers, books, cell/mobile telephones, handheld connectivity devices, food, or purses are allowed in the testing room. No eating, drinking, or use of tobacco is allowed in the testing room.

Grounds for Dismissal

A candidate who is believed to be engaging in misconduct and does not heed the administrator’s warning to discontinue the behavior may be dismissed from the test center. The SOA/CIA may choose to have the test scores of such candidates canceled. Behaviors considered to be misconduct are listed, but not limited to, those described in the next section, Examination Discipline.

Examination Discipline

Any candidate who does not have valid identification, who uses unauthorized aids, or who does not follow the testing procedures can be dismissed from the test center. Candidates must not give or receive assistance of any kind during the examination. Any cheating, attempt to cheat, assisting others to cheat, participating therein, or engaging in such improper conduct as listed below is a serious violation and will result in the SOA/CIA disqualifying the candidate’s exam and other disciplinary action as may be deemed appropriate. Candidates have agreed in their applications for the examination to be bound by the rules and regulations governing the examinations. After being logged into the computer, a prompt will require the candidates to agree to the rules before proceeding to the exam itself.

Examples of improper conduct include but are not limited to:

  1. Gaining access to test questions before the examination or aiding someone else to do so.
  2. Using an unauthorized calculator (as defined above) or other mechanical aid that is not permitted.
  3. Having access to or consulting notes or books during the examination.
  4. Talking or otherwise communicating with another candidate during the examination.
  5. Disturbing other candidates during the examination.
  6. Consulting other persons outside the examination room during the examination.
  7. Removing or attempting to remove test questions and/or responses (in any format) or notes about the examination from the testing area.
  8. Taking unauthorized material from the test room.
  9. Taking an examination for another candidate.
  10. Arranging to have another person take an examination for the candidate.
  11. Threatening or physically or verbally abusing a supervisor or proctor responsible for curbing or reporting improper conduct.
  12. Disclosing the contents of an examination to any other person.
  13. Presenting false information on an examination application.
  14. Failing to follow other examination instructions.
  15. Tampering with the operation of the computer or attempting to use it for any function other than taking the examination.
  16. Accessing or using a communication device (PDA, cell phone, smart watches and wearable fitness trackers) during the exam or while at the exam site.

 The Examination Committee, or its designee, will investigate any irregularity or suspected violation of the rules involving the examination process, and a determination will be made regarding the matter. Where there is a determination to invoke a penalty, the candidate is advised by letter.

Candidates taking actuarial exams are expected to follow the rules and procedures included in the official Study Note for the specific exam as well as announcements made by the proctors at the test centers. All candidates, on their applications for examinations, are required to read and sign the following statement:

“I have read the rules and regulations concerning the examination(s) for which I am applying and agree to be bound by them. I acknowledge that I have read and agree to adhere to the SOA Code of Conduct for Candidates (Revised 11/1/2015). I also agree that the results of any examination(s) which I take, and any action taken as a result of my conduct (such as irregularity, violation or cheating, and any hearings thereon) may, at the sole discretion of the Society of Actuaries, be disclosed to any other bona fide actuarial organization that has a legitimate interest in such results and/or actions.”