Actuaries put their special problem-solving skills to work in many different business situations, and their work has had an influence on people's lives for more than a century. Actuaries make a difference. Their calculations and projections are the backbone of the insurance and financial security industries. In other words, actuaries have a well-rounded business approach to problem solving. And they must be good communicators to explain things to nonactuaries.
Actuaries are key players on a company's management team.
They are well paid, and they like what they do for a living. The first examination is accessible to undergraduates in a liberal arts program. A thorough command of calculus and probability topics is assumed. Questions on the examination are presented primarily in the context of risk and insurance. The following courses can prepare you for most of the material on the first examination.