Career Path Completion of the actuarial promotion process takes from five to 10 years. The first rung on the advancement ladder is associate, followed by the fellowship level. Most actuaries reach the associate level within four to six years. Associates generally specialize in courses that lead to a career in life insurance, health insurance, investment, or pension services. Fellowship candidates usually have several years of experience.
Most actuaries complete the fellowship exams a few years after they become an associate.
Beginning actuaries often rotate between jobs to learn the ropes, which may include rotations in insurance marketing, underwriting, or product development. As they gain experience, they are given the opportunity to supervise clerks, prepare correspondence and reports, and do research. It is customary for actuaries to move from company to company as they advance. Because of the nature of actuarial exams, turnover in the profession is quite low. Entry-level positions are limited by the small size of the profession.