Balancing Actuarial Exams with VEE Requirements
How to plan your VEE coursework alongside actuarial exam preparation.
Understanding VEE Timing
Validation by Educational Experience (VEE) requirements cover Economics, Accounting and Finance, and Mathematical Statistics. These are typically fulfilled through college coursework or approved online courses. VEE credits do not expire once approved and can be completed at any point before earning your ASA or ACAS designation. There is no strict order relative to exams, which gives you flexibility in how you plan your path.
The SOA and CAS both require VEE completion as part of the Associate-level credential. While VEE topics are not directly tested on preliminary exams, the underlying knowledge supports your exam preparation. For example, understanding microeconomics and macroeconomics helps contextualize insurance market behavior, while accounting and finance knowledge is valuable for reserving and financial reporting exams later in the process.
The Three VEE Topics in Detail
VEE Economics covers both microeconomics and macroeconomics. You need coursework that addresses supply and demand, market structures, national income, inflation, and monetary policy. Most university economics sequences (Econ 101 and 102) satisfy this requirement. The key is confirming that your specific courses appear on the SOA or CAS approved course list, because not every introductory economics class qualifies.
VEE Accounting and Finance covers financial accounting principles, corporate finance, and financial instruments. This typically requires two courses: one in accounting fundamentals and one in corporate finance covering topics like time value of money, capital budgeting, and risk management. If your degree program included these courses, check the approved list to confirm eligibility.
VEE Mathematical Statistics covers regression analysis and time series analysis. This requirement was updated in recent years, so make sure you are referencing the current requirements rather than older guidance. Many statistics and data science programs include qualifying coursework, but you should verify approval before assuming your courses count.
Strategic Planning for College Students
Complete VEE requirements during college if possible since the coursework is part of your degree anyway. Map out which courses in your program satisfy each VEE topic during your sophomore year so you can ensure they fit into your schedule. If your program does not offer approved courses in every VEE area, consider electives from the economics or business departments to fill the gaps.
The ideal timeline for a college student is to complete all three VEE topics by the end of junior year while passing Exam P and Exam FM. This leaves your senior year free for upper-level actuarial coursework, internship applications, and potentially sitting for a third exam. Having VEE credits and two or three exams by graduation makes you highly competitive for entry-level positions.
Strategic Planning for Working Professionals
If you need to complete VEE after graduation, schedule VEE courses during periods between exams rather than simultaneously. Online VEE-approved courses from providers like Coaching Actuaries and The Infinite Actuary offer flexibility for working professionals. These courses are self-paced and can typically be completed in four to eight weeks of part-time effort, making them manageable alongside a full-time job.
A common strategy is to take one VEE course in the two to three month window between finishing one exam and beginning serious study for the next. This keeps you productive during periods when you might otherwise lose momentum, and it avoids the stress of juggling VEE coursework with intensive exam preparation. Some candidates prefer to batch all three VEE courses into a single gap between exams, which is feasible if you have a three to four month break.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Do not neglect VEE requirements in favor of exams alone since they can become a bottleneck when you are otherwise ready for your ASA designation. Candidates who pass all their preliminary exams but have not completed VEE face a frustrating delay in receiving their credential. Plan to have all VEE credits completed by the time you finish your preliminary exams to avoid this situation.
Another common mistake is assuming that your college coursework automatically qualifies without checking the approved course list. Each university and course combination must be specifically approved by the SOA or CAS. If your courses were taken at a school not on the approved list, you may need to submit a course description for individual review, which can add weeks or months to the approval process.
Career changers sometimes overlook VEE entirely in their early planning. If you are entering the actuarial field from another discipline, review the VEE requirements early and determine which, if any, of your prior coursework qualifies. You may be pleasantly surprised to find that courses from a business, engineering, or science degree satisfy one or more VEE topics.
Cost and Time Considerations
College coursework for VEE typically costs nothing beyond your regular tuition, which is the most economical path. Online VEE courses generally range from $200 to $500 per topic, depending on the provider. Some employers reimburse VEE course fees as part of their exam support program, so check your company's policy before paying out of pocket.
Time investment varies by format. A college course runs a full semester (about 15 weeks), while online VEE courses can be completed in as few as four weeks of focused effort. For working professionals, the online format is usually more efficient because the content is condensed to focus specifically on what the VEE requirement demands rather than covering an entire semester's breadth.
Integrating VEE with Your Overall Exam Timeline
When building your multi-year exam plan, include VEE milestones alongside exam dates. A sample timeline might look like this: pass Exam P in your sophomore fall, complete VEE Economics in your sophomore spring, pass Exam FM in your junior fall, complete VEE Accounting and Finance in your junior spring, and complete VEE Mathematical Statistics during the summer before senior year. This approach ensures steady progress without overwhelming any single semester.
For candidates already in the workforce, map VEE completion against your exam calendar for the next 18 to 24 months. Identify the natural gaps between exam sittings and assign one VEE topic to each gap. This prevents VEE from becoming an afterthought and ensures you complete all requirements on a predictable schedule.