Home - ACIA Capstone Exam - Fall 2026 / Examen synthèse de niveau AICA

The ACIA Capstone Exam is a requirement for those seeking qualification as an Associate of the CIA (ACIA) through Pathway 1 and some under Pathway 2.

Please refer to the CIA qualification pathways for additional information. To see if you’re eligible for an exam exemption or if certain provisions are applicable to your situation, please consult the CIA education transition rules.

If you are unsure which requirements apply to you, please contact education@cia-ica.ca prior to registration. If you qualify for an exemption from the ACIA Capstone Exam, all other requirements will be verified when you submit your ACIA application; there is not a distinct application process for those exempt from the ACIA Capstone Exam.

The ACIA Capstone Exam is administered as an open-book, 6-hour exam requiring analysis in the context of a problem and written responses to specified tasks. The exam is split into two sections, administered separately on September 22 and 24. They consist of a 4-hour common section and a 2-hour specialized one, with the option to complete the specialized one’s long- or short-term part. When you register, you must specify which specialized part (long or short) you will complete.

The exam will take place on the CIA’s learning management system, with secure online proctoring. The exam is open book and participants are responsible for their own reference materials. Strict adherence to the exam rules and regulations is required. During the grading process, participants’ answers may be analyzed for plagiarism and other rule violations. The CIA may input participants’ responses into AI tools for plagiarism and/or AI detection, with appropriate human oversight. Exam grading may be conducted in English or French; therefore, exam responses may be translated for grading purposes. The CIA may input participants’ responses into AI tools for translation assistance, with appropriate human oversight. Please consult the ACIA Capstone Exam – Participant Guidelines for rules and regulations, exam and technical guidelines and grading and grade release. Participants will require Microsoft Excel and RStudio software and must be able to open a PDF file to undertake the exam. RStudio can be downloaded at no cost at RStudio Desktop.

Practice materials are available on the CIA’s Brightspace exam resource page, which includes resources to support your preparation for the Capstone Exam. Access to the resource page will be provided at registration.

To take this exam, you must hold an actuarial degree from a CIA-accredited university obtained after June 30, 2015. Accredited degrees obtained after October 31, 2023, must include CIA-mandatory courses. An official copy of your final university transcript will be required at registration.

Exam prerequisites under Pathway 2

To write this exam, if required under Pathway 2, you must hold an actuarial designation issued by a member organization of the International Actuarial Association that is not directly recognized by the CIA.

The ACIA Capstone Exam is designed to help participants prepare for the actuarial profession and tasks related to entry-level actuarial positions. Participants are expected to demonstrate the integration of actuarial concepts and communicate their results effectively.

Please refer to the ACIA syllabus for additional exam information, exam topics, learning objectives and reading references for underlying knowledge. The exam assumes knowledge gained through a CIA-accredited actuarial science degree or education from another recognized actuarial organization, as well as the ACIA modules.