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What is Normative Skills (NS)?
Normative capabilities are defined as those capabilities required by a profession to deliver on its professional promise.
All students need to complete the related Normative Skills modules to qualify as a Technical member / Associate / Fellow from ASSA.
Normative Skills are delivered via 3 scaffolding levels of Actuarial Professional Practice (APP) as well as a Communications Exam and supported by the Work-Based Learning programme where students must demonstrate the normative skills in the workplace.
ASSA presents the NS programme 3 times a year. Keep an eye out for the registration periods that are communicated annually.
- First session: Feb – Mar
- Mid-session: Jun – July
- Last session: Nov – Dec
Note: Certain exams related to the NS programme may only be offered twice a year during semester 1 and semester 2.
Contact: assaadmin@actuarialsociety.org.za
Normative Skills Components:
N111 – Foundation APP
The N111 Foundation APP component creates a baseline for the rest of the normative skills components. Students from accredited university programmes are exempted from N111.
N211 – Communication
Communications is a normative subject with a formal exam scheduled twice a year. Tuition support and study notes are available for this subject.
N311 – Core APP
N311 – Core APP is a requirement for qualification as an AMASSA. This component consists out of 6 modules. Module 1 is work based learning that is worked on concurrently to the other modules of Core APP.
N411 – Fellowship APP
N411 – Fellowship APP is the final leg of Normative Skills for FASSA qualification and entails a 2 day Professionalism workshop as well as the completion of the Fellowship work based learning requirements.
The Fellowship APP must be completed before a student will qualify as a Fellow.
(Work-Based Learning)
Work based learning (WBL) forms part of both Core and Fellowship APP. These modules (N311.01 and N411.01) must be completed concurrently with the other modules and workshops.
Normative Skills Modules
Below is an overview of the study path for each of the normative skills levels.
The syllabi for each module provides more information on the learning objectives for each module.
N111 – Foundation APP
Overview:
Foundation APP forms the start of the normative journey and provides the student especially those who have not followed a traditional actuarial based university qualification with a critical baseline to build future normative skills skills on . (Implementation in 2018)
Format:
The N111 programme has 3 modules who can be completed online in the form of eLearning modules. Each module has some assessments build in to complete as part of the online eLearning. The 3 modules of N111 can be completed in sequence with no waiting period between the completion of 1 module and starting the next one.
Most students complete N111 within 1 year or less.
Modules:
Admissions:
All Student members who did not attend an ASSA-accredited programme at an ASSA-accredited university.
N211 – Communications
Overview:
The N211 Communications course and examination are considered a critical subject in the ASSA qualifications roadmap. This is a key subject to pass for progressions to qualification for Associateship or Fellowship.
Format:
A N211 Exam is offered x2 a year. The N211 examination is scheduled with the other technical subject during semester 1 and semester 2 each year. Additional tuition support is available in the form of lectures. Study material is available for purchase online.
Admission:
Pass | exempted | FA grade | ASSA Accredited University Pass for A211 -Financial Mathematics.
N311 – Core APP
Overview:
Core APP introduces the key normative concepts and requirements for a student that has entered the work place. Core APP is a requirements for all students pursuing the AMASSA designation. The skills introduced in the Core APP should be put into practice by the student as part of the Work Based Learning (WBL) component of Normative Skills.
Format:
Core APP consists our of 6 Modules and 4 Workshops that can be completed over a 2 year period.
Module 5 – General Practice Module is a self-study module, the other modules require workshop attendance. Workshops may have pre-work and assignments that are due before the workshop. Most workshops also conclude with an exam or formal assessment component. Workshops must be attended in person in either Cpt or Jhb. Some workshops are offered as a virtual online class. Active participation in the workshops is a criteria for obtaining credit for attendance to the workshop.
Modules:
Admission Requirements:
- N111 Foundation APP exemption or completed to register for N311
- Module 1 (N311.01) Work Based Learning requires that student be employed in the actuarial field.
- Module 2 (N311.02 C/E) Actuarial Business and Legal Awareness requires the completion or exemption of:
- Foundation APP (N111),
- all A1 level subjects, and at least four additional subjects from the A2, A311, N211, F1, or F2 levels.
- Module 7 (N311.07) Professionalism for Actuaries requires the completion of:
- all A1 and A2 level subjects, A311, N211 and N311 modules 1-6.
- N311.01 Work Based Learning Core APP completed and approved.
N411 – Fellowship APP
Overview:
Fellowship APP is the final normative skills leg for students pursuing the FASSA designation . The focus on the Fellowship APP is around professionalism and ethics as well as integrating all of the normative skills gained to date.
Format:
A 2 day compulsory stay-over workshop to be attended in either Cpt or Jhb. Students will also receive pre-work before the workshop is attended.
Attendance of the Fellowship APP workshop does NOT conclude the Normative Skills programme – the 36 month WBL period will need to be concluded and signed off successfully before a student will receive the full credit for Normative Skills.
Modules:
Admission Requirements:
Successful Completion of:
- Completion of all previous NS series: N111, N211, N311
- Completion of all academic subjects required for FASSA
- N411.01 Work Based Learning Fellowship APP completed or under review for final sign-off.