Normative Skills Transition Arrangements
For students who joined prior to 31 March 2015
Overview
The Normative Skills program was introduced in 2015. Students who joined prior to the introduction of the program and that were already busy with the Professionalism skills courses including Work Based Skills at the time were not required to follow the Normative Skills programme at that time.
5 Year has since passed and the Education Board approved transitional arrangements to transfer students that are still not on the Normative Skills program, including Work Based Learning to the NS programme and course codes by the end of 2020.
These arrangements are set out below.
NS Transitional Arrangements
Familiarise youeself with the arrangements as set out in the document below:
The ASSA Study Roadmap provides a breakdown of the Normative Skills courses:
What is the timelines for the transition to NS?
Transition arrangements for members who joined ASSA before 1 April 2015 will close out on 31 December 2020 where after the normative skills curriculum will apply.
Members who want to submit their work-based skills (WBS) for final assessment must do so by no later than 30 November 2020 to leave enough time for assessment and review before 31 December 2020 if you want an exemption for work-based learning.
Will I be required to attend ALL the NS workshops?
You will be granted credit for the normative skills modules that are equivalent to the professional skills subjects that you have successfully passed or been exempted from.
You will not be required to do the two additional courses that were added to the normative skills syllabus. We will exempt you from the normative skills core application modules N311.04 Presentation skills and N311.06 Strategic Thinking & Interpersonal skills.
Can I continue with WBS (Work Based Skills) after 2020?
Work-based skills will close out on 31 December 2020. You must submit as a minimum your completed one-year work-based skills pack for associateship which we believe most of you have completed given the transition start date of 1 April 2015. This will exempt you from associateship work-based learning under the normative skills core application that will be pending you meeting your academic requirements for associateship. You will be granted your associateship work-based learning exemption N311.01 when you have met all your academic associateship requirements.
Alternatively, you can submit your completed work-based skills pack for fellowship in which case you will be exempted from fellowship work-based learning under the normative skills fellowship application that will also be pending you meeting your academic requirements for fellowship.
You will be required to continue with the extended work-based skills programme that requires you to complete one review question per year if you are in the “pending” status. The extended work-based programme is currently under review and will be rolled out by 1 January 2021 on the work-based learning solution that will align to the normative skills extended work-based learning programme. This will ensure that all members who have completed their work-based experience that has not yet met all academic requirements is aligned to one method of assessment on the normative skills curriculum.
When will I have to complete the GPM exam?
An important change is that the generic practice module (GPM) is a requirement in fulfilment of associateship in the normative curriculum. Previously this was a requirement for fellowship. This is an online exam that is open throughout the year and study material is available on the web shop.
You must successfully complete this exam during 2020 if you intend to meet all associateship requirements by 31 December 2020. If you have not completed this exam by 31 December 2020 it will remain an outstanding academic requirement.
Still got questions? Please submit your question or input below.
You can also email ASSA on: transition@actuarialsociety.org.za