[[Actuarial Notes Wiki|Wiki]] / [[Actuarial Certifications]] / **Society of Actuaries (SOA)**
# The Society of Actuaries (SOA)
The SOA was established in 1949 from the merger of the Actuarial Society of America (est. 1889) and the American Institute of Actuaries (est. 1909).
- [SOA - Historical Background](https://www.soa.org/about/historical-background/)
### SOA Actuarial Credentials
The [SOA Education Pathways](https://pathways.soa.org/designations) explains the requirements to become an **Associate of the Society of Actuaries (ASA)** and a **Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA).**
<div class="grid">
<a class="card internal-link" href="Exams/Certifications/Associate of the Society of Actuaries (ASA)">
<span class="act-card__badge act-card__badge--associate">Associate</span>
<h4 class="act-card__title">ASA</h4>
<p class="act-card__subtitle">Associate of the Society of Actuaries</p>
<div class="act-card__pills" aria-label="Requirements">
<span class="act-pill act-pill--meta">3 VEEs</span>
<span class="act-pill act-pill--meta">8 Exams</span>
<span class="act-pill act-pill--meta">1 Project</span>
<span class="act-pill act-pill--meta">3 Online Courses</span>
<span class="act-pill act-pill--meta">1 Professionalism Course</span>
</div>
</a>
<a class="card internal-link" href="Exams/Certifications/Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA)">
<span class="act-card__badge act-card__badge--fellow">Fellow</span>
<h4 class="act-card__title">FSA</h4>
<p class="act-card__subtitle">Fellow of the Society of Actuaries</p>
<div class="act-card__pills" aria-label="Requirements">
<span class="act-pill act-pill--meta">ASA</span>
<span class="act-pill act-pill--meta">3-4 Exams</span>
<span class="act-pill act-pill--meta">4 Courses</span>
</div>
</a>
<a class="card internal-link" href="Exams/Certifications/Certified Enterprise Risk Analyst (CERA)">
<span class="act-card__badge act-card__badge--fellow">CERA</span>
<h4 class="act-card__title">CERA</h4>
<p class="act-card__subtitle">Certified Enterprise Risk Analyst / Actuary (CERA)</p>
<div class="act-card__pills" aria-label="Requirements">
<span class="act-pill act-pill--meta">ASA</span>
<span class="act-pill act-pill--meta">1 Exam</span>
<span class="act-pill act-pill--meta">1 Module</span>
<span class="act-pill act-pill--meta">1 Professionalism Course</span>
</div>
</a>
</div>