CAS DISC Online Courses: Overview
On the way to becoming an ACAS or FCAS, you need to complete three CAS DISC Online Courses. This post is all about them and what you should know!
I completed the CAS DISC DA: Introduction to Data and Analytics online course in December 2024. Recently, I took the CAS DISC RM: Risk Management and Insurance Operations online course, but I failed the exam and will need to retake it.
After completing both of these, my only remaining course will be CAS DISC IA: Insurance Accounting, Coverage Analysis, Insurance Law, and Insurance Regulations.
But what exactly are CAS DISC online courses?
In this post, I will share what I know about them—their prices, materials, and how to register. Let’s get started!
What Are They?
CAS DISC Online Courses are required, along with actuarial exams, to obtain the ACAS and eventually the FCAS designation. However, they are not organized by CAS itself.
Each course and its exam are administered by The Institutes, another insurance learning platform where you can also earn credentials such as the CPCU (Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter).
Here is the list of these three courses, their descriptions from The Institutes page, and some of my thoughts:
CAS DISC DA
Better position yourself to understand and use data in the ever-expanding universe of insurance and risk management with the skills you need to effectively collect, analyze, model, and interpret data with an expert eye. This course equips you with the fundamental skills you need to identify, access, analyze, and depict the data used to create models.
For me, this course was a recap of my college subjects and work experience, plus some new concepts, such as telematics.
I think if you work with data and have some statistical knowledge, this should not be a challenge for you. Just read the materials carefully, go through the tests at the end of each chapter a couple of times, and take the exam.
CAS DISC RM
Gain a holistic view of insurance and its role in managing personal and commercial risk so you can better communicate and collaborate with colleagues and effectively apply your expertise to business challenges and opportunities. This course takes a comprehensive look at how an insurer’s functions intersect internally to help shape the risk management landscape. It also equips you with a fundamental understanding of the roles and activities that power the insurance value chain.
In comparison to DISC DA, the material is much broader. It covers risk management, insurance concepts, underwriting different types of insurance, and various departments within insurance companies.
I underestimated the time needed to study for this course. I think at least a month of studying and reviewing your knowledge is required to pass the exam with peace of mind. Of course, if you have no other life obligations, you might be able to complete it faster, but for me, that wasn’t feasible.
CAS DISC IA
Gain a comprehensive understanding of how the products insurers market ultimately contribute to their bottom line so you can make informed decisions that impact short-term and long-term strategies. This course examines the numbers behind insurer decision-making, the essential elements of the policies they sell, and the laws and regulations that provide the framework for how they do business.
Not taken this one yet, after I take it, there will be some thoughts visible as well!
Ok, so now you are aware of what the CAS Online Courses are, why you need them in your CAS actuarial journey, and what material they cover.
Let’s move on to the next part: how to register for these online courses, step by step.
How To Register?
There are a few steps needed to register succefully for the CAS online course and then the exam.
CAS Account
If you don’t already have a CAS account, you need to create one. Your learning and examination history will be visible there, and your CAS Master ID will be generated, which is required for exam registration.
To register, you need to fill out the form with your personal information. You can do it by clicking this link.
The Institutes
Just like on the CAS website, you need to create an account here as well to keep all your courses, exams, and grades in one place. To do this, click the ‘SIGN IN’ button in the upper right corner of The Institute’s website.
Then, to purchase any of listed CAS Online Courses, go to the search bar, and search for ‘CAS’.
Then scroll down, and click ‘Casualty Actuarial Society’.
Now, you are on the CAS DISC Online Courses page.
Scroll down, and you will see three courses with descriptions presented earlier.
To purchase any of them, click ‘SHOW MORE DETAILS’, then select an option and exam window. After purchasing your online course, you will have access to the materials for one year, but you need to choose when you want to take the exam.
The Institutes organizes online exam sessions that last two months and are held multiple times a year.
You have two options: You can purchase digital learning materials with QuizMe app access plus one exam attempt for $820 or add a printed course book for $1,100.
In both cases, I chose the package without the printed book.
You can download and print the study materials yourself if you prefer studying that way, and it will likely cost much less than $280.
Customer Succes
To register for an exam, regardless of buying one exam attempt on The Institutes page, you are required to write or call The Institute’s Customer Success.
They will ask for your birth date, name, and CAS Master ID.
If you fail the exam, you will also need to contact them that way (I will be doing that next week, so I will share more info thereafter!).
Summary
Completing all three CAS DISC Online Courses is necessary for obtaining the ACAS and FCAS credentials.
They are organized by The Institutes in partnership with the CAS. To enroll, you need a CAS account and a The Institutes account. Once set up, you can select the course you want to take, choose your preferred package, and start learning!
However, to register for the final exam after completing the course, you must contact The Institutes’ Customer Success team by email or phone. The same process applies for arranging a retake exam.
I hope this introduction to these courses is helpful. As I mentioned, I haven’t completed all of them yet, but I will share more thoughts and updates here once I do.
Are you taking any of these courses? Do you find them challenging? Share your experiences in the comments below!