# Free CPD **URL:** \ **Category:** General topics\ **Created:** [November 10, 2020, 10:35am UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/free-cpd/933 "2020-11-10T10:35:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![meep](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/meep/32/44_2.png) [@meep](https://community.goactuary.com/u/meep)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 10:35am UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/free-cpd/933/1 "2020-11-10T10:35:55Z")
In this thread, I’ll accumulate sources of free CPD, with a focus on trying to find free Organized/Structured CPD. The Actuaries’ Club of Boston/Actuarial Club of Hartford/Springfield are hosting free sessions these next couple weeks (Week 1 is over alas) > **[Fall 2020 Meeting](https://actuariesclubofboston.com/Fall-2020-Meeting/)** > > Fall 2020 Meeting > **[ACHS - Upcoming Event](https://www.achsmembers.com/fall-2020-meeting.html)** > > Join us on November 8 at the Connecticut Convention Center for a day of fascinating speakers, networking opportunities, and continuing education credits! **Week 2** Monday, November 9: (Life/Annuities) Introduction to Product Taxation for Life Insurance and Annuities Tuesday, November 10: (General) Panel Discussion with IABA and OLA Wednesday, November 11: (Life/LTC) Hybrid Life and Long-Term Care Market Issues and Opportunities Thursday, November 12: (General) An Overview of R Markdown Friday, November 13: (General) Professionalism **Week 3** Monday, November 16: (Pension/EA) Panel Discussion: Recent Developments in Pension Risk Mitigation Tuesday, November 17: (Life/Annuities) Product Development and Pricing Considerations in 2020 Wednesday, November 18: (Health) Supplemental Health Insurance Products 101 Thursday, November 19: (General) Panel Discussion: Agile for Actuaries Just email them to get the Zoom link: [president.actuariesboston@gmail.com](mailto:president.actuariesboston@gmail.com) and/or [info@achsmembers.com](mailto:info@achsmembers.com) The sessions are 11am-noon ET. I’ve gotten \>3 credits so far in this series. ---
**Author:** ![jraven](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/jraven/32/229_2.png) [@jraven](https://community.goactuary.com/u/jraven)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 5:26pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/free-cpd/933/2 "2020-11-10T17:26:16Z")
But how will I know that I have developed professionally if I haven’t had to fork out $650/year + $150/credit hour like I do with the SOA? Seriously, the ACB/ACHS CPD opportunities this year (they also had some in July & August) have been amazing. They’ve really gone above and beyond to provide CPD & networking opportunities to the community during these _interesting_ times. But it really makes the SOA/AAA offerings look abysmal (and that’s putting it kindly) in comparison. I hope ACB & ACHS continue with the online webinars once things return to normal – while there’s value to the in-person Spring/Fall meetings, there’s a lot to be said for not cramming it all into one long day and not having to choose between competing concurrent sessions. ---
**Author:** ![meep](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/meep/32/44_2.png) [@meep](https://community.goactuary.com/u/meep)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 5:59pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/free-cpd/933/3 "2020-11-10T17:59:07Z")
In the Before Times™, I had no issue with their day-long meetings, mainly because I was working only a few blocks from the convention center in Hartford. Having been a person on SOA webcasts, I will not comment about their quality. ---
**Author:** ![John.S.Mill](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/john.s.mill/32/9771_2.png) [@John.S.Mill](https://community.goactuary.com/u/John.S.Mill)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 6:11pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/free-cpd/933/4 "2020-11-10T18:11:04Z")
Let me know when there’s free CBD ---
**Author:** ![jraven](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/jraven/32/229_2.png) [@jraven](https://community.goactuary.com/u/jraven)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 6:21pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/free-cpd/933/5 "2020-11-10T18:21:02Z")
I wasn’t commenting so much on the _quality_ of SOA/AAA webinars (which varies quite a bit) as on the cost-benefit calculus. CPD is probably the most tangible benefit provided by the SOA, but membership only entitles you to pay a slightly-less-egregious price for CPD. (I would argue that most services provided by the SOA/AAA benefit the employers/industry far more than individual actuaries. Which is fine when employers pay for dues, but there seems to have been a distinct trend away from that.) But then I’m a former academic. I used to give talks for free, just content to have a captive audience to inflict my nonsense upon. [**Edit:** Not to imply the speakers are profiting off this. But if you have volunteer organizers gathering volunteer speakers then the only significant cost is the infrastructure, and how much does that really cost spread over the entire membership?] ---
**Author:** ![meep](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/meep/32/44_2.png) [@meep](https://community.goactuary.com/u/meep)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 7:09pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/free-cpd/933/6 "2020-11-10T19:09:19Z")
> [@jraven](#): > > I wasn’t commenting so much on the _quality_ of SOA/AAA webinars (which varies quite a bit) as on the cost-benefit calculus. CPD is probably the most tangible benefit provided by the SOA, but membership only entitles you to pay a slightly-less-egregious price for CPD. (I would argue that most services provided by the SOA/AAA benefit the employers/industry far more than individual actuaries. Which is fine when employers pay for dues, but there seems to have been a distinct trend away from that.) I can share some of the info on who profits from the SOA webcasts (don’t know about AAA): basically, the SOA. Many of the webcasts are sponsored by sections, and they get a cut of the take… but only when the webcast is live. All sales of recordings go to the SOA. SOA members who volunteer don’t get paid for speaking. That said, a lot of the recordings are free to SOA members: all the recordings from the major meetings are free to SOA members (you have to “buy” them, but it’s free) and if you’re a section member, you have free access to their webcast recordings a year after they were done. These don’t count as “organized” sessions as they’re recordings, not live. Still, they’re free to members. ---
**Author:** ![meep](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/meep/32/44_2.png) [@meep](https://community.goactuary.com/u/meep)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 7:11pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/free-cpd/933/7 "2020-11-10T19:11:09Z")
For AAA members, many(most?) of their webcast recordings are free. All their professionalism webcast recordings are free – that’s how I get almost all my professionalism credits, other than reading ASOPs. ---
**Author:** ![jraven](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/jraven/32/229_2.png) [@jraven](https://community.goactuary.com/u/jraven)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 8:14pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/free-cpd/933/8 "2020-11-10T20:14:07Z")
> [@meep](#): > > I can share some of the info on who profits from the SOA webcasts (don’t know about AAA): basically, the SOA. Many of the webcasts are sponsored by sections, and they get a cut of the take… but only when the webcast is live. All sales of recordings go to the SOA. SOA members who volunteer don’t get paid for speaking. That’s what I expected. It’s the degree of profiteering by the SOA/AAA on organized credits that really irks me. (Might as well call organized credits “indulgences”. Members are paying to comply with a CPD requirement; the SOA is selling a de facto solution. As long as the credit sticks, how concerned is either side about the quality?) > [@](#): > > That said, a lot of the recordings are free to SOA members: all the recordings from the major meetings are free to SOA members (you have to “buy” them, but it’s free) and if you’re a section member, you have free access to their webcast recordings a year after they were done. These don’t count as “organized” sessions as they’re recordings, not live. Still, they’re free to members. That’s relatively new, though, isn’t it? The AAA’s been doing that for years, but until recently (last year or so?) I thought the SOA was still charging an arm and a leg for recordings. (And it doesn’t really help to counter the argument that what they’re really selling is a way to comply with the organized credit requirement.) Hmm. I should probably change my sig to just say “Feel free to ignore me, I’m just a cynical bastard.” ---
**Author:** ![meep](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/meep/32/44_2.png) [@meep](https://community.goactuary.com/u/meep)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2020, 3:53pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/free-cpd/933/9 "2020-11-11T15:53:31Z")
The SOA has been doing it for a few years now, but they haven’t been promoting the free stuff (I have, though). October 2017: > **[Free Continuing Education for SOA Members!](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/free-continuing-education-soa-members-mary-pat-campbell/)** > > In my last post, I mentioned the first (annual!) Predictive Analytics Symposium from the Society of Actuaries. Recordings are now available for purchase - and it's free for SOA members! For some years now, the Society of Actuaries has been making... In that post, I mentioned that SOA had been providing them for free for some years at that point. Unfortunately, my prior items on that free CPD was at the dead Outpost. So I forget how long it had been going on. ---
**Author:** ![Ajstudies](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/ajstudies/32/12532_2.png) [@Ajstudies](https://community.goactuary.com/u/Ajstudies)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2020, 9:56pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/free-cpd/933/10 "2020-11-25T21:56:17Z")
Are SOA podcasts “countable” as CPD? I’m short 30 minutes but haven’t counted any of the podcasts I’ve listened to. Or I could watch another AAA professionalism recording… ---
**Author:** ![meep](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/meep/32/44_2.png) [@meep](https://community.goactuary.com/u/meep)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2020, 5:50pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/free-cpd/933/11 "2020-11-27T17:50:48Z")
I use SOA Podcasts for CPD all the time, but that’s for the non-structured/-organized stuff. If you ask whether it counts for structured/organized CPD, I think the answer is no. But you’d have to ask the SOA folks. ---
**Author:** ![Ajstudies](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/ajstudies/32/12532_2.png) [@Ajstudies](https://community.goactuary.com/u/Ajstudies)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2020, 5:13pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/free-cpd/933/12 "2020-11-30T17:13:11Z")
Most of my CPD is structured this year so that works for me. ---
**Author:** ![LuckyHat](https://community.goactuary.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/e68b1a/32.png) [@LuckyHat](https://community.goactuary.com/u/LuckyHat)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 3:48pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/free-cpd/933/13 "2020-12-18T15:48:52Z")
This is what I dug up late in the year to fill some holes: [https://www.soa.org/prof-dev/recordings/2020-health-virtual-seminar/](https://www.soa.org/prof-dev/recordings/2020-health-virtual-seminar/) free recordings of the health seminar. so like 20 hours of recorded webinars. Would it be a stretch to call these ‘organized activities’, or do you need to be there live? ---
**Author:** ![meep](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/meep/32/44_2.png) [@meep](https://community.goactuary.com/u/meep)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 3:51pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/free-cpd/933/14 "2020-12-18T15:51:22Z")
You’re supposed to be there live, but maybe we can beg for a pandemic exception for this (and maybe next) year. ---
**Author:** ![LuckyHat](https://community.goactuary.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/e68b1a/32.png) [@LuckyHat](https://community.goactuary.com/u/LuckyHat)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 4:08pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/free-cpd/933/15 "2020-12-18T16:08:34Z")
That’s what I thought. I actually got out to some local in person seminars early in the year pre-covid, so I really only need like 1 hour to finish the year… I was doing so good, knocking out requirements in feb! ---
**Author:** ![meep](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/meep/32/44_2.png) [@meep](https://community.goactuary.com/u/meep)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 5:57pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/free-cpd/933/16 "2020-12-18T17:57:27Z")
The Academy made a new website just on professionalism > **[Professionalism - Actuary.org](https://actuary.org/professionalism/)** There are links to Up to Code (monthly feature in Contingencies): [https://www.professionalism.actuary.org/up-to-code](https://www.professionalism.actuary.org/up-to-code) And Professionalism Counts (monthly feature in Actuarial Update): [https://www.professionalism.actuary.org/professionalism-counts](https://www.professionalism.actuary.org/professionalism-counts) You can get professionalism credits (albeit not structured/organized) from reading these articles. It’s more fun than re-reading the ASOPs, reading ASOP comment letters, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Breadmaker](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/breadmaker/32/83065_2.png) [@Breadmaker](https://community.goactuary.com/u/Breadmaker)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2020, 11:18pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/free-cpd/933/17 "2020-12-21T23:18:19Z")
I did the CIA’s Professionalism on-line compulsory module this weekend. It wasn’t as time consuming as I thought it would be. Mebbe I’ll check out AAA’s link too!!! 👍 👼 ---
**Author:** ![meep](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/meep/32/44_2.png) [@meep](https://community.goactuary.com/u/meep)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2020, 3:23pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/free-cpd/933/18 "2020-12-29T15:23:13Z")
> [@meep](#): > > a lot of the recordings are free to SOA members: all the recordings from the major meetings are free to SOA members (you have to “buy” them, but it’s free) and if you’re a section member, you have free access to their webcast recordings a year after they were done. These don’t count as “organized” sessions as they’re recordings, not live. Still, they’re free to members. bump Just a reminder. I’m having to do a few more today to round out the year… ---
**Author:** ![meep](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/meep/32/44_2.png) [@meep](https://community.goactuary.com/u/meep)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2021, 4:19pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/free-cpd/933/19 "2021-04-06T16:19:15Z")
The Actuarial Club of Hartford/Springfield (SOA-associated) is having two weeks of lunchtime sessions on Zoom: > **[Spring 2021 Meeting](https://actuariesclubofboston.com/Spring-2021-Meeting/)** > > Spring 2021 Meeting > **When:** May 10-21, 2021. Sessions are 11am-12pm EDT except as noted. > > **Location:** Zoom ([email](mailto:president.actuariesboston@gmail.com) us for the meeting link and password) > > **Price:** Free! > > **Current Schedule:** > > **Week 1** > Monday, May 10: (General) Actuarial Transformation: Trends & Insights across Data, Processes, Models, and People > > Tuesday, May 11: (Life) Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021: Changes to IRS code Section 7702 > Wednesday, May 12: (General/Professionalism) Emerging Professionalism Issues in 2021 > Thursday, May 13: (Investments) Macro Economic & Market Update > > Thursday, May 13, **4pm EDT** : (General) Networking Session > Friday, May 14: (Health) The Role of Behavioral Health‐Now and in the Future > > **Week 2** > Monday, May 17, **9am EDT** : (General) Actuaries Working in International Landscape > Tuesday, May 18: (Health) Health Technology, Consumerism and the Explosion of Telehealth > Wednesday, May 19: (Pension) New Pension Relief under ARPA: Its Implications for Pension Plans > Thursday, May 20: (Life/Annuities) Mortality Differential by Socioeconomic Categories in the US > Friday, May 21: (Life/Annuities) Life Reinsurance 101 Panel Discussion Email: [president.actuariesboston@gmail.com](mailto:president.actuariesboston@gmail.com) to get an invite – it’s free! ---
**Author:** ![meep](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/meep/32/44_2.png) [@meep](https://community.goactuary.com/u/meep)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2021, 4:20pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/free-cpd/933/20 "2021-04-06T16:20:49Z")
For those who really need it: there is a Professionalism session on May 12 – so this may be a useful professionalism credit for any U.S. actuaries (and maybe even non-U.S. actuaries) [Next page](https://community.goactuary.com/t/free-cpd/933.md?page=2)