How do you become an Actuary?

To become an Actuary you need get trained in mathematics, probability, business and economics. Professional certification results from passing a series of examinations administered by the actuarial societies. Actuarial societies certifying you as an Actuary are the Society of Actuaries and the Casualty Actuarial Society. More specialized organizations are the American Society of Pension Actuaries and the Conference of Consulting Actuaries. Actuaries earn professional designations based on the organization they belong to and their status in the professional exam system. Common credentials are Associate and Fellow. For example, a possible title is FSA, which means Fellow of the Society of Actuaries. To obtain these designations, an actuary has to met certain professional educational standards by passing a series of exams (called courses by the Society of Actuaries). The early exams are jointly administered by the Society of Actuaries and the Casualty Actuarial Society. These exams are not easy. The first exams are multichoice word problems, which may require to do several steps. You must understand very well the learning objectives to solve these problems.
To obtain Associateship in the Society of Actuaries, the candidate must successfully complete Courses 1-6 and the Associateship Professionalism Course, and must have the application for admission as an Associate approved by the Board of Governors of the Society of Actuaries. Most prospective actuaries achieve Associateship in three to five years. An Associate will be admitted as a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries after completing the Fellowship educational requirements, including Courses 7-8, the Professional Development Requirement, the Fellowship Admission Course, and any additional requirements prescribed by Board of Governors of the Society Actuaries. The requirements imposed Casualty Actuarial Society are a little different. The exams vary according with specialization.
The completion of these professional credentials is done while working as an actuary. Most employers hire college graduates who have shown some interest in passing these series of examinations. Most employers have established programs to assist students in preparing for these examinations (often paying exam fees, study materials, study time, on-the-job training for the exams, award raises for each exam passed). At the same time, the job provides a broad experience in actuarial work.
The completion of all these exams take several years. Most of the preparation for the exams is done through self-study while working. Candidates must being able to motivate themselves. Students wishing careers in this field are encouraged to complete the first examination before the junior year, complete the second examination around graduation and have some preparation toward the third before they complete their undergraduate studies. For most students, it is easier to pass these exams while the college curriculum is fresh. At the very least, students pursuing this career should pass the first actuarial exam within a few months of graduation.
Some of the actuarial exams can be taken locally. Here is the current information on the exam centers in Binghamton, NY:

Courses 1-2: Prof. David Hanson, Binghamton University, SUNY, Vestal Parkway East, Public Service Program Center, room E/F in the Public Service Center, basement (floor-1) of Glenn G. Bartle Library. Enter through the main door to the Library Tower or through the door to the Public Service Center near the Computer Center.

Courses 3-5, 8, EA-2A: James S. Mellema, Security Mutual Life Insurance, 100 Court Street, Security Mutual Building, report to second floor receptionist.

The first two actuarial exams are offered every early November and every mid May. Information and registration forms for the exams are in the Basic Education Catalog of the Society of Actuaries. In the office of the Department of Mathematical Sciences (Library North (LN)-2200) you can get a hardcopy of the Basic Education Catalog. In this catalog, you get information on the exams (how to register, how to prepare for the tests and so on). You can get further information in Actuarial Program in the Department of Mathematical Sciences of Binghamton University from the Actuarial Liaison: Miguel A. Arcones.
SUNY-Binghamton is an examination center for the first two actuarial exams. The University itself has nothing to do with the preparation of the exam questions, it is merely an agent of the Society of Actuaries, administering the exams for the convenience of the SUNY-Binghamton students.

Meeting of the Actuarial Association