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Establish yourself in the retirement plan industry
Strengthen your value in your workplace

NIPA provides practical information and effective, relevant designation programs necessary to achieve career advancement and improve day-to-day performance.

Through NIPA’s Accredited Pension Administrator (APA) and Accredited Pension Representative (APR) programs, you will earn a prestigious designation that carries with it a sense of personal accomplishment and demonstrates your commitment to the retirement plan industry.

Download the 2010 APA/APR Registration Form or enroll online today. To learn more about the program, download NIPA's 2010 Education Brochure.

Exam Windows and Deadlines

APA/APR Designation Timetable
The APA and APR designations must be earned within three years from the successful completion of your first exam. Exams passed more than three years prior to the successful completion of your last exam will expire and must be taken.

Exam Retake Policy
Exams passed more than three years prior to the successful completion of your last exam must be retaken. Any student who registers for an exam, and did not take it, or fails, may re-take the exam for a fee of $150. If a student registers for an a testing window and decides to defer their exam to the next testing window may register as a deferral student for a fee of $150. This fee only applies for two testing windows from the date of the first attempt.

Online Examinations - Convenience and Flexibility
NIPA, in partnership with KRYTERION, administers its APA/APR designation exams online. The online format makes it easier and more convenient for retirement plan professionals to schedule and complete their APA/APR exams:

• Increased flexibility: Three separate one month-long testing windows per year replace the biannual exams, allowing for increased flexibility to choose a date to take the exam that best suits your schedule.
• Immediate results: APA/APR exam scores are immediately available to students instead of being notified of results in the mail after the exam has been completed.

APA/APR Course 1 and APA Course 3 are open book and may be taken from home or work, rather than having to report to a testing location, during any of the three exam testing windows. APA/APR Course 1 and APA Course 3 do not require a proctor, however, APA Courses 2 and 4, along with APR Course 2, must be completed at a proctored testing location during the exam testing windows.

If you have any questions on online testing or the APA/APR designation program, contact NIPA Headquarters at 800.999.6472 or nipa@nipa.org.

Accredited Pension Administrator Program
The Accredited Pension Administrator (APA) designation is earned by the successful completion of four study courses and examinations covering all aspects of plan administration. The APA is maintained by annually completing 15 hours of continuing education and current NIPA membership. Potential APAs include pension administrators, retirement relationship managers and ERISA compliance specialists.

Accredited Pension Representative Program
The Accredited Pension Representative (APR) designation is earned by the successful completion of two study courses and examinations covering the fundamentals of retirement plans with an emphasis on defined contribution plans and investment philosophy. The APR also requires an NASD Series 6, 7, 65, 66 or 24 license, or an insurance license, and is maintained by annually completing 10 hours of continuing education and current NIPA membership. Potential APRs include retirement plan personnel, financial consultants/planners and Registered Investment Advisors.

Additional APA/APR Designation Program Information

Enrollment Instructions

APA/APR exam enrollment is easy!

1. Enroll online.
2. Fax or mail the enrollment PDF with payment information.

Students may take more than one exam during each testing window. For students taking more than one exam on the same day, please schedule both exams at least 2.5 hours apart to ensure adequate testing time.

A confirmation e-mail will be sent when enrollment has been processed, including detailed instructions on how to secure your online exam through KRYTERION. You will be emailed a PDF of the study guide within 1-2 business days of registering.

Group Tuition Program

Save up to $50 per exam with NIPA's Group Tuition Program! Download more information about this money-saving program. Enroll your team today.

Preparation Materials & Examinations

You do not need to be a NIPA member to sit for an APA or APR examination. Student memberships are available to persons currently pursuing their APA or APR designation. You may join NIPA as a Student Member when enrolling in an examination online or by faxing in the PDF enrollment form.

The APA/APR examinations may be taken in any order, although it is recommended they be taken in sequence. To properly prepare for each of the APA or APR examinations, students will need a study guide and the text materials cited in the study guide. All exam materials may be ordered when enrolling online or by faxing in the PDF enrollment form. Exam materials are not available without enrollment in an examination.

Each exam consists of 100 multiple choice questions relating to material covered in the appropriate text and study guide. Students are given a Pass/Fail result.

Because of the ever changing laws and rules, study guides and most text materials are updated annually. Students are strongly encouraged to prepare for their examination with current study materials. Using outdated study materials will not adequately prepare candidates. Study materials may not be reproduced without the written consent of NIPA.

KRYTERION Testing Location Information and Procedures

Exam dates and times during the examination window are dependent on each KRYTERION facility’s hours of operation. Students registering for APA/APR Course 1 and APA 3 do not need to secure a KRYTERION testing location as that exam may be taken at anytime during the testing window from your home or workstation.

You must select your KRYTERION testing location two weeks prior to the examination window. Any student who does not receive a confirmation e-mail two weeks prior to any NIPA examination window should contact NIPA directly.

Once you have selected your KRYTERION location, the date and the time of the exam is dependent on the availability of that specific location. You must enroll in an exam before you will be allowed to schedule your testing date and time through KRYTERION.

Exam Equivalencies

Certain professional associations and educational institutions have established accreditation programs. NIPA recognizes select programs as equivalent to some parts of the APA and APR designations.

NIPA extends the following credit(s) for successfully completing the courses below. Download a credit transfer form.

NEW! ERPA and the APA/APR Designations

For students who obtain the Enrolled Retirement Plan Agent (ERPA) designation, NIPA will automatically grant the APR designation upon completion of the APR designation requirements. Additionally, ERPA designees will receive credit for APA Courses 1 and 2, but will have to complete Courses 3 and 4 to earn the APA designation.