PenChecks NIPA Designation Scholarship

As part of an ongoing effort to enhance the education of pension administrators, NIPA and PenChecks are pleased to offer an annual scholarship program for NIPA's Accredited Pension Administrator and Accredited 401(k) Specialist designation programs. This scholarship is open to individuals working towards an APA designation or AKS designation.

View the past scholarship recipients here.

Key Deadlines

Applications are currently open for the May/June 2025 testing window.

Scholarship Requirements

Applicants must work for a firm where there is at least one person who is a current NIPA member. Applicants must also be employed in the United States.
APA/AKS designation must be earned within three years from the successful completion of the first exam. Exams passed more than three years prior to the successful completion of your last exam will expire and must be retaken. The scholarship will not cover the cost to re-take exams after the three year period.
Any individual who fails an exam may retake the exam for a fee of $150. If an individual registers for a testing window and decides to defer their exam to the next testing window, there will also be a fee of $150. This fee only applies for two testing windows from the date of the original testing window scheduled.
Individuals who have the ERPA are not eligible for the scholarship as they are able to obtain their APA/AKS designation by simply joining NIPA as an Executive or Business Owner Member and completing the NIPA designation equivalency form.
Complete the application form below in its entirety to be considered, including the required letter of recommendation. If any information is determined to be false, the application will be denied.

Scholarship Benefits

Depending on the designation you are applying for, the cost of all four (4) APA exams or all two (2) AKS exams are covered.
Ten (10) scholarship recipients will be chosen annually over the course of all three testing windows (May/June, August and November/December).
Scholarship will only cover the designation exam registration cost. If an individual would like to purchase additional study materials (e.g. the practice exams or online textbooks), they will be responsible for the costs.
Once a scholarship recipient successfully completes all four (4) APA exams or all two (2) AKS exams, PenChecks will cover the NIPA Business Owner or Executive member fee for the first year of membership.

Terms of Agreement
First Name *
Last Name *
Designation(s) *Please enter N/A if you do not have a designation.
Title *
Company *
Address *
Address Cont.
City *
State *
Zip Code *
Phone *
Fax
Email Address *
Professional Position *
Years in the industry *
Name of colleague who is a current NIPA member: *In order to be eligible for the PenChecks NIPA APA Designation Scholarship, there must be an individual from the firm you work for that is a current NIPA member.
Please explain how you feel the APA designation will help you in your career in 250 - 500 words. *
Please explain why you feel you should receive the scholarship in 250 - 500 words. *
Brief recommendation from a supervisor *Please provide a brief recommendation from a supervisor that explains why you should be selected as the recipient of the scholarship based on your current performance and potential performance. Please click on the "Choose File" button to upload the brief recommendation from a supervisor.
In order for your application to be submitted and consider, you must agree to the below terms of agreement.
I agree to be contacted. *By submitting this application, I understand that I may be contacted by the individuals selecting the recipients if they have any questions or need any additional information.	I agree I do not agree
I agree to be part of promotions or publicity about the scholarship if selected as a recipient. *By submitting this application, I agree that if I am selected as a scholarship recipient, I understand that my name might be part of any of NIPA and PenChecks promotions or publicity about the scholarship, and that I may be contacted for comments on the APA Designation program and/or the scholarship.	I agree I do not agree

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Key Deadlines

Scholarship Requirements

Scholarship Benefits

National Institute of Pension Administrators

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