Examination Waivers, Grandfathering & Transition Rules
ASPPA Examination Waivers
Transition Rules for Candidates Who Meet Exam Requirements for QPA Credential
Transition Rules for Candidates Who Have Passed C-3 or C-4 Examinations
Grandfathering – TGPC Credential
Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist (CRPS) Waivers
NIPA Examination Waivers
ASPPA Transition Credit Chart
ASPPA Examination Waivers
RPF Examination Waivers
ASPPA members with the credentials, FSPA, MSPA, CPC, QPA, QKA or QPFC will be given credit for ASPPA’s RPF-1 examination for purposes of obtaining additional ASPPA credentials.
ASPPA members with the credentials FSPA, MSPA, CPC or QPA will be given credit for ASPPA’s RPF-2 examination for the purposes on obtaining additional ASPPA credentials other than the QKA or QPA credential.
Any credentialed or non-credentialed ASPPA member or examination candidate will not need to complete the RPF-1 or RPF-2 examinations if he/she has successfully completed the Pension Administrators Course: PA-1, PA-2 and PA-3.
Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist (CRPS) RPF Waivers
The College for Financial Planning Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist designees will be given credit for ASPPA's RPF-1 and RPF-2 examinations for the purposes of obtaining ASPPA's Qualified Plan Financial Consultant (QPFC) credential.
Other ASPPA Examination Waivers
ASPPA members with the credentials FSPA, MSPA or CPC will be given credit for ASPPA’s DC-1, DC-2, DC-3 and DB exams for purposes of obtaining additional ASPPA credentials other than the QKA or QPA credential.
Exam candidates and ASPPA members having passed both the C-1 and the C-2(DC) examinations prior to 2004 are given credit for DC-3 for purposes of obtaining ASPPA credentials.
Exam candidates and ASPPA members having passed either the C-1 or C-2(DC) examinations prior to January 1, 1999 are given credit for the PA-1 and PA-2 examinations.
QPA Examination Waivers
Once enrollment as an ERPA has been granted by the IRS, a candidate can submit an application for status as an ASPPA QPA credentialed member. QPA examination requirements (RPF-1, RPF-2, DC-1, DC-2, DC-3 and DB) will be waived for purposes of obtaining the QPA credential.
Transition Rules for Candidates Who Meet Exam Requirements for QPA Credential
A candidate who has met the exam requirements for the QPA credential will receive credit for the DOL Topics and Defined Benefit Topics modules since this knowledge was previously tested and will therefore only have to complete four core modules and two of the three elective CPC modules, in addition to the CPC proctored examination.
Transition Rules for Candidates Who Have Passed C-3 or C-4 Examinations
A candidate who has passed the C-3 exam only (not C-4) will receive credit for the DOL Topics, Defined Benefit Topics, Investments, Distributions & Loans and Fiduciary Topics modules. These candidates will need to complete the Related Groups & Business Transactions module, two of the three elective modules and the proctored CPC examination, in addition to the QPA exam requirements to obtain the CPC credential.
A candidate who has passed C-4 exam only (not C-3) will receive credit for the DOL Topics, Defined Benefit Topics, Related Groups & Business Transactions and the two elective modules. These candidates will need to complete the Investments, Distributions & Loans and Fiduciary Topics modules and the proctored CPC examination, in addition to the QPA exam requirements to obtain the CPC credential.
Grandfathering – TGPC Credential
Existing NTSAA designated members in good standing will be grandfathered upon joining ASPPA as follows:
- Those with the MCRS designation will be awarded the TGPC credential. An MCRS will need to complete ASPPA's credentialed membership application (available on the ASPPA Membership page) and apply for the TGPC credential (you will be notified when credential is awarded).
- Those with the CRS designation will be given credit for the RPF-1, RPF-2 and TGPC-1 exams for purposes of obtaining the TGPC credential, but will need to take TGPC-2. Upon successful completion of the TGPC-2 examination, a CRS will need to complete ASPPA's credentialed membership application (available on the ASPPA Membership page) and apply for the TGPC credential (you will be notified when credential is awarded).
Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist (CRPS) Waivers
The College for Financial Planning Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist designees will be given credit for ASPPA's RPF-1 and RPF-2 examinations for the purposes of obtaining ASPPA's Qualified Plan Financial Consultant (QPFC) credential.
NIPA Examination Waivers
NIPA members with the credentials APA and APR will be given credit for RPF-1 for purposes of obtaining ASPPA credentials.
NIPA's APA credential satisfies many requirements for ASPPA's CPC credential. Pension professionals holding NIPA's Accredited Pension Administrator (APA) credential may pursue ASPPA's advanced Certified Pension Consultant (CPC) credential by successfully completing ASPPA’s Certified Pension Consultant Online Modules and Certified Pension Consultant Examination (CPC). In addition to successfully completing the exam and modules, applicants must also have at least three years of plan consulting work experience. ASPPA’s RPF-1, RPF-2, DC-1, DC-2, DC-3 and DB examinations are waived. However, if a NIPA APA is interested in obtaining other ASPPA credentials then the successful completion of the required examinations will not be waived (except the RPF-1 as stated above under NIPA examination waivers).