Actuarial Core Principles (IAI) · exam guide

Actuarial Core Principles (IAI) Eligibility

Checked against IAI's official pages, as of 12 October 2026. Rules and fees change; confirm on the official site before you act.

To sit the Core Principles exams you must be a student member of the Institute of Actuaries of India (IAI). Most candidates get there by passing the Actuarial Common Entrance Test (ACET); listed professional and degree holders can join directly without ACET.

• ACET is open to students who have appeared for 10+2 or an equivalent exam and are awaiting results, those who have passed 10+2 or any higher course, and anyone currently studying a higher course.
• A student who sits ACET before the 10+2 result must have passed 12th standard by the time they apply for student membership.
• IAI lists diploma holders, graduates from finance, mathematical sciences, engineering and management, and Chartered Accountants, Cost Accountants and Company Secretaries among those who can take ACET.
• An ACET pass stays valid for 3 years from the date the result is declared, for the purpose of taking IAI student membership.
• Direct entry without ACET (Non-ACET route) is available to: fully qualified members of ICAI, ICMAI and ICSI; MBA (Finance) holders with at least 60% or equivalent grade; IIM graduates; BSc or MSc Actuarial Science graduates; BE graduates with at least 60% or equivalent grade; IIT graduates; and Fellows of the Insurance Institute of India.
• Direct entry is also open to candidates who have passed two papers of IFoA (UK), SOA (US), CAS (US), ASSA (South Africa) or IAAust (Australia), and to specified programmes at Amity University, Gujarat University, Bharathiar University and the Indian Statistical Institute (B Stat, B Math, M Stat, M Math, MS (QE), MS (QMS)).
• IAI states there is no age limit to pursue the actuarial course.