SEARCH
ABOUT ACAT BENEFITS BYLAWS BOARD OF DIRECTORS CODE OF ETHICS NEWSROOM
A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE CREDENTIAL BENEFITS DIRECTORY FAQs
WHY AN ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL QUESTIONS TO ASK    SELECTION GUIDE ACAT CREDENTIALS EXPLAINED DIRECTORY
COLLEGES AND UNVERSITIES   PROGRAM BENEFITS   PROGRAM SYLLABUS   PROGRAM MATERIALS  REVIEW COURSE   FAQs
AFFILIATED STATE ORGANIZATIONS ASO BENEFITS MATCHING FUNDS PROGRAM PROGRAM MATERIALS FAQs
ACAT CREDENTIALS ABA ABA BLUEPRINT EXAM PREPARATION EXAM RESULTS ABA FAQs ATA ATP ARA MAINTAINING CREDENTIALS RENEWING CREDENTIALS REINSTATEMENT CREDENTIAL HOLDERS LOGO
CPE REQUIREMENTS CPE COURSES
HELPFUL LINKS
CONTACT ACAT

Accredited Retirement Advisor®

This credential recognizes professionals who have a thorough knowledge of topics relevant to retirement planning and special issues of senior citizens including tax planning and tax preparation for decedents, estates, and trusts; and applying your knowledge and skills in real-life situations when serving aging clients.

Accredited Retirement Advisor® (ARA) Examination

The ARA examination is a three and a half hour, 100 multiple-choice question exam. You must score 70% or better to earn the credential. Our exams are offered at Lasergrade locations across the United States. Locate your testing site: here

Upcoming Exam Dates

Registration for the spring testing window will begin in February 2012.

Examination fee

The exam fee for the ARA exam is $200 + a $50 registration fee.

Scheduling your exam date and time

Once your regstration is processed, you will receive a confirmation Authorization-To-Test (ATT) letter with information on setting up your exam date and testing site.


Lasergrade Locations


The ARA comuter based exams are offered at any of the over 700 authorized LaserGrade test centers in North America. Go here to find the one closest to you.

Rescheduling Policy

You must test within the testing window stated on the Authoriation-To-Test (ATT), which you receive after your submitted Registration Form is successfully processed.

Candidates who wish to reschedule an examination within the testing window without forfeiting the examination fee must notify LaserGrade at least three working days prior to the scheduled test date. You will forfeit your examination fee if you do not appear for your scheduled examination or are not admitted due to lack of proper photo/signature identification.

Appeals Policy

ACAT will review any appeals on eligibility determinations, exam results, and certification
status on a case by case basis. If you wish to appeal to the ACAT Board you may place your request
in writing to info@acatcredentials.org or 1010 N. Fairfax St. Alexandria, VA 22314.

Confidentiality Policy

All test scores and candidate information shall be confidential, available only to the
candidates and others they may designate.


Accredited Retirement Advisor® Credential Blueprint

Retirement Plans, Benefits & Retirement Distribution (21 questions)
Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, veteran's benefits, retirement plans, retirement plan distribution and planning

Insurance, Health Care, Senior and Long-Term Care Options (21 questions)
Health insurance, long term care insurance, health care, long-term care, life insurance, senior housing options and issues

Estates, Trusts, Estate Planning & Taxation Considerations
(44 questions)
Estates, trusts, estate planning, taxation of estates Form 706, decedent’s final return, gift tax returns Form 709, special considerations for the self-employed

Personal Residence Issues (10 questions)

Ethics & Professionalism in Serving Aging Clients (4 questions)

Exam Preparation

To locate Serving Aging America Seminars click here
Serving Aging America offers courses to help you become familiarized with the topics tested in each level of the ARA exam.

 

 

Upcoming ARA exam:

Registration for the spring testing window will begin in February 2012.

General testing dates:
June 16th- July 7th

Start Exam Preparation now

General ARA Information
Candidate Handbook

ARA EXAM INDEX
Exam Overview
Scheduling your exam date and time
Assigning Test Sites
Rescheduling Policy
Exam Preparation
Exam Blueprint
Exam Preparation


ACAT has also partnered with CCH to bring credential holders web-based CPE courses at 30% discount! Used by the IRS and many firms, CCH Learning Center offers over 150 courses, all approved by QAS and NASBA. New courses are added and ongoing courses updated regularly. The subscription retail price of $419 for one seat for one full year is discounted to only $293 for ACAT credential holders and NSA members. CCH offers CPE courses that provide the content necessary for acquiring and maintaining credentials and CPE requirements for the ARA (formerly ECS) credential.
Click here:CCH Learning Center



ABOUT ACAT  •   RECOGNITION FOR PROFESSIONALS  •  FIND A PROFESSIONAL  •   ACAT IN COLLEGE
ACAT CREDENTIALS  •  CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION
LINKS   •   CONTACT US   •   HOME

The Accreditation Council for Accountancy and Taxation® (ACAT)
1010 N. Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-1574 888.289.7763 x 1343 info@acatcredentials.org