About SOA Sections
The Society of Actuaries sponsors eighteen professional interest groups, known as sections and one community, which are formed around common business topics or specific areas of actuarial practice. Unlike the overall organization, you do not need to be an SOA member to join a section. In fact, you don’t even need to be a practicing actuary—and you can join more than one section. Each section has a mission statement and adheres to the SOA professional interest section bylaws.
The purpose of these groups is to encourage and support the career and personal development of individuals who are interested in the section topic, with an eye toward education, collaboration, sharing resources and networking.
As of fall 2025, sections will evolve into seven total Communities. Find out more about this exciting transformation. Section Council leaders are working together to ensure a successful transition. Find your community.
As the SOA continues evolving with the launch of Communities, Sections remain a key resource for members seeking professional development and collaboration within their specialized practice areas.
Section and community membership offers a range of participation levels from simply keeping current with industry trends to becoming a leader of a dedicated team. One thing is for sure — sections produce relevant content each year, including:
- More than 40 webcasts
- More than 300 meeting sessions
- More than 50 podcasts
- Numerous seminars, boot camps and topic calls
As a member of any of these knowledge communities, you’ll have a chance to participate in the following ways.
Network: Interact with fellow professionals with similar interests and challenges.
Share Information: Communicate what you already know to fellow section members and promote interesting discussions on emerging issues.
Publications: Read about trends in section and Society publications and contribute articles to section newsletters, websites and other publications.
Professional Education: Participate in a variety of educational forums focused on today's most relevant and pressing challenges. Create section-sponsored sessions at events and industry seminars. Contribute ideas to better define the basic and continuing education needs of actuaries.
Research: Participate in research activities. Dive into research that provides you with new insights, information or tools to enhance and improve your work.
Governance and Leadership
Each SOA Section is guided by a Council comprising elected volunteer members who serve staggered three-year terms. These Councils are responsible for setting strategic goals, organizing educational events, and ensuring the Section’s activities align with members’ needs and the SOA’s strategic goals. Leadership roles within the Sections include positions such as Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, and Budget Manager, each playing a pivotal role in the Section’s operations and initiatives. The efforts of council members are critical to the overall section and contribute to the success of the SOA. Download the official version of the Section Bylaws.