KTB Posted January 3, 2012 Posted January 3, 2012 Hi everyone! I am scheduled to take the ERPA test part 1 on the 25th of January and was wondering if anyone who has already taken it has any tips or any extra study material to share? I did a review course through Sungard which gave a sample test of 160 questions and a powerpoint of the main topics to be tested. The test / info was written by Sungard attorneys, not the actual ERPA test writers. I know you can buy sample tests from aire.org but wondered if anyone didn't get there study materials from aire.org and studied on their own and how you did?? Any sugesstions would be appreciated! Thanks!
shERPA Posted January 3, 2012 Posted January 3, 2012 Depends on where you are experience-wise. When I took the test I'd been doing this work exclusively for almost 30 years. I reviewed the sample tests from AIRE primarily. A friend went to a Sungard program and had their examples as well which I reviewed. I found the actual test to be much like the samples from AIRE and the Sungard questions to be more complex than both the AIRE samples and the actual tests. YMMV of course. Good luck. I carry stuff uphill for others who get all the glory.
KTB Posted January 3, 2012 Author Posted January 3, 2012 Okay that helps. I've been doing DC plans for about 9 years but no experience with DB plans which is what worries me a little bit. I should probably buy the Aire sample tests then just to review those then. I appreciate the response! Thanks!
ERISA13 Posted January 6, 2012 Posted January 6, 2012 I took the ERPA exams and found they were much easier than I expected. I've been working with retirement plans for about 4 years but immediately started working on ASPPA designations when I got into the business. I had already passed all the ASPPA exams needed for the QKA and QPA before taking the ERPA. I just printed out the ERPA exam outlines that listed what would be tested and then reviewd those topics in the ASPPA textbooks I already had. That worked for me. In fact, after taking and passing the ERPA exams I was suprised that ASPPA automaticaly awards an ERPA with a QPA designation because in my opinion the DC-3 and DB exams required for the QPA are much more difficult than the ERPA exams. Good luck!
K2retire Posted January 6, 2012 Posted January 6, 2012 In fact, after taking and passing the ERPA exams I was suprised that ASPPA automaticaly awards an ERPA with a QPA designation because in my opinion the DC-3 and DB exams required for the QPA are much more difficult than the ERPA exams. Good luck! Precisely why those of us who earned our QPAs the "old fashioned way" are so annoyed that ASPPA is automatically awarding them to all the ERPAs!
shERPA Posted January 6, 2012 Posted January 6, 2012 Your Mileage May Vary? You get a gold star today! I carry stuff uphill for others who get all the glory.
shERPA Posted January 6, 2012 Posted January 6, 2012 In fact, after taking and passing the ERPA exams I was suprised that ASPPA automaticaly awards an ERPA with a QPA designation because in my opinion the DC-3 and DB exams required for the QPA are much more difficult than the ERPA exams. Good luck! Precisely why those of us who earned our QPAs the "old fashioned way" are so annoyed that ASPPA is automatically awarding them to all the ERPAs! Agree, I also did it the old fashioned way. The ERPA program is clearly a shortcut to a QPA. Don't really know how the ERPA tests are scored, but given the few DB-specific questions, I imagine one could pass ERPA knowing nothing about DB's other than how to spell "DB". That's unfortunate, as DB knowledge should be required for anyone to hold a Qualified PENSION Administrator designation. I carry stuff uphill for others who get all the glory.
DMcGovern Posted January 6, 2012 Posted January 6, 2012 In fact, after taking and passing the ERPA exams I was suprised that ASPPA automaticaly awards an ERPA with a QPA designation because in my opinion the DC-3 and DB exams required for the QPA are much more difficult than the ERPA exams. Good luck! Precisely why those of us who earned our QPAs the "old fashioned way" are so annoyed that ASPPA is automatically awarding them to all the ERPAs! I have to agree with you on this! They should come up with a way of designating those that earned the QPA designation the "old fashioned way" and those with an automatic designation through ERPA.
KTB Posted January 20, 2012 Author Posted January 20, 2012 I appreciate everyones replies!! That makes me feel more confident! Thank you!!
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