100+ Free QPA Practice Questions
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PPA 2006 generally requires what minimum vesting schedule for employer non-elective contributions in a DB plan accrued after 2007?
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Key Facts: QPA Exam
55
Exam Questions
ASPPA QPA Candidate Handbook
2.5 hrs
Exam Time Limit
ASPPA QPA Candidate Handbook
70%
Passing Score
ASPPA QPA Candidate Handbook
$455
Standalone Exam Fee
ASPPA 2026 fee schedule
$895
Education + Exam Bundle
ASPPA 2026 fee schedule
QKC
Required Prerequisite
ASPPA QPA eligibility rules
$290,000
2026 §415(b) DB Benefit Limit
IRS Notice 2025 cost-of-living adjustments
QPA is a closed-book proctored online exam with 55 multiple-choice questions and a 2.5-hour time limit. Candidates must score 70% to pass. The standalone exam fee is $455 in 2026; a bundled education + exam package is $895. The syllabus covers DB plan design (15%), accrued benefit and §415 limits (13%), actuarial funding under §430 (13%), PBGC premiums and termination (11%), cash balance plans (11%), QJSA/QPSA rules (8%), DB distributions (8%), at-risk plans and §436 funding rules (8%), top-25 HCE restrictions (8%), and combo DB+DC plans (5%).
Sample QPA Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your QPA exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1What is the 2026 IRC §415(b) maximum annual benefit limit for a defined benefit plan participant whose benefit commences at age 62?
2What is the 2026 IRC §401(a)(17) annual compensation cap that may be considered for DB benefit accruals?
3Under IRC §401(a)(26), a defined benefit plan must cover the lesser of which two thresholds on each day of the plan year?
4A traditional DB plan uses a unit credit benefit formula of 1.5% of final-average compensation per year of service. A participant has 20 years of service and a high-three-year average of $200,000. What is the annual accrued benefit before applying any limit?
5Which DB benefit formula calculates the accrued benefit as a percentage of compensation earned in each year, totaled across all years of participation, rather than averaging compensation over a final period?
6Which of the following vesting schedules is NOT permitted for participant-derived benefits in a defined benefit plan under IRC §411(a)(2)(A)?
7Under §415(b), the dollar limit must be actuarially reduced when benefits commence before what age?
8When a DB benefit commences after age 65, the §415(b) dollar limit may be:
9Under IRC §415(b), the maximum annual benefit a participant may receive is the LESSER of the dollar limit or what compensation-based amount?
10For a calendar-year DB plan, by what date must the plan's Adjusted Funding Target Attainment Percentage (AFTAP) be certified by the enrolled actuary to avoid presumption rules under §436?
About the QPA Exam
The Qualified Pension Administrator (QPA) credential from ASPPA is the defined benefit administration credential, designed for retirement plan professionals who administer DB and cash balance plans, work with enrolled actuaries on §430 minimum required contributions, prepare PBGC premium filings, monitor AFTAP and §436 benefit restrictions, calculate §415(b) limits, and process QJSA distributions. Candidates must already hold the QKC credential to sit for the QPA exam.
Questions
55 scored questions
Time Limit
2.5 hours
Passing Score
70%
Exam Fee
$455 (standalone) / $895 (bundle) (American Retirement Association (ASPPA))
QPA Exam Content Outline
Defined Benefit Plan Design
Final-average-pay, career-average, and unit-credit benefit formulas; normal retirement age; §401(a)(26) minimum participation (lesser of 40 employees or 50% of workforce); vesting schedules (3-year cliff or 2-to-6-year graded); and §411(d)(6) anti-cutback rule
Accrued Benefit & §415(b) Limits
2026 §415(b) limit of $290,000 (100% of high-3-year average compensation if less), age-adjusted reductions for benefits commencing before age 62 and actuarial increases after age 65, §401(a)(17) compensation cap of $360,000, and §417(e) lump-sum present value calculations
Actuarial Funding (IRC §430)
Minimum required contribution = target normal cost + shortfall amortization + waiver amortization; AFTAP certification (must be certified by 10/1 for calendar-year plans); first, second, and third segment interest rates; quarterly contribution due dates (4/15, 7/15, 10/15, 1/15); and §4971 excise tax on unpaid contributions
PBGC Premiums & Termination
2026 PBGC flat-rate single-employer premium per participant, variable-rate premium per $1,000 unfunded vested benefits (capped per participant), Form 1 due 10/15 for calendar-year plans, standard termination (Form 500/501, NOIT 60-90 days), distress termination, and missing-participant program
Top-25 HCE Distribution Restrictions
§1.401(a)(4)-5(b) restriction limits lump sums and accelerated payments to the 25 highest-paid HCEs when plan funded ratio is below 110% after the distribution; alternatives include escrow account, surety bond, or bank letter of credit; exemption for benefits under $5,000
Cash Balance Plans
Hypothetical account with annual pay credit and interest credit, market rate of return safe harbor under §411(b)(5) allowing fixed rate up to 6% (typical 5%), actual trust return, or 30-year Treasury plus margin; §411(b)(5)(B) age-discrimination protection; lump sum equals hypothetical account balance; and 'wear-away' protection on conversion
QJSA & QPSA Rules
QJSA = annuity for life of participant with survivor annuity of 50-100% for spouse; QPSA = survivor annuity for vested participant who dies before annuity starting date; 30-180 day election explanation window; spousal consent in writing, witnessed by notary or plan representative; and §417(a)(7) retroactive annuity starting date
DB Distributions
Required beginning date April 1 after age 73 (SECURE 2.0 §107), §401(a)(9) RMD rules using annuity payment forms, §417(e) lump-sum minimum present value using IRS-prescribed applicable mortality table and segment rates, §415(b) lump-sum maximum, direct-rollover rights under §401(a)(31), and 20% mandatory withholding on eligible rollover distributions paid to participant
At-Risk Plans & Funding Rules
§430(i) at-risk plan is below 80% AFTAP using regular assumptions AND below 70% using at-risk assumptions; §436 benefit restrictions cascade: below 80% AFTAP restricts amendments increasing benefits, below 80% restricts 50% of accelerated payments, below 60% prohibits all accelerated payments and freezes accruals; presumed AFTAP rules apply before certification
Combo Plans (DB + DC)
Cash balance + 401(k) profit-sharing combo for owners and HCEs, §404(a)(7) combined deduction limit (25% with PBGC plan exemption), §401(a)(4)-9 cross-testing for combined plans, gateway minimum allocation (7.5% of comp or one-third of HCE rate) when DB and DC plans are aggregated, and PBGC coverage analysis for owner-only and professional service employer exemptions
How to Pass the QPA Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: 70%
- Exam length: 55 questions
- Time limit: 2.5 hours
- Exam fee: $455 (standalone) / $895 (bundle)
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
QPA Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ASPPA QPA exam format?
QPA is a closed-book exam delivered through ASPPA's proctored online examination system. It consists of 55 multiple-choice questions with a 2.5-hour non-resumable time limit. A passing score of 70% is required. The exam is offered on demand once you are eligible.
What topics are covered on the QPA exam?
The QPA syllabus covers defined benefit administration: DB plan design (15%), accrued benefit and §415(b) limits (13%), actuarial funding under §430 (13%), PBGC premiums and termination (11%), cash balance plans (11%), at-risk plans and §436 funding rules (8%), top-25 HCE restrictions (8%), QJSA/QPSA rules (8%), DB distributions (8%), and combo DB+DC plans (5%).
How much does the QPA exam cost in 2026?
The standalone QPA exam fee is $455. ASPPA also offers an education + exam bundle for $895 that includes the study materials and one exam attempt. Fees are not refundable. Always confirm current pricing on the ASPPA website before registering.
What is the prerequisite for the QPA credential?
Candidates must already hold the ASPPA QKC (Qualified 401(k) Consultant) credential before they can sit for the QPA exam. QPA shifts focus from 401(k) consulting to defined benefit and cash balance plan administration, including actuarial funding, PBGC compliance, and DB-specific distribution rules.
How long should I study for QPA?
Most QKC-credentialed candidates plan 90 to 130 hours of QPA study over 10 to 16 weeks. The heaviest study time should go to actuarial funding under §430, §415(b) accrued benefit limits, and cash balance plan mechanics. Candidates from purely 401(k) backgrounds typically need more time on actuarial concepts, AFTAP, segment interest rates, and PBGC premium filings.
Do I need to be an actuary to pass the QPA exam?
No. QPA tests defined benefit administration concepts at the administrator level, not enrolled actuary calculations. You should understand how minimum required contributions are built, how segment interest rates and AFTAP work, and how §436 restrictions cascade — but the exam will not ask you to derive funding target normal cost from scratch. Most QPA candidates work alongside an enrolled actuary in practice.
What career path follows the QPA credential?
QPA is the defined benefit administration credential in ASPPA's track and, together with QKC, is a prerequisite for the Certified Pension Consultant (CPC) credential. Candidates who complete QKA, QKC, QPA, and CPC hold the senior ASPPA designation set for retirement plan consulting professionals working across DC and DB plans.