Qualified 401(k) Administrator
The Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA) credential program provides the technical knowledge and skills retirement plan professionals need to implement and administer defined contribution (DC) retirement plans.
The curriculum provides thorough training in 401(k) plan management and plan compliance and testing. Earning the QKA® credential proves that you have met the national standard for all professionals working with 401(k) retirement plans and demonstrates your competence in DC plan administration.
401(k) plan administration is highly technical and complex and requires substantial training. And the stakes are high: every decision you make affects the financial futures of countless retirement plan participants. Are you prepared for this role?
This program is designed for a range of retirement plan professionals. They include: administrators, account managers, implementation managers and anyone who deals with compliance.
For group discounts please contact us.
Use code: QKASPRING25 on either package to save big!
Sale ends March 21, 2025.
The Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA®) program deepens the knowledge provided by the Retirement Plan Fundamentals (RPF) certificate course. The QKA program has two parts, Plan Management and Testing & Compliance. Each comprises nine courses, a practice test and a final proctored exam.
The material is delivered in small, digestible chunks, making topics easier to access, learn and retain for less experienced professionals. Real-Life Examples Real-life case studies and examples provide glimpses into a day in the life of a retirement plan professional and enhance comprehension and knowledge retention.
The content is supplemented with additional reference materials and brief quizzes to test and reinforce newly mastered concepts and information. Self-Paced Progress Students are in control of the learning experience through a flexible study schedule and can test their knowledge through practice tests, culminating in two proctored exams. Virtual classrooms are held twice a year to prepare students for each exam.
*Purchase of corresponding QKA® package is required to enroll
1. Purchase QKA-1 (Plan Management) and/or QKA-2 (Testing & Compliance)
2. Go to Access My Learning
3. Type in your username and password
4. Type in the enrollment code for the classroom you wish to attend
5. Hit submit
“Being a Credentialed ASPPA member demonstrates my commitment to professionalism and high ethical standards in the retirement plan industry. Having a credential enhances my professional reputation, credibility, and advisor confidence.”
Julie Costello, QKA
Regional Vice President, MAP Retirement
Plan Types
Learn about different types of tax-preferred retirement plans. Provides a high-level overview of the plan types.
Plan Qualification
Learn about the ERISA requirements for qualified retirement plans, types of plan documents, who governs plan qualification and about the requirements for qualification and the implications of plan disqualification.
Employee Contributions
Learn how employees can contribute their own money to a 401(k) plan or 403(b) arrangement.
Distributions
Learn the rules governing the timing and form requirements of distributions, as well as participants' and plan administrators’ obligations.
Participant Loans
Learn about participant loans, how to calculate the maximum loan amount available to a participant and refinancing rules.
Eligibility
Learn about the requirements for allowing employees to participate in retirement plans.
Vesting
Learn about vesting-related provisions and regulations.
Employer Contributions
Learn about employers’ options for allocating contributions to their retirement plan.
Safe Harbor 401(k) Plans
Explore a six-part scenario in which a retirement plan committee and a plan manager explore some challenges associated with a Safe Harbor 401(k) plan and how to overcome them.
Compensation
Learn the various definitions of compensation needed to operate a 401(k) plan.
Highly Compensated Employees
Learn the definition of highly compensated employee (HCE) and why it is important to identify the HCEs within an organization.
Coverage
Learn about the various methods of testing coverage and how to correct a failed test.
Testing Part 1
Learn about special tests that measure how much HCEs can put into a retirement plan compared to the amounts contributed by non-highly compensated employees (NHCE). These tests, known as the Actual Deferred Percentage (ADP) and Actual Contribution Percentage (ACP) tests, prevent 401(k) plans from disproportionately favoring the HCEs and company owners.
Testing Part 2
Build on your knowledge from Part 1 on the ADP testing methods and apply it to the ACP test. We will also delve into the available options when correcting a failed ADP or ACP test.
Top Heavy Plans and Key Employees
Learn how to determine who constitutes a key employee, how to calculate whether a plan is top-heavy and how to calculate the amount of the top-heavy contribution.
Form 5500 & Government Reporting
Learn about the Form 550, different types, which are exempt from filing, schedules, summary annual report (SAR), and Form 8955-SSA. You will also learn about the filing and auditing process and fidelity bonds.
Plan Disclosures
Follow along as plan managers discuss 401(k) plan disclosures with HR reps and an education specialist fielding participants’ questions.
Ethics
Get an introduction to ethical scenarios and learn the responses and actions that will protect your reputation as a 401(k) professional.