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​Inside This Issue

Grow Your Knowledge With Instructor-Led Online Classes!

When you need to hold yourself accountable for achieving something significant, one of the best ways to do so is by joining a community of like-minded individuals seeking to grow in the same ways as you are. Consider taking a CEBS online class—a garden of learning for benefits professionals. A weekly schedule sets the pace so you don't procrastinate and see your resolve wilt away. Study tools created by your instructor to help you prepare for your CEBS exam are ready for picking! Growing your employee benefits knowledge with the CEBS designation will impress your clients and delight your plan stakeholders. In a booming economy with a war for talent, brightening your employee benefits bouquet in a strategic way can help you stand out from the crowd. The CEBS designation will say it all for you—You're truly a benefits industry expert!

An optional instructor-led online class is an excellent way to supplement your independent study efforts. Your CEBS instructor is a benefits industry insider with great ideas about how to put best practices into action. With an internet connection, you can log in to your class any time you want during the 12-week session! A selection of tools and content enables you to study based on your preferences. Meet others in the benefits industry, and take a deep dive into the curriculum so you feel ready to ace your CEBS exam. With an online class, you get:



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Online Class Schedule

​Summer 2019

May 13 through August 2, 2019

​Fall 2019

August 26 through November 15, 2019

​Three Tips to Study Smarter: Insights From Neuroscience

Understanding how the brain functions can make you a better learner. Here are some tips from neuroscience for making the most of your study time for your CEBS exam.

1Know your limits.  The maximum attention span for most adult learners is around 20 minutes.  Set a timer and give your study materials your undivided attention. When you're done, be sure to take a short break. Studying for too long leads to interference, which occurs when your brain's working memory gets overloaded with new information and doesn't have time to process and make sense of the content.

2Sleep on it.  Regularly getting a good night’s sleep helps your brain convert working memory into long-term memory, which is critical to learning.  

​3Practice makes permanent.  Review new content you're trying to learn at least three times, spaced by sleep. Multiple learning sessions and retrievals focusing on the same content strengthens neural pathways, which will help you remember more.  

​What's Your CEBS Story? The Spotlight Is on You!

Are you a GBA, RPA or CEBS student or designee with a great story to share about how your certification has helped you? Have you made significant improvements to your plan design or experienced career growth in relation to the new knowledge and skills you have gained with your certification? If so, we would like to showcase you! 

​Share Your Story

We're seeking your insight about earning the GBA, RPA and CEBS designations and the value of holding these credentials. Some ideas for articles are:

  • A description of how your professional network has supported you in obtaining your designation or helping you attain success—This could be through a chapter meeting, event, workshop or networking.
  • Insight about how pursuing your CEBS demonstrates that you are a lifelong learner and an expert in your profession.
  • A story about how you prepared for your CEBS exam and applied what you learned to your work.
  • A description of how your designation or the courses helped you get promoted, get a raise, begin a new career or role, or acquire new clients.

Submissions should be less than 1,000 words.

Are you interested in sharing your experience? Please email us at cebs@ifebp.org to submit it. We'll help you to develop a great article.

​CEBS Student Survey

​Meet the Instructor

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​Jeff Billard, CEBS

Policy Advisor

Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan

RPA 1—Managing Retirement Plans Part 1

​ Jeff on the RPA 1 online class:

"Although the in-depth look at retirement planning and benefits in general are still there, the new CEBS offers so much more to people in the benefits industry in that it also provides case studies. It's an internationally recognized certification for a reason!"

​Course Corner

There is an upcoming revision for GBA/RPA 3.  Please read this important information about the course update.

All study materials are available through Books for Business. Order online at www.booksforbusiness.com or by calling (800) 387-1417. Contact CEBS at (800) 449-2327 with questions.  Please check your online Study Guide or the Readings Update for Canadian Courses page for any study materials updates.

The International Foundation has launched an all-new online learning portal. When you access the online Study Guide and the interactive, 100-question Practice Exam created by Dalhousie University, you'll enjoy this enhanced learning experience. We're excited to share it with you!  



​ISCEBS President's Message 

Sam Henson, CEBS, ISCEBS-Fellow, president of the International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists (ISCEBS), shares about the value of being part of the community of benefits professionals, brought together through the CEBS program.

The 38th Annual ISCEBS Employee Benefits ​Symposium

​​The 38th Annual Symposium will take place September 8-11, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Here's more information about attending ISCEBS Symposium and sessions:

​2019 ISCEBS Symposium

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National Employee Benefits Day

National Employee Benefits Day took place on April 2.  The day recognizes benefits professionals for their dedication to providing quality benefits and the important role they play in their colleagues' well-being. 

This year focused on how to build your resilience while encouraging your plan participants to do the same. Resilience is the ability to adapt well to stress—both in your personal and professional life—and it involves a series of behaviours, thoughts and actions that can be developed over time. It's still not too late to celebrate or learn more about incorporating resilience into your workplace.


​New Graduates

July 2018-January 2019

CEBS Graduates


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Group Benefits Associates (GBAs)


​Retirement Plans Associates (RPAs)