RSSA®
Registered Social Security Analyst®
Best For
Those seeking Social Security planning expertise to serve retirees.
Timing
<4 Weeks
Format
The RSSA® Program is 100% online, interactive, and powered by NARSSA’s innovative learning platform.
100% Online
Tuition
$600/module
(Standard: $750)
Package available with reduced tuition.
Specialize in Social Security
Personalized Education
Benefit from an intuitive, mobile-friendly learning platform with powerful interactive coursework.
Unmatched Expertise
Earn a certification demonstrating excellence in Social Security planning and get discounted tuition + College CE!
Powerful Technology
Earn the RSSA® certificate and gain exclusive access to RSSA Roadmap®, delivering precise client-ready Social Security analysis.
Powerful, Proficient Planning
Specialize in Social Security Strategies
With the e-learning resources of NARSSA, discounted tuition through The College, and expert-level insights on Social Security, RSSA® is your next step in serving pre-retirees and retirees.
RSSA® Program Overview
Who Should Enroll
This program, offered in partnership with NARSSA, is ideal for professionals interested in furthering their focus on retirement planning with expertise in Social Security planning, claiming, benefits, taxation of benefits, and more.
Course Delivery
All modules include:
- An introductory video
- A course overview of topics covered
- Learning objectives, delivery methods, and fields of study
- Program prerequisites and advanced preparation
- Review questions after each module chapter
The program is capped by a comprehensive final exam: an online, proctored test administered by NARSSA and validating expertise in Social Security claiming strategies for financial professionals to help clients maximize benefits. The four-hour, two-part exam includes multiple-choice questions and case studies using NARSSA’s proprietary Social Security analysis software (RSSA Roadmap®), is offered twice monthly, and requires a webcam for live remote proctoring to demonstrate competency in applying complex Social Security rules.
What You’ll Learn
- How to integrate Social Security claiming strategies into an overall retirement income plan
- Basic and advanced elements of Medicare, benefits taxation, and latest regulatory impacts
- How to enhance your practice through working with business owners and self-employed clients
Tuition Overview
Single Modules
$600 (Normally $750)
Full Program
$2,800 (Normally $3,395)
Single Modules
$600 (Normally $750!)
Through our partnership with NARSSA, you can access individual RSSA® Program modules and save 20% on tuition with exclusive pricing available through The College! Eligible modules include:
- Module I: Foundations of Social Security
- Module II: Mastery of Advanced Topics
- Module III: Bridging Benefits Across Related Programs
- Module IV: Expert Practice & Client Communication
- Module V: Social Security Software Case Studies
Full Program
$2,800 (Normally $3,395!)
Through our partnership with NARSSA, you can purchase a program package of all five RSSA® modules and save 18% on tuition with exclusive pricing available through The College! Modules include:
- Module I: Foundations of Social Security
- Module II: Mastery of Advanced Topics
- Module III: Bridging Benefits Across Related Programs
- Module IV: Expert Practice & Client Communication
- Module V: Social Security Software Case Studies
Enroll Now If:
You Want Credibility with Pre-Retirees and Retirees
Get Social Security Expertise
Social Security is the backbone of today’s retirement planning. Make sure you specialize in its unique strategies.
You Want Valued CE Credit
Satisfy CE Requirements
The RSSA® Program is approved for CE credit by The College, CFP Board, NASBA, the IRS and more.
You Want Access to Powerful Tech
Streamline Your Process
Onboard unlimited clients and analyze unlimited client scenarios to deliver precise Social Security analysis with RSSA® Roadmap, available exclusively to RSSA® certificate holders.
Social Security: An Essential Focus Area
40%
Of surveyed professionals rank Social Security as a high-priority growth area.1
55%
Of Americans say they don’t know much about Social Security.2
69M
Americans receive a Social Security benefit each month2
Inside the RSSA® Program
Modules to Complete
Five
Typical Completion Time
<4 Weeks
Module I: Foundations of Social Security
This module covers the history and operations of Social Security, qualifying for benefits, the four types of Social Security benefits, calculation of the Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), the effect on benefits paid based upon age, claiming strategies and considerations and the potential effect of earnings on benefit amounts.
Module II: Mastery of Advanced Topics
This module covers how pensions from non-covered earnings have historically affected benefits, noting that these adjustments were repealed in January 2025. This module also covers federal income taxation of Social Security benefits, the rules and eligibility of disability benefits both for the worker and family members, and a review of Medicare
Module III: Bridging Benefits Across Related Programs
This module covers the big picture of retirement planning and explains that Social Security is just one part of the retirement income plan. Provides information-gathering templates, including one used extensively with the RSSA Roadmap software. This module covers the importance of considering non-financial aspects of retirement preparedness. Discusses taxation of retirement income and strategies for reducing taxes through asset placement and managing distributions, particularly RMDs.
Module IV: Expert Practice & Client Communication
This module is less about the Social Security program and more about integrating its knowledge into the designee’s business practices. There’s a lot of discussion on working with business owners and understanding how the self-employed are taxed for Social Security and Medicare. Much of the module is built around ways RSSA®s can leverage their knowledge of Social Security into other business building opportunities.
Module V: Social Security Software Case Studies
This module provides training on how to enter client particulars into RSSA® Roadmap and then deliver the analysis to clients. The module consists entirely of case studies.
There’s Even More to Explore
Specialize for Success
Learn how to enhance your knowledge and client service
See a Program Comparison
Check out how RSSA® compares to the RICP® Program
Read More Thought Leadership
Hear from our experts on retirement income planning
RSSA® Program FAQs
The RSSA®, or Registered Social Security Analyst®, is a planning certification in financial services that focuses on retirement planning strategies, specifically those dealing with Social Security. The certification gives you expertise in Social Security benefits law, claiming strategies for clients, tax provisions, medical benefit considerations, regulatory insights, and more.
The RSSA® is awarded by the National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts (NARSSA), a leading provider of Social Security education, software, certification, lead generation, and training and support for financial professionals.
By partnering with NARSSA, The College can make the RSSA® certification available to our students at a significantly reduced cost. This partnership further advances our position as the leader in retirement planning education by becoming a distributor of leading Social Security education, helping to fill the Social Security knowledge gap among financial professionals. However, we do not host the coursework or provide the final exam for the RSSA® certification: that exam can only be taken through NARSSA, who oversees and proctors the exam.
Yes. The RSSA® Exam is a final, online, proctored test after completing the five-module program, administered by NARSSA. The exam validates expertise in Social Security claiming strategies for financial professionals to help clients maximize benefits. The four-hour, two-part exam includes multiple-choice questions and case studies using special software (RSSA® Roadmap), is offered twice monthly, and requires a webcam for live remote proctoring to demonstrate competency in applying complex Social Security rules.
The total time to complete all five RSSA® certification program modules is approximately 20-25 hours. Most candidates complete the coursework and final exam within two to four weeks.
Yes, the RSSA® certification is eligible for continuing education (CE) credit with the following bodies:
- The American College of Financial Services for 8.5 CE credit hours for College designees
- NASBA for 15.5 CPE credits for CPAs in all states
- IRS for 10 CE credits for Enrolled Agents (EAs) and other Tax Return Preparers (PTIN holders)
- CFP Board for 8.5 CE credits for CFP® Professionals
- Broadridge Fi360 for 8.5 CE credits for AIF/AIFA/PPC designations
- Insurance Continuing Education for up to 12 CE credits for insurance agents
Upon completing the RSSA® certification, you also gain lifetime free access to NARSSA’s proprietary Social Security software, RSSA Roadmap®, providing consumers and retirement professionals with a precise client ready Social Security analysis report based on individual scenario inputs, as well as ongoing access to trained Social Security professionals, who provide guidance and support to both RSSA® program participants and users of the RSSA Roadmap® platform.
Take the Next Step and Enroll
With the RSSA®, you’ll gain in-depth insights into Social Security claiming and more to make you an invaluable partner in clients’ retirement planning.
1 The American College of Financial Services. Market Services Survey. 2025.
2 Allianz. Annual Retirement Study. 2025.
3 The National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts (NARSSA) owns the certification marks Registered Social Security Analyst® and RSSA®, which it awards to individuals who successfully complete its coursework and examinations. The College does not own the RSSA® certification and offers access to the RSSA® Program in partnership with NARSSA.