Frequently Asked Questions

Public employee retirement systems at the state and local level can join NCPERS as Pension Fund members. But our community includes the entire public pension industry, and we also welcome applications for membership from Industry Stakeholders and Service Providers.

If your organization is one of our 650+ members, you already have access to the benefits of membership! Please email our Membership team at membership@ncpers.org or call 202-601-2445, and we can assist you.

NCPERS membership is by organization, not by individual. An organization makes the decision to join and pays dues annually for membership. Anyone working within a member organization can participate in NCPERS activities and programming. Contact membership@ncpers.org for more on our membership structure.

Membership provides a wide range of valuable benefits for pension systems, service providers, and industry stakeholders, including educational and networking opportunities to connect you with leaders in the pension industry. Learn about the value of NCPERS membership for you and your organization.

As an NCPERS member, you can access the Member Compass on our website to update your profile, see events you have registered for, pay invoices, and more.  Simply Login with your NCPERS email and password to be directed to your Member Compass. If you are already logged in, click your name in the upper right-hand corner of the page. Read our PDF tutorial on how to use your Member Compass for more information or contact membership@ncpers.org for assistance.

All staff and board members of an organization can participate in NCPERS and be listed on your organization’s roster of contacts. To see who is listed on your NCPERS roster, log in to your Member Compass and click “Access the NCPERS Member Directory” and type in the name of your organization. Your NCPERS contacts will be listed on the right.

If you are a primary contact or have been given manager access by your primary contact, you will have additional options under your Member Compass. Going to these tabs allows you to see the contacts listed on your NCPERS roster, add additional people, or give a person management access.

NCPERS regularly highlights the latest industry job listings and RFPs at no cost on behalf of member pension funds, stakeholders, and service providers. These openings are promoted in our newsletters and social media for added visibility.

Please send your announcements (title, closing date, and link or PDF) to membership@ncpers.org for inclusion on our site.

Please read this tutorial PDF for a quick overview of where to find our most popular resources. Should you have further questions, please contact communications@ncpers.org.

Find the latest information on upcoming opportunities for speakers here, including frequently asked questions about speaker eligibility, processes, expectations, and more. Should you have additional questions, please contact education@ncpers.org.

Yes, substitutions are permitted at no additional cost at any time prior to the event. The original registrant is responsible for providing the substitute’s complete contact information. All substitution requests must be submitted in writing to registration@ncpers.org. Our full event policies are available here.

Our full event policies are available here. All registration cancellation requests must be submitted in writing by the applicable cancellation deadline stated for each NCPERS event in order to be considered for a refund. Cancellations received by the stated deadline will be subject to a processing fee, the amount of which will be identified in the event registration materials. Cancellations received after the stated deadline are not eligible for a refund.

Refund requests related to COVID-19 will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and are not guaranteed.

All refunds will be issued to the original method of payment used at the time of registration. Refunds will be processed within thirty (30) days. 

Written cancellation requests must be submitted to registration@ncpers.org. Questions regarding cancellations may be directed to NCPERS at 202-601-2445.

Yes, if you cancel before the early-bird deadline. If the deadline has passed, please email registration@ncpers.org. Our full event policies are available here.

Your NCPERS continuing education credits can be found in your Member Compass membership profile. You can find additional information on NCPERS continuing education and details tracking your CE here.

No, participants can complete the NCPERS Advanced Fiduciary Institute modules in any sequence. However, we recommend taking the Trustee Essentials Training (formerly known as TEDS) before taking NAF as it provides a strong foundation that helps participants better understand and apply the material covered.

Please contact the education team at education@ncpers.org. A reminder is also emailed to you the year your Advanced Fiduciary credential expires. Learn more about earning and maintaining your Advanced Fiduciary credential.

As part of NCPERS’ 2026 rebrand and website redesign, we updated several event naming conventions for clarity and consistency. These key changes are outlined below:

• The Trustee Educational Seminar (TEDS) is now the Trustee Essentials Training.
• The Program for Advanced Trustee Studies (PATS) is now the Fiduciary in Focus Workshop.
• The NCPERS Accredited Fiduciary (NAF) program is now the NCPERS Advanced Fiduciary Institute. Once participants complete the program, they can earn their Advanced Fiduciary (AF) credential.
• The Legislative Conference & Policy Day is now the Legislative Forum & Policy Day.
• Previously housed in the Center for Online Learning, you can find NCPERS Webinars here.

Please contact events@ncpers.org for more information.

Exhibiting focuses on in-person engagement through a booth showcasing your products and services. Sponsorship provides added visibility and branding tied to a conference item, activity, or experience.

Opportunities typically open several months before each event and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Check out our event calendar.

Yes, provided your event does not conflict with official programming and follows NCPERS Service Provider guidelines, outlined in NCPERS’ events policy.

Please contact the events team at events@ncpers.org.

The Public Retirement Systems Study is NCPERS' annual research initiative that gathers the latest data on public retirement systems' fiscal, operational, and business practices. Conducted since 2011, this study serves as a key industry resource that helps public pensions benchmark their performance against peers and provides valuable insights into asset allocation, funding levels, plan expenses, and more.

Calls for participation in the Public Retirement Systems Study go out in early fall each year. If your organization does not receive an invitation to participate, please contact us at research@ncpers.org to request participation information. Respondents with specific questions about study participation can refer to the study-specific FAQ.

All NCPERS members have access to an interactive Dashboard where they can examine the latest data from the Public Retirement Systems Study. The Dashboard allows users to filter data by plan size, employee type, and other criteria to compare their organization's performance and practices against peers.

NCPERS developed the annual Public Pension Compensation Survey to help pension funds benchmark compensation and benefits packages against their peers and ensure key positions are filled with skilled and qualified staff. 

Conducted in the spring in partnership with CBIZ, this survey captures compensation, bonus structures, and benefits for 90 positions commonly found at public pension funds — plus oversight responsibilities and salary-planning insights. Participating funds receive complimentary access to survey results.

Calls for participation in the Public Pension Compensation Survey go out in early spring each year. If your organization does not receive an invitation to participate, please contact us at research@ncpers.org to request participation information. Respondents with specific questions about study participation can refer to the study-specific FAQ.

All organizations that participated in the Public Pension Compensation Survey have access to both the detailed report and an interactive Dashboard where they can examine the latest data. Non-participating organizations may purchase access for a fee. Visit the NCPERS website for instructions on purchasing access.

NCPERS offers a range of thought leadership opportunities. Please submit your news, story ideas, or topic suggestions to communications@ncpers.org for consideration.

NCPERS members have the exclusive opportunity to help educate public plan trustees and staff by contributing articles to PERSist, our quarterly research publication. Submission guidelines are available on our website.

The latest news is available on our blog. From News from NCPERS to insights from member contributing authors on topics such as Governance or Technology, there’s no better way to stay up-to-date with the latest industry developments.

NCPERS publications deliver the informed perspective and real-world solutions you need to navigate complexity and strengthen your organization. Our members are always the first to know via our exclusive publications. Learn more.

NCPERS currently has eight professional Roundtables that support pension leaders. Click the links below to join the conversation (free for NCPERS members!):

• CEOs/Executive Directors
• CIOs/Investment Officers
• Communications
• Government Affairs
• Human Resources (HR)
• Investments Back- & Middle-Office (IMBO)
• Legal
• Member Services

Participation is free for staff at NCPERS member pension funds. Please sign up for your Roundtable(s) here.

Yes! NCPERS recognizes that many public pension staff wear multiple hats. We encourage staff to sign up for all Roundtables that support your role(s) at your system.

No. NCPERS recognizes how busy your schedule can be. Roundtable participants are encouraged to attend/participate when the Roundtables agenda interests you and your schedule allows. Also, recordings of the Roundtables are available for viewing at your convenience.

NCPERS continually evaluates our Roundtable offerings in order to best serve the public pension community’s needs. If your role or department currently does not have a Roundtable, please contact us at info@ncpers.org to start the conversation.

Your employer participates in the NCPERS Insurance program issued by Prudential Insurance Company. The program is administered by Member Benefits, a Third Party Administrator for the NCPERS Life Insurance program. Member Benefits can answer questions about your policy and assist you with getting access or making changes. They can be reached at 1-800-525-8056 or via email at ncpers@memberbenefits.com.