CERTIFICATION


    Pursuant to Rule 497(j) under the Securities Act of 1933, Waddell &
Reed Advisors Retirement Shares, Inc. (1933 Act File No. 2-42885; 1940 Act
File No. 811-2263) ("Registrant") hereby certifies (a) that the respective
forms of Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information used with
respect to the Registrant do not differ from the Prospectus and Statement
of Additional Information contained in Post-Effective Amendment No. 53
("Amendment No. 53") to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A, which is
Registrant's most recent post-effective amendment, and (b) that Amendment
No. 53 was filed electronically.


                             WADDELL & REED ADVISORS
                             RETIREMENT SHARES, INC.


Dated: December 20, 2000      By:  /s/Kristen A. Richards
                                   -------------------------
                                   Kristen A. Richards
                                   Vice President, Secretary and
                                   Associate General Counsel