Are there ways to avoid the early distribution penalty on non-IRA retirement plans?

The following exceptions to the 10% additional tax on early distributions apply ONLY to qualified retirement plans other than IRAs:

• Distributions made under a qualified domestic relations order (QDRO);
• Dividends from employee stock ownership plans;
• Distributions made after separating from your employer at age 55 or after, or from a qualified governmental defined benefit plan if you are a qualified public safety employee at age 50 or after.