Designed to reflect the diverse knowledge set of the trust and estate industry.
STEP Canada has brought together top senior professionals in the trust and estate industry to create the four courses comprising the STEP Canada Diploma in Trusts and Estates. As a result, the curriculum involves a combination of expertise and extensive practical knowledge that cannot be found anywhere else. Together the courses provide a complete education, inclusive of all the various facets of trusts and estates that a practitioner in the field might be exposed to.
This program is well suited for candidates who work in the trusts and estates industry in Canada. A professional designation is not required for candidates to join this route. If you aspire to work in the trusts and estates industry and do not have prior experience or education in this area, you may apply directly to this program, however the CETA program is an excellent way to bridge the gap in your knowledge in order to be successful in the STEP Canada Diploma Program.
The program is comprised of four courses that follow a self-study curriculum and are delivered online. Online examinations require a functioning webcam and microphone and access to administrative rights on your computer. Examinations are held twice per year, in May and November. Registration into the program is ongoing with specific exam registration deadlines. It is recommended that you have at least 120 hours of study time available before each examination. Each course in the Diploma Program is $1,095 plus applicable tax.
| Exam Dates | Registration Cut off Date |
|---|---|
| November 3, 2025 | September 1, 2025 |
You have four years from the time you register as STEP Affiliate to complete the STEP Canada Diploma Program. Since registration is offered on a rolling basis, you will have four calendar years plus the additional months to the next exam date. For example, if you register in January 2023, you will have until May 2027 to complete all your exams (January 2023 to January 2027 plus an additional 4 months to allow for your final examination in May 2027). The fastest route through the Diploma is 2 years, which can be accomplished by taking exams consecutively each session (May and November). Exams can only be taken one at a time and each course must be taken in order.
There are exemptions possible that may reduce the length of time required to complete the STEP Canada Diploma in Trusts and Estates. You may be granted an exemption from a course in the Diploma Program if you have passed a course or earned a professional credential in the past five years. Detailed information is provided on the course information tabs on this page. Exemptions are not granted based on professional experience. Each exemption application has a fee ranging from $150 - $250 depending on the exemption that is being applied for. There is a maximum of 2 exemptions allowed under the current program rules.
Each course in the Diploma Program is available in French and tailored to Civil Law. The French courses follow the same format and structure as the English courses with respect to learning objectives and course delivery. Registration into the French Diploma Program is completed by sending an email to education@step.ca after completing the online registration into the first English course. Civil Law courses in English are not available at this time.
Registration into any of the educational routes offered by STEP Canada requires that you have a membership in good standing. Upon registering into your first course, your registration for affiliate membership will be added to your course registration. Membership fees are not pro-rated and the membership cycle runs from April 1st to March 31st annually. The annual membership fee for students (affiliate and associate levels) is $220 + tax per year. You are required to keep your membership in good standing for the duration of your program.
The STEP Canada Diploma in Trusts and Estates is the first step to earning your TEP designation. Once you have completed the program, you can apply for full membership if you have at least two years of current and continuous experience where a significant amount of your time (approximately 50%) is dedicated to trusts and estates work. As the trusts and estates industry is multi-disciplinary, this experience can be filled by many different roles and responsibilities, such as:
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the law of trusts in Canada. It provides the theoretical underpinning to the entire STEP Canada Diploma in Trusts and Estates and the basic legal knowledge required by all trust and estate practitioners. The course examines the legal nature of a trust and how trusts can be used to achieve client objectives. It also addresses legal issues related to the proper creation and interpretation of trusts, as well as the duties and responsibilities of trustees and the rights of beneficiaries. The fee for this course is $1,095 plus applicable tax.
The Law of Trusts course follows a self-study curriculum which is provided in an online learning environment which is available to you once you become a registered affiliate member. Inside of the online learning environment you will have access to examination support resources such as: practice case questions, an instructor Q&A forum, and an online forum to engage in course-related discussion with your peers. There is one 3-hour cumulative, open-book online examination worth 100% of the final grade that is delivered using a remote-proctoring service. Between 90-120 hours of preparation time is recommended. The passing grade for the course is 60%
None. It is recommended, but not required, that you have at least one year experience in the trusts and estates industry and/or a professional designation.
Exemptions from the Law of Trusts course are submitted online through your MY STEP portal at www.step.ca. You must create an account if you do not have one already in order to access the registration and exemption options. Once you are logged in, click on Register for a diploma course and from here you will see a link to apply for an exemption. You must attach your course outline and transcript. If you are applying with a Not.E credential, you must attach a copy of your certificate.
This course covers the tax consequences of creating a trust, taxation of income in a trust, and the tax consequences of distributions to a beneficiary. The tax consequences of death are examined along with taxation of the first year of an estate and basic post-mortem tax planning. Reporting and filing requirements are included along with an introduction to tax planning strategies for trusts and estates. The fee for this course is $1,095 plus applicable tax.
The Taxation of Trusts & Estates course follows a self-study curriculum which is provided in an online learning environment. Inside of the online learning environment you will have access to examination support resources such as: practice case questions, an instructor Q&A forum, and an online forum to engage in course-related discussion with your peers. There is one 3-hour cumulative, open-book online examination worth 100% of the final grade that is delivered using a remote-proctoring service. Between 90-120 hours of preparation time is recommended. The passing grade for the course is 60%
STEP Canada course Law of Trusts or an approved exemption for course 1.
It is recommended to apply for course exemptions upon your initial enrollment into the STEP Canada Diploma in Trusts and Estates. Exemption requests are submitted via email through the Exemption Application Form. You must attach your course outline and transcript for your application to be reviewed.
This course covers the law of wills, will preparation, probate fee planning and planning for incapacity. The consequences of dying without a will and potential claims against an estate are examined. The duties of the estate trustee are included, along with details of the steps necessary to properly administer an estate or trust. The fee for this course is $1,095 plus applicable tax.
The Wills, Estate & Trust Administration course follows a self-study curriculum which is provided in an online learning environment. Inside of the online learning environment you will have access to examination support resources such as: practice case questions, an instructor Q&A forum, and an online forum to engage in course-related discussion with your peers. There is one 3-hour cumulative, open-book online examination worth 100% of the final grade that is delivered using a remote-proctoring service. Between 90-120 hours of preparation time is recommended. The passing grade for the course is 60%
STEP Canada course Taxation of Trusts & Estates or an approved exemption for course 2.
It is recommended to apply for course exemptions upon your initial enrollment into the STEP Canada Diploma in Trusts and Estates. Exemption requests are submitted via email through the Exemption Application Form. You must attach your course outline and transcript for your application to be reviewed. If you are applying with a CETA Certificate, course outlines are not required.
This course builds on the previous three courses and provides a framework for students to apply the concepts and technical knowledge already acquired. Using a case study method, the students will focus on identification of key issues and appropriate solutions and plans. Advanced tax planning and more complex estate planning issues are examined including unique family situations, charitable giving, U.S. estate tax, and planning for business owners. The fee for this course is $1,095 plus applicable tax. This fee also includes the two mandatory textbooks to aid in your studies.
The Trust & Estate Planning course follows a self-study curriculum which is provided via an online learning environment and two mandatory textbooks. Inside of the online learning environment you will have access to examination support resources such as: practice case questions, an instructor Q&A forum, and an online forum to engage in course-related discussion with your peers. There are two assignments and one 3-hour cumulative, open-book online examination that is delivered using a remote-proctoring service. The passing grade for the course is 60%.
Note: The French-language civil law version of this course does not require the completion of assignments or additional textbooks. The French course has one 3-hour cumulative, open-book online examination. The passing grade is 60%.
STEP Canada course Wills, Estate & Trust Administration, or an approved exemption for course 3.
It is recommended to apply for course exemptions upon your initial enrollment into the STEP Canada Diploma in Trusts and Estates. Exemption requests are submitted via email through the Exemption Application Form. If you are applying with a professional credential, you must attach a copy of your certificate that shows the date the credential was awarded. If you are applying with the Advocis course, a course outline is not required, a transcript is sufficient.
To get started in the STEP Canada Diploma in Trusts and Estates, Create a New STEP Canada Account. Once completed you will receive an account activation email, please be sure to check your junk folder.
Once logged in to your MY STEP account you will have access to the Education menu, select Diploma Route Registration. Course registrations are processed within two business days. Once your registration is complete you will receive an email with course access instructions.