FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Information Exchange, Networking & Events

• With over 22,000 members across more than 100 countries, STEP offers a global community of leading practitioners who share insights across disciplines, including estates and succession, family and guardianship law, domestic and offshore trusts, tax, insurance, and financial services.
• Members benefit from a strong professional network through events, seminars, technical papers, and reports. Conferences are held internationally, nationally, regionally, and at the branch level, featuring respected experts and academics.
• Members receive complimentary access to the Searchable Resource Tool (SRT)—a rich library of content including presentation decks, technical papers, event resources, and articles from the STEP Inside newsletter, branch and chapter events, national conferences, and webcasts.

Education

STEP Canada offers recognized educational pathways to support excellence in the trust and estate profession:

• The STEP Canada Diploma in Trusts and Estates exam route is designed for professionals seeking in-depth specialization.
• The STEP Essay Program offers an alternative route to membership for experienced professionals, allowing them to demonstrate and consolidate their expertise.

STEP Publications

STEP provides timely, technical, and practical publications to support members in their daily practice:

• STEP Journal – Global news and developments for trust and estate professionals
• Trust Quarterly Review – In-depth technical papers by leading experts
• STEP Inside – STEP Canada’s national newsletter with Canadian-focused content (published three times annually)
• STEP Insider – An e-newsletter with updates on events, jobs, education, and industry news (published monthly)
• STEP Directory – A searchable listing of members and jurisdictional information
• STEP.org – The premier global online resource for the trust and estate profession
• Marketing Brochures – Professionally written brochures available at cost for members to use with clients. Click here for more information and pricing.

STEP also supports public education through Why Hire a TEP Professional , a user-friendly site offering guidance on complex issues, an introduction to the TEP designation, and a searchable directory of qualified professionals.

Advocacy

STEP represents members’ interests with regulators, governments, and international bodies. We monitor legislation and advocate for meaningful legal and policy reform where appropriate.

Branches & Administration

STEP’s regional branches are led by local committees that oversee continuing professional development, education, and networking programs, ensuring that members stay connected and supported at every stage of their professional journey.

In addition to Continuing Professional Development (CPD), maintaining STEP membership and the TEP designation includes an annual renewal process. Members are required to pay the membership fee and sign an annual declaration, reaffirming their commitment to STEP and its Code of Professional Conduct. Ongoing learning and ethical awareness through CPD are key components of upholding the high standards of the TEP designation.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is a requirement for maintaining STEP membership and the TEP designation.

Refreshing an awareness of ethical practice, in line with the Code of Professional Conduct, is also essential.

Each year, 3% of STEP members are randomly selected for a CPD audit. To help members understand the requirements, STEP Worldwide has produced a brief, informative video outlining the key guidelines of the CPD policy. We encourage all members to take a few minutes to watch the video. If you have any questions, please contact  cpd@step.org

All resources mentioned in the video can be found on the STEP Worldwide website in the CPD centre. Open the CPD Policy (PDF).

You will need your STEP Worldwide username and password to access the materials. For login assistance, please contact memberservices@step.ca.

Student – Student status is granted to those studying an entry-level STEP qualification, including the CETA program. Students can become Affiliate Members only once they have accumulated at least 60 education or experience points under the Qualification and Membership Framework.

Affiliate – This is STEP’s entry-level membership category. Affiliates have obtained 60–120 education or experience credits under the Qualifications and Membership Framework. They are working towards gaining the requisite qualifications and/or experience required to upgrade to Associate or Full Membership. Additionally, they must undertake continuing professional development. They are either enrolled in the Essay Program or the STEP Canada Diploma program (C1/C2).

Associate – This is STEP’s mid-level membership category. Associates have obtained between 120–240 education or experience points under the Qualifications and Membership Framework. Additionally, they must undertake continuing professional development. They are working towards gaining the requisite qualifications and/or experience to become a TEP. Associates are enrolled either in courses three or four of the Diploma Program, in the Essay Program or have upgraded from an Affiliate membership based on their experience.

Full (TEP) – This membership type is granted only on a case-by-case basis. Full Academic members are professors who hold full-time academic or teaching appointments for trust and estate-related courses. Full Academic members have use of the prestigious TEP designation.

Full – This is the top level of STEP membership. Full Members are qualified practitioners with proven qualifications and experience. Full members have use of the TEP designation and STEP logo and must adhere to STEP’s Code of Professional Conduct and undertake continuing professional development. Full members have the exclusive right to vote, join the STEP Canada board or national committees, and stand for the STEP Worldwide council or board.

*Retired – Retired membership is available to Full, Associate or Affiliate Members who have retired or are on maternity/paternity leave, and are no longer providing/undertaking any remunerated advice or work connected with trust/estates. Retired members have a reduced subscription fee and no CPD requirements. Retired members maintain a minimal listing in the STEP Member Directory and do not hold voting/standing rights.

*Non-Earner – Non-Earner membership is available to Full, Associate or Affiliate members who are unemployed, on maternity leave, on a career break, or on long-term sick leave. Non-Earner members have a reduced subscription rate and, if applicable, can continue the use of the TEP designation for up to two (2) consecutive years while in this category. Non-Earners do not have voting/standing rights and do not have Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements.

*Secondee – Secondee membership is available to Full, Associate or Affiliate members who are seconded to another company or department and not in receipt of any remunerated advice or work connected to trust and/or estates. Secondee members have a reduced subscription rate and, if applicable, can continue use of the TEP designation for up to two (2) consecutive years while in this category. Secondee members do not have voting/standing rights and do not have CPD requirements.

*Please contact Member Services at memberservices@step.ca if you wish to apply for a restricted membership type.

If you are not a member of STEP, you can still Subscribe to STEP Canada and receive event notifications.

As a registered non-member, you are:

• welcome to use the public site.
• able to register online for most STEP events.
• added to STEP Canada’s mailing list.

Please note: Registering for a STEP Canada account does not constitute membership.

If you obtain your TEP designation through the Expertise Route, you may activate your My STEP account once your membership number has been issued.

You may either:

• Log in to your STEP Canada “My STEP” account to make the change in your profile.
• Send an email to memberservices@step.ca .
• Call Member Services at 1-877-991-4949 ext. 221.

Email memberservices@step.ca or call Member Services at 1-877-991-4949 ext. 221, and we will be happy to assist you.

For a full listing of current branch and chapter programs, visit our EVENTS SECTION. Select the branch or chapter closest to your location for a complete listing of upcoming events.

While one of the benefits of our membership is preferential pricing for all branch, chapter, and national events, many events are open to Non-Members. Please consult the Events page for information on registration and pricing for members and non-members.

• Full membership – $525.00*
• Affiliate, Associate, and Student – $220.00*

*plus any additional applicable provincial tax(es).

STEP Canada Diploma in Trusts and Estates (Exam Route)

• Course fee (each) = $1,095.00*
• Each exemption (if applicable) (maximum of 2) = $150.00 - $250.00*

Essay Program

• Essay submission fee (each) = $375.00*

CETA

• CETA 1 fee = $795*
• CETA 2 fee = $595*
• CETA 3 fee = $595*
• CETA 4 fee = $295*

Additional administrative fees may apply for deferrals, timeline extensions, and other special requests.

*Additional applicable provincial tax(es) are charged.
*Prices subject to change for all education program pricing.

For more information on STEP Canada’s education programs, please visit the Obtain Your TEP page.

We currently accept Visa, MasterCard, Amex, EFTs or cheque/money order.

As a Full Member, you will lose the use of the TEP designation, member pricing, and benefits.

As an Affiliate, Associate or Student, you will not be permitted to write your exam or receive a mark on your essay. You will also lose member pricing and benefits. Repeated issues with payment may cause permanent cancellation of your membership and prevent you from gaining TEP status.

step.ca is the website for STEP Canada, which serves trust and estate professionals across Canada by providing education, networking, and advocacy tailored to the Canadian landscape.

step.org is the website for the global STEP organization, the international body overseeing worldwide memberships, standards and initiatives.