How to become a TEP | Der Weg zum TEP

Full membership of the Society can be obtained in Switzerland via (1) Qualified Practitioner Route and (2) Diploma Route.

The following will enable you to assess your eligibility for membership before making your application:

Qualified Practitioner Route

Entry Requirements

The Society's Council will admit to Qualified Practitioner Route applicants who: have one or more of the following recognised professional qualifications (see Professional Qualifications Equivalencies for Switzerland & Liechtenstein):

• Barrister
• Solicitor
• Chartered Accountant
• Certified Accountant
• Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives
• Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation
• Associate of the Chartered Institute of Taxation
• Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers (Trustee Diploma)
• Chartered Institute of Management Accountants

Professional Qualifications Equivalencies

or have none of the recognised qualifications but have ten years relevant experience with one or more of the planning, creation, management of and accounting for trust and estates, executorship administration and related taxes.

How do I acquire Full STEP membership via Qualified Practitioner Route ?

To attain full membership of STEP via Qualified Practioner Route applicants members must:

• Submit three mini theses of between 2,500 and 3,000 words in length, on topics selected from three out of a choice of four major topics relevant to trust and estate work in order to demonstrate a level of knowledge acceptable to the Society.
• Have registered for entry paper(s) by 30 November in each year and submitted paper(s) by 30 April in the next year. Topics are issued annually in September.
• Have successfully passed all three papers within four years from joining the Society.
• Have two years significant involvement, at specialist level, with one or more of the planning, creation, management of and accounting for trusts and estates, executorship administration and related taxes;

A list of topics is issued annually by the Society and candidates will be expected to consider relevant legislation, case law, revenue practice, current accounting principles and administration procedures appropriate to the subjects chosen.

QP Entrance criteria is

• Applicants with a recognised professional qualification will require two years relevant post-qualification work experience.
• Applicants with a vocational degree will require five years relevant work experience.
• Applicants with no degree or a non-vocational degree will require ten years relevant work experience.
• QP Fees are £200 application fee, £200 submission fee (per paper) and a student subscription fee.

How do I apply ?

To make your application please download the Society's prescribed application form by clicking here. Full instructions on completing the form are included and should be followed carefully to ensure that we can deal with your application without delay. When completed, the application form should be sent to

Mr. Stuart Clements, Secretary
STEP Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners
Swiss-German and Liechtenstein Branch
Baarerstr. 75, CH-6300 Zug

You will receive notification of admission to the Society once the Membership Committee has approved the application. The Committee is not bound to give reasons for rejecting applications for membership. In the event of dispute, the decision of Council will be final.

Until Full Membership is granted you will be a Student member.

Diploma Route

How is the programme structured ?

To complete the STEP Foundation Certificate and Diploma in International Trust Management passes in the following five compulsory papers must be achieved:

• Foundation Certificate
• Trust Creation: Law and Practice
• Company Law and Practice
• Trust Administration and Accounts
• Trustee Investment and Financial Appraisal

Please click here to view detailed syllabus notes.

Who is the programme intended for ?

The programme is intended for you if:

• you wish to gain a qualification to move to a position within the trust and estate field,
• or you work within the trust and estate field and wish to gain a qualification recognised by the profession, or
• you have an interest in the administration and management of trusts and estates and wish to gain a qualification to formalise that interest.

Why take the Diploma ?

• To gain Full membership of STEP
• To obtain a qualification recognised by the industry
• To develop a sound knowledge of issues involved in the trust and estate profession and to acquire a general overview of the law, practice and procedures involved.
• As part of continuing professional development.

Entry Requirements

The STEP Foundation Certificate is an introductory open entry programme. There are no formal educational entry requirements. However, applicants should have a good standard of basic literacy.

Admission to the Diploma programme is normally dependent on having achieved the Foundation Certificate. Exemptions from the Foundation Certificate are possible, subject to the criteria set out below.

How is the programme taught ?

The programme is delivered through an integrated tuition system. This includes:

• a distance learning pack that includes a Delegate handbook, course manual and specimen examination papers
  
  
• a dedicated website facility, including study aides and self-assessment tools
  
  
• face to face tuition - at the commencement of each Foundation Certificate course an induction day will be held. At the end of the programme you will attend a four day face to face course which culminates with the final examination on day five.

How will I be examined ?

Foundation Certificate - You must successfully complete a three hour closed book examination. Diploma - You must successfully complete a three hour closed book examination in each of the four Diploma papers.

Exemptions

You must pass all four papers to be awarded the Diploma. However, exemptions can be claimed by making a formal application on the standard "exemption" form. Copies are available from the STEP Office or the CLT International/STEP Registry.

Applicants who hold a degree or degree level qualification or who can demonstrate significant and relevant knowledge and experience may be entitled to exemption from the Foundation Certificate.

Applications for exemption from the Diploma papers will be considered in cases where there is a very close correlation in both content and level between a previously obtained qualification and the Diploma paper from which exemption is sought.

There will be a maximum of two possible exemptions from the four Diploma papers.

Each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Enrolment

You may enrol for the Diploma course at any time during the year and work at your own pace through the materials provided that you enrol by the course closing date.

Courses and examinations are held at various times of the year. For dates and venues please see our course providers website at www.clt-stepint.co.uk.

Fees

Foundation Course £1,525.00
Diploma (per paper) £1,575.00

This fee includes:

• distance learning programme
• face to face course
• entry fee for one examination

How do I apply ?

To make your application please download the application form from our course provider by clicking here. Completed forms should be posted to the address on the back of the forms or emailed to cltstep_registrar@centlaw.com. In order to assist you during your studies and to allow us to send you invitations for branch functions please send your personal details to the Secretariat mentioning your enrolment.

Should you have any queries about your application please contact us.

How do I acquire Full Membership via Diploma Route ?

Once you have enrolled on the Diploma you will be granted Student Membership.

On application full STEP membership will be granted to you if you complete the Diploma and show that you have two years relevant experience. Associate membership will be granted to you if you have completed the Diploma but have not acquired sufficient experience. Full membership will be granted to Associate Members when two years relevant experience has been gained. Students who complete the Foundation Certificate and decide to end their studies there can become affiliates of STEP. Affiliates receive all the benefits associated with STEP membership but are not full members and cannot use the designation TEP, vote at general or branch meetings or stand for election to Council.

To make your application please download the Society's prescribed upgrade form by clicking here.

In order to receive invitations to local branch functions (lunches, seminars, etc) a Diploma Student needs to supply to the Secretariat his or her name and address to ensure inclusion on the local branch's mailing list.

Attachments

	Qualified Practitioner Route form	Download
	Diploma in International Trust Management CLT brochure	Download
	International Diploma Course Enrolment form	Download
	International Diploma Exemption Claim form	Download
	Membership Upgrade form	Download