Qualifications and Membership Framework

Guidance notes

Under the STEP Qualifications and Membership Framework, Full STEP Membership and the TEP designation is awarded upon completion of three distinct stages:

1. Entry Level
2. Diploma Level
3. Practice Level

The first stage to pass is Entry Level. The Entry Level stage can be completed in a variety of ways, but the academic threshold must be reached by all applicants according to the same standard.

In order to progress to Diploma Level you must be in possession of 60 Entry Level credits. These can be accumulated from any combination of:

• Completion of one or more STEP Entry Level Certificate(s) - 30 credits each
• Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) - 30 credits
• Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) - 30 credits

Once you have gained 60 Entry Level credits, you are eligible to apply to become a STEP Affiliate and to study Advanced Certificate courses.

Upon completion of two Advanced Certificates worth 30 Diploma Level credits each, you are eligible to apply to become a STEP Associate.

Upon completion of four Advanced Certificates, worth a total of 120 Diploma Level credits, and 60 Practice Level credits you can apply to STEP for Full (TEP) Membership and receive the TEP designation.

To attain the 60 Practice Level Credits, you must evidence with your application that your occupation over the last two years has included specialist experience at mid to senior level.

Accreditation of Prior Learning

Accreditation of Prior Learning is the process used to award credits based on learning you have gained previously, either through qualifications or work.

Categories

There are two categories within Accreditation of Prior Learning:

1. APCL – Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning: this considers learning that has been formally assessed and certified by an educational institution, e.g. a University, recognised training provider or professional body
2. APEL – Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning: this assesses prior learning gained through work.

Credits may be given for prior learning where the level, standard and relevance of that learning are considered appropriate preparation for study at Diploma level.

The requirement of currency

The learning on which the claim for APCL or APEL is based must generally have taken place no more than five years prior to the date of application.

It may be possible to rely on prior certificated learning that took place more than five years previously, provided the applicant is able to demonstrate that their learning has since remained current by way of regular CPD.

For both APEL and APCL applications there may be exceptions to the currency rules where there are exceptional circumstances (decisions will be made with due regard to the UK Equality Act 2010).

CLTI are not required to accept a Diploma Level application where the relevant Accreditation of Prior Learning application was approved more than 12 months earlier. In this instance a fresh Accreditation of Prior Learning application may need to be made. However, a successful Accreditation of Prior Learning application will remain current for the duration of the applicant’s Entry Level Certificate studies (even if this exceeds 12 months).

Fees

The fee to have an APCL or APEL application considered is GBP50 + UK VAT (if applicable). If both APCL and APEL applications are made, then a total fee of GBP100 + UK VAT is payable. The fees are non-refundable, however, payment will not be taken until the forms have been approved by the CLTI Admissions Team, so there is no harm in submitting an application even if you are not sure whether it will meet the criteria.

Timescale for consideration of applications

Receipt of Accreditation of Prior Learning applications will be confirmed by email. A decision will be made by the CLTI Admissions Team within two weeks. If further information or supporting evidence is requested the two weeks will begin from the date this further information is received.

Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) at Entry Level

APCL applications consider learning which has been formally assessed and certified by an educational institution (e.g., a university), a recognised training provider or a professional body at Level 4 or above. The qualification must cover subject matter like that of the STEP qualifications. This includes the following key areas of professional practice

• Law
• Tax
• Accounting
• Wealth Management
• Estates Practice
• Financial Planning
• Investment

By way of guidance, some of the qualifications or professional designations that are known to meet the APCL requirements are listed below.

• AAT Accounting Qualification
• ACA
• ACCA (Foundation and Diploma)
• ACIB   
• Advocate (in recognition of the professional qualifications required to achieve this status)
• ATT
• Bahamas Institute of Financial Services Trustee Diploma
• Barrister (in recognition of the professional qualifications required to achieve this status)
• Certificate in Offshore Administration
• CGI Foundation Programme Certificate
• CII Financial Services Qualification (Diploma and Advanced Diploma)
• CFA
• CMA
• CISI Wealth/Retail (Qualifying/Advanced/Professional)
• CISI Compliance/Risk (Qualifying/Advanced/Professional)
• CISI Capital Markets (Qualifying/Advanced/Professional)
• CISI Operations (Qualifying/Advanced/Professional)
• CFP
• CLT Scotland Specialist Paralegal Qualification in Wills, Probate and Administration
• CPA
• CTA 
• Degree in law, accounting, finance, economics, business studies (PhD, Master’s degree, University degree, College degree)
• Family Firm Institute (FFI) Certificate in Family Business Advising (CFBA) and Certificate in Family Wealth Advising (CFWA)
• FINRA Series 7
• ICA Diploma in Anti-money Laundering
• ICA Diploma in Governance, Risk and Compliance
• ICSA International Finance and Administration qualifications (Chartered, Diploma, Advanced Certificate, Certificate)
• ILEX Probate and Succession papers, Level 6
• Institute of Professional Will Writers Entry Examination
• International Diploma in Financial Administration
• Lawyer (in recognition of the professional qualifications required to achieve this status)
• Malta IFSP Foundation Certificate in Trusts Law and Management
• MBA
• Notary (in recognition of the professional qualifications required to achieve this status)
• RICS – Property, Finance, and Investment pathway
• SOLAS qualification for Accountants in Scotland
• Solicitor (in recognition of the professional qualifications required to achieve this status)
• SOLLA accreditation 
• The Joint Insolvency Examination Board (JIEB) Exams
• Wealth Management Institute (WMI) Singapore Certificate in Trust Services, Advanced Certificate in Trust Services and Advanced Diploma in Wealth Management

Application procedure

A formal application must be made regardless of whether the qualification held is listed above.

If listed, only the title of the qualification and the date of award needs to be stated on the APCL form. If the qualification is not listed, applicants will need to provide details of the qualification’s academic content (syllabus) and the level and volume of study.

All applications should be supported by a scanned copy of the qualification completion certificate or other supporting evidence, plus a copy of the course syllabus if the qualification is not listed above.

Applicants may rely on more than one prior qualification to meet the APCL requirements, but please note that a maximum of 30 Entry Level credits can be obtained from APCL. All qualifications relied upon must be set at Level 4 or above (multiple Level 1, 2 or 3 qualifications will not equate to a Level 4 for the purposes of an APCL application).

How your APCL application will be assessed

Decisions regarding Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning are made by the Admissions Team and are a matter of academic judgement. The main considerations are:

• Whether the prior learning is broadly equivalent to the learning that would otherwise have been assessed during the study of a STEP Entry Level Certificate; and
• Whether any prior qualification being presented for APCL has been challenging and rigorous enough to allow students to undertake study at Diploma Level with a reasonable expectation of success

Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) at Entry Level

The purpose of APEL is to accredit learning from prior work experience. The learning must have been achieved over a period of at least one year, working in a role related to the subject matter of the STEP qualifications. The role need not be senior in nature – learning that takes place while in a junior role working under supervision is admissible.

Entry Level experience will not be appropriate for an application to Full Membership and is therefore distinguished from Practice Level experience. Practice Level experience needs to be in a client-facing role or a role independent of direct supervision and mid to senior in level.

Application procedure

Applicants are required to detail on their APEL form the nature and level of their work and what they have learnt from their work experience. For each job held within the last 12 months, applicants should briefly list the key activities undertaken and what they learned from doing them. Each activity described should be relevant to work in the field of trusts and/or estates. The aim of this is to demonstrate that you have acquired, through your experience, the knowledge and skills that are broadly equivalent to having studied and passed an Entry Level Certificate.

In completing the form remember that the emphasis is a practical one. This is not about writing an essay on legal/technical principles. You need to demonstrate your experience.

How your APEL application will be assessed

The assessment of a claim for Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning is solely a matter of academic judgement. It will be based on the following criteria:

• The extent to which the application demonstrates that learning has been acquired from your experience;
• The extent to which the application demonstrates a match with the activities and knowledge expected of a professional at your level in your field;
• The extent to which the application is sufficient to demonstrate learning, i.e. there must be enough detail to demonstrate that these skills/knowledge have been acquired;
• The extent to which the application shows achievement of knowledge and skill to STEP’s Entry Level standard;
• The extent to which the application is authentic, i.e. clearly related to your own efforts and achievements.

Full Members (TEPs)

Full Members who wish to complete a STEP Diploma will gain direct entry to the Diploma and can choose to claim exemption from two of the Advanced Certificates comprising the Diploma.

Exemption from Advanced Certificates

Exemption from up to a maximum of two Advanced Certificates is possible. For detailed information including criteria and application process please contact the CLTI Admissions Team.

Queries

Please contact the CLTI Admissions Team if you have any queries: cltinternational@centlaw.com +44 121 362 7733

• Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning Application Form
• Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning Application Form