STEP Advanced Certificate in Administration of Trusts (England and Wales)

This course aims to provide practitioners with the technical knowledge and practical skills required to deliver advice in England and Wales relating to administering trusts.

This Advanced Certificate can be taken as part of the STEP Diploma.

Course details

This course provides practitioners with the technical knowledge and practical skills required to deliver holistic advice in England and Wales relating to administering trusts.

Gain in-depth expertise: Improve your technical knowledge of the issues arising in trust practice and the law and procedures involved.
Practical focus: Practical advice and guidance written by practitioners, for practitioners.
Build valuable connections: Network with like-minded professionals in varied roles and firms.
Industry recognition: A recognised ‘gold-standard’ professional qualification for those working in the industry. Successful completion provides 30 Diploma Level credits towards STEP membership, enhancing your professional standing, and is awarded in association with Alliance Manchester Business School, a School of the University of Manchester.

Course fees: £1,150 + local taxes

View the course timetable - Jul 2025

View the Jan 2026 course timetable

Course dates, fees and enrol now:

Entry requirements may apply. Applicable local taxes and discounts will be added to your basket on checkout.

Find out more about The STEP Diploma

Entry requirements

60 Entry Level credits which can be achieved through:

Completion of a STEP Certificate (30 credits)
Previous learning - confirmed through Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) application - 30 credits
Work experience - confirmed through Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) - 30 credits

Note: You do not need to apply for APEL or APCL if you already have confirmed, or if you have studied for at least two STEP Certificates previously.

Apply for APCL or APEL

Become a member of STEP

This is a STEP course/qualification. STEP membership is required to study this course and must be maintained throughout the duration of your studies.

You will need 60 Entry Level credits and if you are not already, you will become an Affiliate member by enrolling on this course. STEP will contact you regarding membership 4-6 weeks after course enrolment.

Successful completion of the course will provide 30 Diploma Level credits as part of the STEP Qualification and Membership framework.

Find out more about STEP Membership

What will I learn?

Download syllabus

The essential features of trusts
The classification of different types of trusts
The requirements for the creation of a valid express private trust
The different rules applicable to the formation and operation of express trusts, implied trusts and private and charitable purpose trusts
The principles of the taxation of trusts
The duties and powers of trustees and other fiduciaries
The general principles of liability and appropriate remedies and defences for breach
Variation of trusts, remedies for mistake and setting trusts aside
Administration of trusts, including registration, trustee remuneration and indemnity for expenses
The STEP Standard Provisions

Is this course right for me?

This course is ideal for practitioners looking for professional accreditation, moving into or already working within the trusts and estates profession.

Students typically include:

legal and trust professionals
support staff and paralegals
accountants and banking professionals
charity specialists
tax advisers
independent financial advisers
executorship administrators

Course format

The programme is delivered through a combination of online learning and three online workshops, and will take four months to complete.

This course is assessed by a five-hour open-book examination comprising multiple-choice and essay-style questions.

Course dates

Download the course timetable

Any questions?

Tutors

Rebecca Roscoe

Tutor

Ian Bond

Tutor