STEP's aims include raising the public profile of trust and estate work as a profession. In order to hold and maintain STEP's Trust and Estate Practitioner ("TEP") designation, STEP members must maintain ongoing educational requirements. Prospective members must pass rigorous training standards.

A key element of STEP's ongoing mandate is to provide a forum for discussion and advancement of practitioner knowledge of relevant tax, accounting, administration, statute and case law through regular branch seminars, symposia, and an annual national conference.

STEP Canada is also active in making representations of a technical nature to government, policymakers and related professional bodies, with the goal of promoting better understanding of trusts and estates, and improving related law and policy.

Trusts and estates practice is a complex and growing field. The Trust and Estate Practitioner designation (TEP) is the way to formally identify qualified practitioners and distinguish them from non-specialists who occasionally deal with trusts and estates.