You may be awarded an exemption from a Diploma course if you have passed a course or earned a professional credential, in the past five years, which is recognized by STEP Canada to be of comparable level and content to the applicable STEP course.

Each student is permitted a maximum of two exemptions from the four Diploma courses.

The chart below outlines the courses and professional credentials that STEP Canada currently recognizes for exemption purposes relative to each Diploma course. Recognized exemptions may be changed by STEP without notice.

Law of Trusts	Taxation of Trusts & Estates	Wills, Trust & Estate Administration	Trust & Estate Planning
Law school course in Trusts*	CICA In-depth Tax Course (Parts I & II) Law school course in Taxation of Trusts and Estates* CSI (previously ICB) Taxation of Trusts and Estates (523 or 533)	A Call to the Bar together with a law school course in Wills & Probate* OR Law of Successions* MTI Designation in Estate & Trust Management CSI (previously ICB) Estate and Trust Administration Level 1 (522) and Level 2 (531)	Law school course in Estate Planning* CFP/IQPF Designation      CLU Designation

(*So STEP can satisfy itself that the particular course content and level warrant an exemption, in addition to your exemption application, you must complete and submit a STEP course comparison form.)

STEP will also grant exemptions for other courses and credentials completed within the past five years where it is satisfied that there is a very close correlation both in content and in level with the Diploma course from which exemption is sought. In such cases STEP may also take into consideration:

• Granting organization (taken from course comparison form)
• Teaching hours and exam formats, e.g. whether there was a closed book proctored exam.
• Student’s standing in the course
• When the course was taken or exemption earned, and
• The quantity and quality of relevant post-qualification experience.

All exemption applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. In rare cases, where STEP declines to grant your exemption request, it may permit you to challenge the relevant STEP exam without first taking the relevant STEP course.

To request an exemption you must:

• Submit a formal application by completing and submitting the Exemption Application Form
• Submit proof of successful completion of a recognized course/credential (by providing an official transcript or letter of good standing), and and
• Pay the exemption application fee of $150 + GST. The fee is non-refundable.

If you are requesting an exemption for the completion of a law school course or for the completion of a course or the attainment of a credential not currently recognized by STEP Canada, you must also submit:

• a verified description of the course or credential claimed to be comparable, and
• a completed Course Comparison Form comparing the description to the comparable STEP course curriculum. Please select the applicable comparison form:
  • The Law of Trusts
  • Taxation of Trusts & Estates
  • Wills, Trust & Estate Administration
  • Trust & Estate Planning

If you are given permission to challenge an exam, an exam sitting fee of $375 + GST will also be required.