Jump to Content
close
close
ABA: The American Bankers Association
Skip Section Navigation

In This Section

Eligibility Requirements for the CTFA

To earn the Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA) designation, candidates must:

  • Meet the eligibility requirements;
  • Submit completed application and fees for desired exam date;
  • Pass the CTFA examination. 

Requirements

You must meet the following eligibility requirements by the time that you take the exam. ABA will accept your application with education/training that is scheduled to be completed by your exam date.

ABA certifications are based on U.S. laws and regulations and are therefore not offered outside the U.S. Candidates must have U.S.-based experience to satisfy the experience requirement.

Experience Tiers

The educational requirements to qualify for certification vary on the number of years of experience you have in the field. 

Three (3) years minimum experience in wealth management AND completion of ONE of the following wealth management training programs, all within the last seven (7) years:

*This is not an endorsement of the program or its sponsor.

Five (5) years minimum experience in wealth management within the last seven (7) years AND a bachelor's degree.

Ten (10) or more years of experience in wealth management. At least five (5) of the ten years must be within the last seven (7) years.

Professional Experience 

Wealth Management experience is defined as direct client interaction to deliver fiduciary services — planning and advice, asset management, trusts, estates, IRAs, qualified retirement plans, and custody services.

Eligible Experience Ineligible Experience
  • Account administration
  • Investment management
  • Tax, legal, financial, and estate planning services and solutions
  • Fiduciary regulatory oversight with a state or federal regulatory agency
  • Fiduciary compliance or risk management activities or roles

These activities may be performed in an integrated or specialty-focused manner.
  • Employee benefit trust
  • Corporate trust
  • Securities/trust operations

Ethics Statement

Each candidate must sign ABA Professional Certifications' Code of Ethics statement. Please note: you must furnish all pertinent information about any convictions or pleas of nolo contendere on the grounds of fraud, embezzlement, unfair or deceptive practices, securities law violations, misappropriation of property, fraudulent conversions or any civil or administrative action from which you have been previously found liable.

Keep Me Informed

Get information on upcoming webinars, deadlines, and other developments for Certification.

Sign UpContact Certifications