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The International Board of Certification (IBOC) manages all training contracts, Training Endorsement Workshops (TEWs), and exams. The standards and guidelines for training toward certification—as a practicing, supervising, or teaching transactional analyst—have been established by the Professional Standards Division of the ITAA in cooperation with the European Association of Transactional Analysis (EATA). These training standards have been agreed upon worldwide and are mutually recognized by many regional TA associations.

INQUIRIES

PSC establishes the training standards, the ITAA Code of ethics, and the Professional Practices Guidelines.
psc@itaaworld.org

IBOC manages all training contracts, Training Endorsement Workshops (TEWs), and exams.
iboc@itaaworld.org

IBOC is in the process of making its forms digital. You can now apply for a CTA contract and submit your CTA written exam via the hyperlinks below. Payment will be taken through this online application process.

All other applications currently need to be submitted via email to the IBOC administrator at iboc@itaaworld.org using the relevant forms. IBOC will then raise an invoice for payment as needed.

01.

CTA Online Application for All Fields: COMPLETE ONLINE FORM HERE.

CTA Writen Exam Online Application for All Fields: Complete ONLINE FORM HERE.

TSTA Application: Download and complete TSTA Application Form.

(Email all IBOC completed Application Forms to: iboc@itaaworld.org)

02.

Once IBOC has received your application, we will send you an invoice via email with instructions for making payment, after which we can process your contract or application. You may check your fee structure here. See the list of countries eligible for discounted fees under the TAlent Program.

NOTES:

The fees shown are for the CTA and TSTA exams are for the online exams. Fees will be higher for onsite exam.

To make training toward TA certification more widely accessible, the ITAA offers the TAlent Program and the Scholarship Grant Fund to qualified ITAA members. For grants for training, conference attendance, or other uses, applicants must complete the GENERAL Scholarship Grant Application.

03.

Upon receiving your payment, you will be notified via email regarding your training program. There will be administrative documents to be submitted to IBOC at each task of your training. See handbook for detailed information.

IBOC CTA exam candidates must submit the written case study no later than SIX months before the oral exam date.

Exams subject to availability of qualified examiners/exam supervisors who must be at least a CTA (for a CTA exam) or a TSTA (for a TSTA exam). The IBOC is not responsible for expenses incurred when exams are canceled or postponed due to unavailability of qualified examiners/exam supervisors.

Send all IBOC exam applications (Forms 12.7.4 and 12.7.3 for CTA exam application or 12.11.4 and 12.11.6 for TSTA exam application) to: iboc@itaaworld.org.

Notes:

Exams subject to availability of qualified examiners/exam supervisors who must be at least a CTA (for a CTA exam) or a TSTA (for a TSTA exam). The IBOC is not responsible for expenses incurred when exams are canceled or postponed due to unavailability of qualified examiners/exam supervisors.

IBOC CTA exam candidates must submit the written case study no later than SIX months before the oral exam date.

CTA & TSTA Exam Calendar

2024
ExamDateLocationApplication Deadline
TSTAOctober 3-5, 2024OnlineCLOSED
CTAOctober 3-5, 2024OnlineCLOSED
TSTANovember 19-20, 2024Wellington, Aotearoa, NZCLOSED
CTANovember 19-20, 2024Wellington, Aotearoa, NZAugust 19, 2024
2025
ExamDateLocationApplication Deadline
TSTAFebruary 27-March 1, 2025OnlineAugust 27, 2024
CTAFebruary 27-March 1, 2025OnlineNovember 27, 2024
TSTAOctober 9-11, 2025OnlineApril 9, 2025
CTAOctober 9-11, 2025OnlineJuly 9, 2025

Training Endorsement Workshop (TEW) Calendar

2025
DateLocationApplication DeadlineTraining Proposal Outline Deadline
April 25-27, 2025OnlineCLOSEDOctober 25, 2024
November 28-30, 2025OnlineMarch 28, 2025May 28, 2025
April 24-26, 2026OnlineAugust 24, 2025October 24, 2025
November 27-29, 2026OnlineMarch 27, 2026May 27, 2026

COC Exams & PTSC TEW Calendar

For information on the EATA Commission of Certification (COC) exams, see: https://eatanews.org/exams/#coc-calendar

For PTSC TEW Calendar, visit: https://www.eatanews.org/ta-training-2/#tew-calendar

For more information on EATA exams, visit EATA website: https://eatanews.org/ta-training-2/#

TA 101 Qualification

The TA 101 course is the official introduction to transactional analysis, its history, and key concepts. To begin training, you need to have satisfactorily completed a TA 101 course. (See Handbook Section 4 for complete course description.) The TA 101 Certificate will be awarded to you upon successful completion – a necessary requirement to enter training as a certified TA practitioner. Find out where you can take the TA 101 course HERE.

The following requirements must be met in order to qualify as a TA 101 course recognized by the ITAA (See Handbook Section 4 for complete course description.):

  • The course content must include content as specified in Handbook Section 4.2
  • The course must be at least twelve hours long
  • TA 101 instructors must be officially recognized; so they must be:
    • a Teaching Transactional Analyst, or
    • a Provisional Teaching Transactional Analyst, or
    • a CTA who is endorsed as a TA 101 Instructor.

The first time an official TA 101 is offered by a PTSTA (normally within 3 years of signing the TSTA contract), it should be supervised live and endorsed by a TSTA (see Handbook 12.4.2). Students who participate in the whole course are awarded the TA 101 Certificate. This is awarded by the ITAA. Recipients of the TA 101 Certificate can apply for the appropriate category of membership in ITAA. The basic knowledge of the TA 101 can also be acquired by independent study. The TA 101 Certificate is awarded on successful completion of the TA 101 Exam, Handbook Section 4.3.

Documentation:

Further TA Training

Following a 101 further TA Training typically begins with choosing a training course in one of the four fields of specialization in transactional analysis–counselling, education, organizational, or psychotherapy. Courses are of varying lengths depending on the field, trainer or course provider.

If you are considering becoming a CTA (Certified Transactional Analyst) you are encouraged to log your hours which will be 2000 hours in total, of which 600 are training, 150 are supervision, 750 are application and 500 can be any areas of training, supervision, or application.

If you decide to move forward with becoming a CTA then the next step is to become a contractual trainee by signing a contract with a sponsor, following this if you have logged sufficient hours you can move forward by writing, submitting and passing the mandatory written exam and following this applying for, preparing for, attending and passing the oral exam. More information on the CTA exam process is on the next section.

CTA Examinations

See Handbook Section 7 for overview on CTA Examinations.

The written exam (case study) describes a piece of work using TA in the field, and includes TA and other theory. It can be up to 24,000 words, and also includes a professional self-portrait and discussion of personal learning in training. It should reflect the candidate’s main area of work and be typical of their professional application of TA. Examples: a TA based training course; interventions for organizational change; teaching TA to pupils, youth workers or parent educators working with a single therapy client, a counseling client, or client group.

Having passed the written exam, candidates then take the oral exam which involves presenting the candidate’s work in TA, using recordings of work with individuals and groups. To prepare for this, it is a good idea to begin recording yourself working as early in training as you can — listening to recordings and discussing them with your sponsor and with co-trainees is a very effective learning process! Oral exams take place in several venues each year (see the exam calendar), and can be taken at an IBOC or COC (EATA) exam site.

Timetable for CTA Examinations

12 months before:With the CTA Training Contract filed and endorsed by IBOC, candidate
decides on oral examination venue and begins written examination.
12 months before:Candidate informs the regional IBOC examination coordinator of the intention to submit his/her written exam.
6 months before:Candidate pays to the IBOC Office the CTA written examination filing fee.
Candidate sends to the IBOC Office the following:
• the written examination in electronic form,
• the supervisor’s endorsement of written examination form, and
• the candidate’s submission of written examination form.3 months before:
3 months before:Candidate should have received written examination evaluation.
3 months before:Candidate registers for oral examination by sending to the IBOC Office: the Supervisor’s Endorsement for CTA Oral Examination Form
(12.7.3), the Application for the CTA Oral Examination Form
(12.7.4), and the oral examination fee.
2 months before:Candidate is sent Acknowledgement of the Documents-Received
Checklist (12.7.5). This is the last point at which the candidate can
withdraw from the oral examination without forfeiting the examination fee.
Candidates are advised to keep copies of all relevant documentation submitted.

CTA examination documentation:
Supervisor’s Endorsement of the CTA Written Examination (12.7.1)
Candidate’s Submission of the CTA Written Examination (12.7.2)
Supervisor’s Endorsement of the Candidate for CTA Oral Examination (12.7.3)
Application for the CTA Oral Examination (12.7.4)
Acknowledgement of Items Received for CTA Examination (12.7.5)
Letter to Assessor of the CTA Written Examination (12.7.6)
Written Examination Scoring Scale (12.7.7)
Letter sent with Assessment(s) of CTA Written Examination (Pass) (12.7.8-a)
Letter sent with Assessment(s) of CTA Written Examination (Deferral) (12.7.8-b)
Oral Examination CTA Counselling Scoring Sheet (12.7.9)
Oral Examination CTA Education Scoring Sheet (12.7.10)
Oral Examination CTA Organizations Scoring Sheet (12.7.11)
Oral Examination CTA Psychotherapy Scoring Sheet (12.7.12)
Examiner Evaluation Form (12.7.13)
Examination Supervisor’s Report (12.7.14)

d

Areas of Specialization in Transactional Analysis

See Handbook Section 5 for complete description of specialization fields in TA.

Counseling Field
Education Field
Organization Field
Psychotherapy Field
Transactional Analysis Counseling is a professional activity within a contractual relationship. The counseling process enables clients or client systems to develop awareness, options and skills for problem management and personal development in daily life through the enhancement of their strengths, resources and functioning. Its aim is to increase autonomy in relation to their social, professional and cultural environment. The field of counseling is chosen by those professionals who work in the socio/psychological and cultural fields of practice. Some examples amongst others are: social welfare, health care, pastoral work, prevention, mediation, process facilitation, multicultural work and humanitarian activities.
The Education field of specialization is for practitioners who work in the area of learning and study in pre-school, school, university and post university contexts or for the support of child, adolescent and adult learners within the family, the institution or society. The work may be applied to the development of teaching teams and institutions. The aim is to further personal and professional growth, both scholastic and social.  TA can be used as a practical educational psychology that offers a way of transforming educational philosophy and principles into everyday practice. Educational TA is both preventive and restorative. The aim is to increase personal autonomy, to support people in developing their own personal and professional philosophies and to enable optimum psychological health and growth.
The Organization field of specialization is for practitioners who work in or for organizations, taking into account organizational frames of reference and contexts as well as the organization’s development. Their work is aimed at the development, growth and increased effectiveness of people working within organizations. Transactional Analysis is a powerful tool in the hands of organizational development specialists. Through presenting the basic concepts of transactional analysis and using it as the basic theory to undergird the objectives of their clients, organizational development specialists build a common strategy with which to address the particular needs of organizations and to build a functional relationship, as well as eliminate dysfunctional organizational behaviors.
The Psychotherapy field of specialization is for practitioners who aim to facilitate the client’s capacity for self-actualization, healing and change. The psychotherapeutic process enables the client to recognize and change archaic, self-limiting patterns – ‘to deal with the pain of the past in the present so that they are free to live their lives in the future’. The aim is for clients to understand themselves and their relationships and create options to live their lives in an aware, creative, spontaneous way and open to intimacy. There may be national legal restrictions on who can practice as a psychotherapist, and it is important that trainees discuss these with their Principal Supervisor when choosing this field of specialization.
A task force from each field has drawn up a set of core competencies, which articulate the knowledge, attitudes and skills expected from a certified transactional analyst in that field. he candidate is expected to acquire the core competencies for the specified field. Core competencies for the four fields of application are described in Handbook Section 5.

The candidate should demonstrate:
• Establishment of an effective working relationship;
• Problem definition and diagnosis;
• Definition of treatment goals or plans for change;
• Establishment of contracts;
• Appropriate reflection on the process and of its effects;
• Development of plans appropriate to the goals and circumstances of the relevant TA field;
• Practical application of the above;
• Confidence in own performance as a practitioner (with awareness of limitations).

Gaining Endorsement as a PTSTA

The first step toward certification as a trainer or supervisor is to take a Training Endorsement Workshop (TEW), not less than one year after qualifying as a CTA.
The TEW is an educational, evaluative and prescriptive process (see Handbook Section 10) designed to prepare and evaluate certified transactional analysts as TA supervisors and teachers. It is conducted by a staff of teaching and supervising transactional analysts (TSTAs). The TEW is not an examination but evaluative learning with feedback. It is a structure that allows the T&CC to assess the teaching and supervision skills of CTAs and to ensure that the training being offered to the public will, from the outset, be at a level consistent with ITAA standards and ethics. For the participant, it is an opportunity to decide whether or not they want to make the commitment required to engage in the process of being trained and supervised in order to become a teaching and/or supervising transactional analyst.
To qualify as a training endorsement workshop, the workshop must be arranged through and approved by the IBOC of the ITAA, be staffed by TSTAs, and follow an agreed format outlined in the Handbook Section 10.
Documentation:
Application for the TEW (12.10.1)
Endorsement letter for TEW (12.10.2)
TEW Staff Evaluation Form (12.10.3)
TEW Self-evaluation Form (12.10.4)
TEW Course Evaluation Form (12.10.5)
TSTA Contract (12.6.2)

Training as a TSTA

PTSTA candidates can sign the contract for the international accreditation as a Teaching and Supervising Transactional Analyst (TSTA) within one year after the endorsement of the TEW and enters a further training period to become a TSTA. During this training period, the PTSTA can teach and supervise under the supervision of a certified TSTA. At the end of the training period, the PTSTA takes an oral examination before an international board of examiners. These PTSTAs are then certified to teach transactional analysis and/or to supervise others in the application of transactional analysis. Some candidates may wish to qualify only in teaching (TTA) or supervising (STA). Becoming certified as a trainer and/or supervisor can take up to 5-7 years, depending on time devoted. See Handbook Section 11 for the complete description of the  TSTA Examination.
To be eligible, candidates must:
  • Have current training contract with IBOC or COC
  • Be certified by IBOC or COC as CTA
  • Have examined at least 5 times at different exam events (in person or through online platform) during the period of their training contract
  • Submit 3 letters of endorsement:
    • from current supervisor
    • from other TSTAs who have supervised the candidate’s work

Additionally, the candidate’s principal supervisor must have examined in 3 TSTA examination venues during TSTA training contract with the candidate.

TTA – Teaching Transactional Analyst

To be eligible for TTA examination, the candidate must fulfill criteria set out in 12.11.1. The letters of endorsement must cover their teaching.

In addition, the candidate must have:

  • Satisfactorily completed a TEW in ethics, teaching and training, approved by IBOC or COC
  • 400 hours of experience teaching Tal within which must include
    • At least 30% of the required professional training hours in TA (30% of 300 = 90 hours) in the field they want to be examined.
    • 45 hours of teaching, must be supervised by a TSTA who is a member of EATA or ITAA, of which 20 hours must be “live” *Live supervision can be done F2F, via an online platform or via a recording.
    • Supervision of TA 101 does not count as part of required supervision hours.
  • Complete 100 hours of continuing professional education/development
  • Given at least 12 hours of presentations at conferences & professional meetings, 6 of which must be national or international meetings.

STA – Supervising Transactional Analyst

To be eligible for TTA examination, the candidate must fulfill criteria set out in 12.11.1.

The letters of endorsement must cover their supervision.

  • Satisfactorily completed a TEW in ethics, teaching and training, approved by IBOC or COC
  • 400 hours of experience supervising TA in individual or group supervision, this must include:
    • A minimum of 40 hours of supervision each for at least 2 supervisees o 45 hours of supervision that have been supervised by a TSTA, at least 20 must be “live”.
    • Completed 100 hours of professional education/development.

TSTA – Eligibility for exam as Teaching & Supervising TA

To be eligible for TSTA examination, the candidate must fulfill the criteria set out in sections 11.2.1, 11.2.2, and 11.2.3.

The combination of Teaching & Supervision hours that need to be logged is 800, of which at least 300 hours must be Teaching and 300 hours must be Supervision. The remaining 200 hours may be either. Letters of endorsement must cover both supervision and teaching.

 

Examination Timetable
Not later than six clear months before the date of the examination, the candidate should pay the examination fees, consulting their organization to check the procedures and amounts, and send the following to the IBOC Office:
  • notification of their intent to take the TSTA, TTA or STA examination using the examination application form (see Section 12.11.4);
  • the completed principal supervisor’s certification form (see end of section)

Documentation:
List of TA101 Topics for Teaching Examination (12.11.1)
PTSTA Annual Summary Report (12.11.2)
PTSTA Principal Supervisor’s Annual Summary Report (12.11.3)
TSTA Examination Application Form (12.11.4)
Acknowledgement of Items Received for TSTA Examination (12.11.5)
Principal Supervisor’s Certification TSTA Examination (12.11.6)
TSTA Scoring Sheet Theory, Organization and Ethics Segment (12.11.7)
TSTA Scoring Sheet Teaching Segment (12.11.8)
TSTA Scoring Sheet Supervision Segment (12.11.9)
TSTA Contract (12.6.2)
Examiners Evaluation Form (12.7.13)
Examination Supervisor’s Report (12.7.4)