Courses / Advanced Diploma / CTA route
The CTA Route
For trainees who want to qualify as a Certified Transactional Analyst, the internationally recognised TA qualification, alongside eligibility for UKCP registration.
What the CTA is
Certified Transactional Analyst (CTA) is the qualification awarded by the European Association for Transactional Analysis (EATA), and recognised by the International Transactional Analysis Association (ITAA), to practitioners who have completed full clinical training and passed both a written and an oral examination. In the UK, the route runs through UKATA.
Following UKATA's Training Handbook alongside EATA's requirements means you can become eligible for UKCP registration at the same time as gaining the CTA.
UKATA's route to UKCP registration runs through its Registered Training Establishments (RTEs). Our application to become an RTE is in progress. Get in touch for the latest on where it stands.
Who It Suits
The CTA route is for trainees who want to:
- crystallise their identity as transactional analysts specifically
- hold an internationally recognised qualification
- go on to train or supervise other transactional analysts in the future
Where the Exams are Taken
UKATA holds CTA examinations each year at the UKATA national conference. You can also travel to take your exams with other national TA associations in Europe, all overseen by EATA, or take them online through EATA or ITAA.
The Journey, Step by Step
Here's what EATA asks of candidates in the psychotherapy field at each stage. Timings count back from the date of your oral exam, so it helps to choose that date early and plan backwards.
Before You Sign a CTA Contract
- Choose a principal supervisor in the psychotherapy field: a PTSTA or TSTA. You'll need at least 40 hours of supervision with them.
- You and your principal supervisor both need current EATA membership.
- Hold a TA101 certificate. You'll have this from the first stage of our route.
- Sign the EATA CTA contract together. It names your field of specialisation, which can't be changed during the exam.
- Send it to EATA for endorsement, allowing four to five weeks. The contract is valid once stamped, for five years.
- Time it so the contract is endorsed at least 12 months before your oral exam. EATA recommends having it endorsed 18 months before.
Before You Submit the Written Exam
- Have your endorsed CTA contract in place, and begin writing no later than 18 months before your planned oral exam.
- Your principal supervisor must have attended an EATA Written Exam Workshop (WEW) and must endorse your written exam.
- Tell your language coordinator you intend to submit at least 12 months before your oral exam.
- Pay the exam fee in full. In the UK this is paid to UKATA.
- Submit the written exam no later than 9 months before your oral exam. The evaluation usually takes at least 8 to 10 weeks.
Before You Apply for the Oral Exam
- Pass the written exam. A pass stands even if you later need to retake the oral.
- Have completed at least 2,000 hours, made up of:
- 750 hours of client contact, at least 500 of them using TA, with at least 50 hours with groups or couples and 50 with individuals
- 600 hours of professional training, at least 300 of them TA training with a PTSTA or TSTA
- 150 hours of supervision, including 75 hours of TA supervision, at least 40 of them with your principal supervisor
- 500 hours of additional professional development, agreed with your principal supervisor
- Complete a mental health familiarisation placement, or an equivalent.
- Meet UKATA's other national requirements, including those for UKCP registration.
- Be recommended as ready by your principal supervisor.
- Send your application and your supervisor's endorsement so they arrive at least 3 months before the oral exam.
- Prepare a logbook and three recordings of your work with transcripts. At least one must be with an individual, and one with a couple or group. EATA strongly recommends taking at least one mock exam.
How Long It Takes
It varies a great deal from person to person. Some trainees are ready for the exams within about five years of starting their training; for others it takes longer. Most of the time goes into building client and supervision hours, which usually continues beyond the Advanced Diploma year. We'll help you plan a realistic timetable with your supervisor.
This summary is based on the EATA Training and Examinations Handbook (Section 7) and UKATA guidance, which are updated from time to time. Always check the current EATA Handbook and the UKATA Training Handbook.
How the Two Routes Compare
| CTA route | UKCP route | |
|---|---|---|
| Qualification | Certified Transactional Analyst (Psychotherapy), awarded by EATA | Master's-level (Level 7) qualification in Adult Psychotherapy |
| Supervised client hours | 750, including at least 50 with groups or couples and 50 with individuals | 450 with adult clients |
| Supervision | 150 hours, including 75 in TA with a PTSTA or TSTA, at least 40 of them with your principal supervisor | One hour for every six client hours, which can drop to two hours a month after 450 client hours |
| Training contract | An EATA CTA contract with a PTSTA or TSTA principal supervisor | Not required |
| Personal therapy | At least 40 hours a year with a UKCP-registered psychotherapist who is also a CTA, PTSTA or TSTA | At least 40 hours a year with a UKCP-registered psychotherapist (160 hours over four years) |
| Mental health familiarisation placement | Required | Required |
| Assessment | The EATA written exam, then an oral exam based on three recordings of your work | A written assessment, including a client case study, and an oral assessment based on a recording of your work |
| Eligible to apply for | UKCP registration, and membership of EATA and ITAA as a CTA | UKCP registration |
Completing the training makes you eligible to apply. Membership, registration and certification remain subject to each body's own processes and discretion, and their requirements can change. Always check the current EATA and UKATA handbooks.