European Association for Transactional Analysis
EATA Training and Examinations Handbook

Section 12 – The TSTA Examination

This section describes eligibility, supervision, application and procedures for the Teaching and/or Supervising Transactional Analyst (TSTA/TTA/STA) examination, including on‑site and online formats.[file:24]

Stage Who is involved Main focus
Eligibility & contracts PTSTA, principal supervisor, PTSC TEW completed, current TSTA/TTA/STA contract, minimum teaching and supervision hours, exam participation and endorsements.[file:24]
Supervision & records PTSTA, TSTA supervisors Accredited supervision for TSTA, supervision hours with practitioners, and annual PTSTA and principal‑supervisor summary reports.[file:24]
Application Candidate, principal supervisor, LES TSTA Examination Application Form, supervisor certification, confirmation letter, TEW feedback, Accessibility Form, logs of teaching/supervision.[file:24]
Theory/ethics/organisation board Candidate, theory board Assessment of TA theory, ethics, exam procedures and organisational responsibilities using the TSTA Theory, Organisation and Ethics scoring sheet.[file:24]
Teaching board Candidate, teaching board, audience 20‑minute teaching demonstration plus questions (or 30‑minute integrated learning), and a 10‑minute 101 topic teaching, assessed via teaching scoring sheet.[file:24]
Supervision board Candidate, supervisee, supervision board Live supervision of a practitioner, discussion of supervision philosophy and methodology, scored via supervision board sheet.[file:24]
Outcome & appeals Boards, LES, appeal panel Pass/defer or partial completion, feedback, and access to appeals procedure as per Section 9.10 and Application to Appeal (13.9.1).[file:24]

Contents

12.1 Introduction

Important. As part of PTSC’s commitment to fostering inclusive and psychologically safe learning and assessment environments, all involved in training and examinations are invited to consider any accessibility or support needs—whether their own or those of the candidate.[file:24] The Expression of Accessibility Requirements Form (13.4.7) provides a structured way to identify and communicate adjustments that may enhance participation and performance.[file:24]

The candidate first attends a Training Endorsement Workshop (TEW).[file:24] When there are no outstanding requirements, he/she/they can sign a TSTA training contract endorsed by EATA and begin further training towards the TSTA exams, being called a Provisional Teaching and Supervising Transactional Analyst (PTSTA).[file:24]

During the training period the PTSTA can teach and supervise under the supervision of a certified TSTA.[file:24] At the end of the training period the PTSTA takes an oral examination to demonstrate competence in theory, ethics, teaching and supervision within TA’s organisational structure, in the field in which they already hold CTA status.[file:24]

Some candidates may wish to qualify only in Teaching (TTA) or Supervising (STA) and may have contracted with someone who is a supervisor or teacher but not both.[file:24] In this section PTSTA includes Provisional TTA and Provisional STA, and TSTA includes TTA and STA status where appropriate.[file:24]

12.2 Eligibility for Examination as a TSTA or TTA, STA

12.2.1 Introduction

All candidates must have a current training contract with EATA or ITAA; when the principal supervisor is a TTA or STA, a TSTA must act as co‑principal supervisor.[file:24] They must have satisfactorily completed a TEW approved by EATA PTSC or ITAA PSC.[file:24]

Candidates must have at least 30% of the required professional training hours in TA (90 of 300) in the field in which they wish to be examined, have taught a supervised TA 101 with live supervision by a TTA/TSTA, have examined or observed at least five times on three different exam occasions, and have evaluated at least one CTA written exam.[file:24]

They must submit three letters of endorsement covering teaching and supervision (one from the current principal supervisor and two from other TSTAs), have attended at least one Written Exam Workshop (WEW), and their principal supervisor must meet recent examination experience requirements.[file:24]

12.2.2 Eligibility for examination as a Teaching Transactional Analyst (TTA)

To be eligible as a TTA, the candidate must meet the general criteria in 12.2.1, with endorsements covering their teaching.[file:24] They must have completed 300 hours of experience teaching TA, including 50 hours supervised by a TSTA (20 hours live), with at least 90 hours in the chosen field.[file:24]

Candidates must also have completed 100 hours of continuing professional education/development and given at least 12 hours of presentations at conferences or professional meetings, 6 of which at national or international level.[file:24]

12.2.3 Eligibility for examination as a Supervising Transactional Analyst (STA)

For STA, candidates must meet 12.2.1 and demonstrate the required number of supervision hours with practitioners, under TSTA supervision, as specified in the handbook.[file:24] Endorsement letters must specifically address the candidate’s supervision competence.[file:24]

12.2.4 Eligibility for examination as a Teaching and Supervising Transactional Analyst (TSTA)

Candidates seeking full TSTA status must meet both TTA and STA requirements in teaching and supervision.[file:24] They need sufficient breadth and depth of experience to be competent in both training and supervising practitioners to CTA level in their field of application.[file:24]

12.2.A Online TSTA Exams – Introduction and overview

Online TSTA exams follow the procedures of onsite exams with the LES acting as Online Exam Supervisor (OES) and with appropriate adjustments as described for online CTA exams in Section 9.1.A.[file:24]

12.2.A.1 General technical Requirements for taking an exam online

General technical requirements mirror those for online CTA exams: quiet and undisturbed room, stable internet connection, functioning camera and microphone, good lighting, familiarity with the platform (Zoom), and readiness to upload all required documents to a designated cloud folder.[file:24]

12.3 Supervision

12.3.1 Accredited supervision for the TSTA examination

Supervision offered by PTSTAs must be accredited by their principal supervisor and meet EATA requirements regarding contracts, ethics, record‑keeping and focus on CTA‑level competence.[file:24]

12.3.2 The supervision hour

The definition of a supervision hour and how hours are counted (individual, group, different fields) follows the standards set out in this section and in the training contracts.[file:24]

12.4 PTSTA Records of Training and Supervision Hours

PTSTAs are required to keep detailed records of all training and supervision hours offered under their contract, using the PTSTA Annual Summary Report form (13.12.2) and the PTSTA Principal Supervisor Annual Summary Report (13.12.3).[file:24]

12.5 Applying for the Examination

To apply for TSTA examination, candidates submit the TSTA Examination Application Form (13.12.4), the Principal Supervisor Certification Form (13.12.5) and the Confirmation Letter for TSTA Examination (13.12.5a) to the LES, together with TEW final feedback and accessibility forms if relevant.[file:24]

12.6 Withdrawal from the Examination

This subsection sets out the conditions and deadlines for withdrawing from the TSTA exam and the implications for fees and future applications, in line with EATA regulations.[file:24]

12.7 The Examination

12.7.1 Introduction

The TSTA examination is conducted before three boards: theory/ethics/organisation, teaching, and supervision, each with at least three examiners, one acting as chairperson.[file:24] The examination process parallels that of the CTA oral exam, adapted to the TSTA level.[file:24]

12.7.2 Before the examination

Before the exam, boards meet to review the candidate’s documentation, including contracts, logs, endorsements, TEW feedback and annual reports, and to prepare questions.[file:24]

12.7.3 The examination

Teaching section. The candidate prepares a 20‑minute teaching demonstration on a topic chosen from or clearly related to TA theory and practice, plus a one‑page sheet describing where this segment fits in their overall programme, who the participants are and their training level.[file:24]

During the exam, after a 10–15 minute dialogue on training philosophy, theoretical and didactical thinking and teaching methods, the candidate delivers the 20‑minute demonstration to a volunteer audience and board.[file:24] This is followed by 10 minutes of questions from the audience, or the candidate may integrate questions into a 30‑minute learning session.[file:24]

Board members then ask questions about theory, philosophy, methodology, content and rationale of the candidate’s teaching and training activity, including programme organisation.[file:24] The candidate then draws a TA 101 topic at random and has up to 2 minutes to prepare before teaching this topic for 10 minutes in an interactive way, demonstrating knowledge and responsiveness to questions.[file:24]

Supervision section. The supervision part parallels the CTA TS supervision exam, with the candidate supervising a practitioner in front of the board and discussing their supervision style and decisions.[file:24]

12.7.A TSTA examination teaching online – blended format

For online or blended teaching exams, candidates must meet additional technical and pedagogical requirements set out in the Teaching Online Blended Format Form (13.12.1.a), ensuring that interactive teaching and assessment remain possible at TSTA level.[file:24]

12.8 The Scoring Procedure

Each board uses its specific scoring sheet: TSTA Theory, Organisation and Ethics Board – Scoring Sheet (13.12.6), TSTA Teaching Board – Scoring Sheet (13.12.7), and TSTA Supervision Board – Scoring Sheet (13.12.8).[file:24] Scores guide but do not replace professional judgement when deciding pass, defer or partial completion.[file:24]

12.9 Guidelines for Examiners in the TSTA Examination

Guidelines for TSTA examiners build on those for CTA and CTA TS, emphasising fairness, clarity of questions, attention to accessibility adjustments and focus on whether the candidate is competent to act as a TSTA/TTA/STA in their field.[file:24]

12.10 Guidelines for supervisees and candidates in the Supervision Section of the TSTA Exam

This subsection provides guidance to supervisees presenting cases and to candidates on how to contract, present material and make best use of the supervision exam to demonstrate TSTA‑level supervision competence.[file:24]

12.11 The function of Chairperson, Process Facilitator, Observer, Translator

The functions of chairperson, process facilitator, observer and translator are the same as those described in Section 9 (and, for online exams, Section 9.1.A), applied to the TSTA context.[file:24]

12.12 Partial completion of the exam

Regulations allow for partial completion of the TSTA exam (for example passing some boards while deferring others), with clear procedures on how and when remaining parts must be retaken.[file:24]

12.13 Appeals procedure

Appeals follow the same general rules as in Section 9.10, using the Application to Appeal form (13.9.1), and may address serious administrative errors or non‑compliance with regulations, but not academic judgement.[file:24]

12.14 Documentation

TEW Final Feedback Form (13.10.4)

TSTA Contract (13.4.2.A)

Expression of Accessibility Requirements Form (13.4.7)

List of 101 Topics for Teaching Examination (13.12.1)

Teaching online – Blended format Form (13.12.1.a)

PTSTA Annual Summary report form (13.12.2)

PTSTA Principal Supervisor Annual Summary report (13.12.3)

TSTA Examination Application Form (13.12.4)

Principal Supervisor Certification Form (13.12.5)

Confirmation Letter for TSTA Examination (13.12.5a)

TSTA Theory, Organisation and Ethics Board – Scoring Sheet (13.12.6)

TSTA Teaching Board – Scoring Sheet (13.12.7)

TSTA Supervision Board Scoring Sheet (13.12.8)

Certification for TSTA Theory exam (13.12.9)

Examiners Evaluation Form (13.7.14)

Certificate of Attendance at a WEW

Application to Appeal (13.9.1)