Post job

Best trust officer certifications

The best certifications for a trust officer are Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), and Certified Planning Engineer (CPE).

Trust officer certifications demonstrate your competency as a trust officer to employers. However, not all trust officer certifications provide the same value.

Below is a list of the best trust officer certifications. Obtaining a trust officer certification will give you a leg up when you apply for jobs and increase your potential salary.

7 best trust officer certifications

1. Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA)

Applicable to financial services professionals whose primary function and expertise focus on the provision of fiduciary services related to trusts, estates, guardianships and individual asset management accounts.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)

2. Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

Certified Public Accountant candidates must pass a national exam certifiying that they are eligible to be licensed in the state(s) of their choosing. Information about state licensing requirements is made available in the Licensed Occupation tool.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? 
Certifying website
Certified Public Accountant
Certifying organization
American Institute of Certified...

3. Certified Planning Engineer (CPE)

Our AAPM Global Board of Standards issues the CPE Certified Planning Engineer - Board Certification to qualified applicants who have met our commission requirements of: Education, Training, Experience, Industry Knowledge, Ethics, and Continuing Education.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 2 year(s)
Certifying website
Certified Planning Engineer
Certifying organization
American Academy of Project...

4. Certified Estate and Trust Specialist

The CES designation will teach you exactly what you need to know about estate planning and asset repositioning implementation. You will learn about estate planning goals, beneficiaries, wills and probates, retirement accounts, taxes and trusts, living trusts, wills, and post-mortem guidelines. In addition, you'll gain sophisticated knowledge about control trusts, incapacity, and funerals.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? 
Certifying organization
Institute of Business &...

5. Certified Financial Planner (CFP)

The Certified Financial Planner designation covers investments, income taxation, insurance and financial planning, and retirement and estate planning.Individuals must complete the following required curriculum and pass the CFP exam to earn this designation.HS 300: Financial Planning HS 311: Fundamentals of Insurance Planning HS 321: Income Taxation HS 326: Planning for Retirement Needs HS 328: Investments HS 330: Fundamentals of Estate Planning

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? No
Certifying organization
ABTrainingCenter

6. Estate Planning Law Specialist

Attorneys who become Board-certified under this program demonstrate a high level of professionalism and commitment to the concept of specialization. We believe that as attorney specialization increases, it will benefit not only lawyers but the public. This program is currently the only program, other than certain state bar association programs which are only for residents of their particular states, accredited by the American Bar Association to Board-certify attorneys as Estate Planning Law Specialists. It is administered by an attorney-run affiliate of the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils, the Estate Law Specialist Board, Inc. The program was accredited by the ABA in 1996.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)

7. Certified Trust Examiner (CTE)

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)
Certifying website
Certified Trust Examiner
Certifying organization
Conference of State Bank...

What is the best certification for a trust officer?

The best trust officer certification is Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA). The Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA) is awarded by the Institute of Certified Bankers. The advanced certification is for more experienced employees as it often requires some work experience to acquire.

Here's a bit more background on how to obtain this trust officer certification:

  • To become a certified Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA), you need to pass the exam.
  • This certificate requires more than two years of work experience.
  • Renew certification every 3 year.

What are some of the most in-demand certifications for trust officers?

The most in-demand trust officer certification is Certified Trust and Financial Advisor based on all active job postings. Having this trust officer certification will give you access to more trust officer jobs with higher salaries.

What certifications can impact a trust officer career and salary?

The Certified Trust and Financial Advisor certification will help you to secure a vice president position, which will increase your pay and career trajectory. A vice president's average salary is $162,015 whereas trust officers make an average salary of $61,493.

Best certifications

The most common combination of trust officer certifications include: Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), and Certified Planning Engineer (CPE).

Online courses for trust officers to earn certifications

Advertising disclosure

1. Zero Trust Security Fundamentals for IT Professionals

udemy
4.7
(255)

A Comprehensive Introduction to Zero Trust Security Strategies and Conceptual Zero Trust Architectural Models...

2. Effective Legal Office Administration

udemy
4.5
(1,067)

Effective Legal Office Administration...

3. Partnership Accounting - Financial Accounting

udemy
4.7
(272)

Unlocking the Power of Partnership Accounting: Strategies for Effective Management and Financial Decision Making...

4. Accounting for Beginners: Financial Accounting Made Easy

udemy
4.2
(645)

A Part Time Online Financial Accounting Course for Beginners thought in an 'easy to follow' manner...

5. Financial Accounting-Depreciation Calculation & Fixed Assets

udemy
4.5
(341)

Optimizing Asset Management: Comprehensive Guide to Property, Plant, and Equipment Accounting...

6. The Complete REIT Investing Course (Updated 2023)

udemy
4.5
(857)

Copy & Paste Passive Income Investing System - How to Invest Profitably in Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)...

7. The Guide To Office & Industrial Real Estate Investing

udemy
4.9
(296)

How To Analyze Office and Industrial Real Estate Investments For Smarter Investing...

8. Payroll Accounting: Laws, Calculations, and Journal Entries

udemy
4.4
(1,649)

Master the complex world of payroll with practical examples, legislation insights, and comprehensive problems...

9. Financial Accounting & Excel-Comprehensive Accounting Course

udemy
4.3
(736)

Comprehensive accounting course to learn the accounting cycle in a practical way and pick up critical Excel fundamentals...

10. Principles of Financial Accounting

udemy
4.5
(875)

Learn the complete accounting cycle -recording business transactions to presenting the Balance Sheet & Income Statement...

11. Business Communication Skills: Handling Clients & Customers

udemy
4.4
(1,161)

Soft Skills Training Social Skills Business Etiquette Business English Customer Service Training...

12. Accounting, Bookkeeping & Financial Analysis (Accounting)

udemy
4.5
(521)

Accounting & Bookkeeping Basics. Accounting & Financial Analysis Concepts. Learn Accounting & Bookkeeping...

13. Financial Accounting-Debits & Credits-Accounting Transaction

udemy
4.5
(781)

Masterclass: Learn Accounting Principles, Financial Statements, Transactions & More in this Comprehensive Course...

14. Financial Accounting: The Complete Introductory Crash Course

udemy
4.5
(1,604)

Learn the Basics of Financial Accounting: Financial Statements, Debits and Credits, The Accounting Cycle and More!...

15. Accounting Basics for Success in Business and in Life!

udemy
4.7
(1,353)

Understand Bookkeeping, Accounting, Financial Statements & Ratio Analysis in this easy to follow course...

16. Accounting for Corporations - Financial Accounting

udemy
4.8
(281)

Demystifying Corporate Accounting: An In-depth Exploration of Financial Transactions in Corporations...

17. The Advanced Real Estate Development Modeling Master Class

udemy
4.7
(407)

A Complete Guide To Building Real Estate Development Pro Forma Models From Scratch For Commercial Real Estate Investing...

18. Professional Diploma in Office Administration Management

udemy
4.2
(632)

Principles of work of Office Administrator. Required hard and soft skills. Introduction to MS Office and banking area...

19. Advanced Financial Accounting: Acquisitions & Consolidations

udemy
4.1
(703)

Acquisitions, Consolidations, and Reporting. Master complex concepts and applications...

20. Introductory Financial Accounting

udemy
4.7
(666)

Learn the basics of Accounting including: the accounting cycle, inventory, depreciation, receivables, and more!...

Browse executive management jobs