Product Description
CTA® Certificate Program Includes:
A 9-month program that consists of two income tax courses totaling 78 continuing education (CE) hours. Plus, a 100-hour experience requirement that can be completed over two tax seasons to receive the CTA® designation.
- Comprehensive Tax Course
- 48 CE hours
- 6 month completion time
- For California Students: Choose CA Edition, 60 CE hours (45 Fed, 15 CA State)
- Advanced I Tax Course
- 30 CE hours
- 3 month completion time
- 100-hour experience requirement
- Can be completed over two tax seasons while in the program
- Free AFTR course upon completion of Comprehensive Tax Course. Available when IRS releases access – Click here to learn more about AFTR and AFSP.
- BONUS: 2 Federal Tax Law Update credit hours – Covid-19 Seminar Course#: 1071-CE-3056
*Note: All course content, student resources, and other offers that come with the listed courses are included in the Certificate Program as well. For more details, visit the individual course pages.
Certificate Programs are a series of courses designed to be taken one at a time. In order to earn the CTA® designation, you must pass the courses with at least an 80% average grade on all graded assignments and meet the 100-hour experience requirement. Upon completing these requirements, you will be certified by The Income Tax School and can add the CTA® designation to your professional title.
Depending on when you purchase, you could start your first course and by the time you’re ready to start the next one a new edition could be available. For this reason, we give you access (and ship your books) to each course one at a time, to ensure you get the most up-to-date version available.
Upon purchase, you will receive login credentials and may start the Comprehensive course right away. These courses are not webinars, so you can work at your own pace and access the course content at any time. You have 6 months to complete Comprehensive and an additional 3 months for Advanced I, though many students finish earlier. A course extension may be purchased from our online store, if needed.
After completing the Comprehensive tax course, you’ll have enough tax knowledge to start earning money as a tax preparer. This will enable you to start logging hours toward your experience requirement.
Already Have Some Tax Knowledge?
If you’ve already taken the Comprehensive Tax Course from us, you can still register for one of our Chartered Tax Certificate Programs and we’ll submit your completed course into the program. Or, if you already have some tax knowledge under your belt from another source, you may test out of the Comprehensive Tax Course only, register for one of the programs and move on to the next course. The cost to test out of the Comprehensive Tax Course is $100. Start by purchasing the test out and our school administrators will advise you how to proceed from there.
Stacey M. –
I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed taking the CTA certificate through The Income Tax School. As soon as I received my books (within 2 days) and logged on I could tell how organized the Certificate Course was going to be. If I needed to call The Income Tax school, everyone was very helpful and responded immediately. The content and the online class was easy to comprehend and work through based on the way it was written. It was also very helpful to see my progress as I worked through each chapter. I loved it so much that I have now upgraded to the CTC course. I am so glad that I found your certificate courses – the knowledge that I am gaining is helping me in my new career choice in Tax Preparation.
Jamie –
The CTA program at The Income Tax School was one of the most rewarding experiences. This program takes you on a tax journey you will never forget. I have gained knowledge in all facets of tax and have never felt more confident that I do now to pursue my career in taxation. This program prepares you for every detail you could encounter in the field of tax. I enjoy preparing tax returns and this program has finalized this enjoyment for me. The instructors are extremely helpful and guide you through wherever you have a problem. It is truly a wonderful environment where everyone wants you to succeed and become the best tax preparer you can be. I recommend the Income Tax School for furthering your tax knowledge, learning updates on tax law, and gaining truly rewarding designations that will only enhance your career. There is no better way to be taught than through the Income Tax School.
Mark –
I am really enjoying these courses. It is hard, but the curriculum does a great job both in the way it is written and the order that concepts are presented.