With effect from January 2013, in order to gain the STA Diploma qualification, candidates will need to have passed both the STA Diploma Part 1 and Part 2 examinations. The Part 1 examination is a multiple choice 120 question examination, which lasts 2 hours and which examines the Diploma syllabus on a definitional basis. The examination can be combined with either the STA Diploma Part 1 Course or the STA Diploma Part 2 Course or sat as a standalone examination.

Passing the STA Diploma Part 1 examination gives exemption from the IFTA CFTe I examination.

The UK Autumn 2017 STA Diploma Part 1 examination will take place on 4 September in Central London.

Deadline for applications to sit the examination is 21 August 2017