STA Blog

Normally held as evening lectures at the London School of Economics, this autumn term the Society of Technical Analysts has turned to online and virtual reality in order to deliver its course. A pity, and a challenge, as so many students in higher education in the UK and elsewhere are suddenly finding.

Being held ONLINE for the first time in response to the COVID crisis, the next Diploma Part 1 Course will commence on Wednesday 14 October 2020 and the Diploma Part 2 Course will start on Wednesday 13 January 2021. Visit our new website www.technicalanalysts.com for more info.

Like every Ichimoku Cloud chartist will tell you: ‘every cloud has a silver lining’. In fact that’s why I colour my rising clouds in pale grey, while bearish ones are far darker. You see, the Zoom live lectures, student participation, and the chance to ask questions live to the lecturer, will make the course accessible to those far from London or from abroad. This really is a one-off opportunity.

Furthermore, any students unable to watch live will be able to catch up with a recorded post and they can email the STA office with any questions. They may also post questions on the STA Student Forum – a very valuable resource – which will be answered by course lecturers. Provision has been made for candidates to sit the exam in their own personal space, using Zoom invigilation.

You might like to hear that, over the summer holidays, STA Board Members, staff, and their children have been guinea pigs testing Zoom for invigilating exams. This has meant that, unlike other bodies of financial accreditation, the STA has not had to cancel tests, exams and course work.

Students not only receive Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) accredited CPD points but they also receive exemptions to certain CISI units on passing the STA Diploma. The STA Diploma qualification also allows you to apply for the International Federation of Technical Analysts’ Certified Financial Technician certificate and entitles candidates to use the designation CFTe after their name (along with the prestigious MSTA which holders of the STA Diploma may use whilst a member of the STA). Go for it!