About the STA 
STA Home Study Course©
This is the official publication from the STA, containing chapters written by leading authors in their field.
The Home Study program is divided into 12 units designed to cover all relevant aspects of the Diploma I and II examination syllabus. Each unit caries a series of multiple choice questions to test the student’s understanding of each topic.
In addition to the HSC course materials, students are also advised to read further on each subject. Reference text guidance and recommended reading are provided at the end of each unit.
Advice on writing reports and commentaries is also included in the Appendix of the CD-ROM.
The HSC was developed over several years and is the result of extensive collaboration between analysts and system providers around the globe.
The STA Diploma is an internationally recognised two stage qualification, entitling successful candidates to become Full Members of the Society and to use the designation of MSTA after their name.
The first stage, STA Diploma I, is a 2 hour multiple choice exam.
The second stage, STA Diploma II is a 3 hour paper based examination.
Most students sit the Level I exam first but it is possible to sit the Level II exam before the first stage if necessary. However, to be fully qualified and achieve the MSTA certificate, students must have passed both stages of the Diploma qualification.
The Diploma I exam is held in London four times a year (if sufficient demand) in March, July, September and December. It is a 2 hour, 120 question multiple choice exam. The exam is knowledge based with no interpretive elements and is typically held online in a supervised environment. Results will be provided by email within 24 hours.
The Diploma II exam is held in London in the April of each year with a second sitting usually in October/November. It is a 3 hour written exam which is primarily based around the interpretation of charts and report writing, but with a significant knowledge based short essay component.
Overseas exam centres can normally be made available on a demand basis for both exams, at the expense of the candidate.
For more information on sitting the exam overseas, please contact info@sta-uk.org
STA candidates, having successfully passed both exams, are also eligible to receive the IFTA CFTe certificate on payment of relevant dues (USD 50). Please contact STA Administration for further information.
The STA Home Study Course©
The syllabus and reading list for the STA Diploma can be found here, and the HSC includes the following chapters.
For more detail on the authors, please click on their names.
- Introduction and Chart Types, author Michael Smyrk
- Point and Figure, author Jeremy Du Plessis
- Candlesticks, author Adam Sorab
- Dow Theory and Market Breadth, author Michael Smyrk
- Moving averages, author George MacLean
- Momentum Indicators and Oscillators, author Elizabeth Miller
- Cycles, author John Cameron
- Elliot Wave, author Robert Balan
- Gann, author Tony Plummer
- Market Profile, author Malcolm Blazey
- Market psychology, author Michael Smyrk.
The units have been compiled using contributions from many of the worlds most respected professional technical analysts and are presented using text and graphical information. Units contain multiple choice questions or exercises to test understanding. Advice is also offered on further reading and reference texts. For copyright reasons it is not possible to print out copies of the course.
If you would like to purchase the course, at the price of £495 which includes 12 months membership of the Society and a discount on your first attempt at the Diploma II Exam, then please go to our shop site here, or contact us at the address below
For all other enquiries:
Please contact
STA Administration Services:
Dean House
Vernham Dean
Hampshire
SP11 0JZ
Tel: 0845 003 9549 Tel +44 (0) 20 7125 0038 Fax +44 (0)20 7900 2585
Email: info@sta-uk.org