PTSC following the emails and responses received concerning the revised Handbook within the second consultation period has discussed the requests received and decided as follows:

PTSC recognises that online training and supervision is now an important part of training in some countries, whilst it is not authorised in others. PTSC is mindful that EATA is a European association needing to account for different needs and realities. Therefore PTSC recommends for online supervision not to exceed 50% of the total amount of supervision hours required with the Principal Supervisor. In all cases, Candidates and Principal Supervisors have the responsibility to make sure that their National and/or European Association’s requirements for online supervision and training are met.

(PTSC decision March 2023 )

For the purpose of the exam, a group is defined as three or more people, counselling and psychotherapy candidates must have at least one recording of work with an individual. Exceptionally the group recording may be regarding work with a couple. The candidate will be expected to demonstrate/explain how the work and dynamics with a couple differ from the work with individuals and with groups.

The above changes indicated  will be included  in the relevant  section of the Handbook

(PTSC decision March 2023 )

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING ONLINE TSTA EXAMS

PTSC has further developed the online TSTA evaluation format in order to honour its commitment with EATA, the EC and all candidates to maintain the quality and rigour expected for a TSTA level exam. This format is also meant to support those candidates who have already taken their TOE exams, giving them the opportunity to complete this journey, and also to facilitate this process for those who are still unable to travel.

The supervision part of the exam will be organized online in 2022.

Option will be given to candidates to decide whether they want to take this part of the exam online or in presence. Some small changes have been devised by PTSC for this online supervision part, for example a long break between first level and second level supervision.

The teaching part done “online” will have a “blended format” this means that candidates will give the two teachings onsite, teaching presentation and 101, in the presence of an audience, unconnected and different from their own training group, institute, and Principal Supervisor, while being videotaped. A TSTA, who is not the PS nor co-sponsor of the candidate, selected by the candidate, is required to be present during the two teachings, his/her responsibility is to ensure that the process takes place according to requirements, and to certify this.

The candidates will then bring their videotape to an online Board to be evaluated and to take their other part of the exam, that is questions and dialogue with the Board online, which will be a “normal Board” organized by the OES, online version of the Local Exam supervisors.

(PTSC decision October 11 2021)

PTSC is committed to support all and training members and  trainers in such unforeseeable and unprecedented situation. The pandemic is considered as an exceptional situation. 

NEW IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING ONLINE TSTA EXAMS FORMAT

The teaching part of the TSTA ONLINE exam (TTA) in the “blended format” requires from candidates two teachings onsite, teaching presentation and 101 in the presence of an audience, in physical presence, while being videotaped. The audience, is required to be unconnected and different from the actual training group, institute, and Principal Supervisor of the candidate. Candidates have the option to do the teaching in their own language and can choose one of the following options:

A. simultaneous translation in English.

B. consecutive translation in English.

C. subtitles which must be accompanied by a full transcript of the English translation.

A TSTA, selected by the candidate, who is not the PS nor co-sponsor of the candidate, is required to be present during the two teachings, according to requirements specified on the form (see HB 11.1a TSTA EXAM TEACHING ONLINE Blended Form and B.1a).

Candidates then bring their videotape, sharing the screen, to the online exam Board, to be evaluated and to take the other part of the exam, with an  online Board, organized by the OES, (Online Exam supervisors).

The supervision part of the exam will be organized also online in 2022, and candidates can decide whether they want to take this part of the exam online or in presence. The supervision part online will take place according to the HB rules, as in presence, the only change, at the moment, in the online format, is a break of one hour and fifteen minutes between the first and the second supervision, all other exam rules in this part of the exam remain unchanged.

One further information, as already mentioned in the mail sent to all trainers in July 2021, and in January 2022 PTSC will also be granting exceptions, upon request, for those who will not be able to take their full TSTA exam within one year of their TOE, in case of exceptional situations connected with the pandemic.

EATA will continue for the time being to have online CTA exams, and to hold TSTA exams online in part one TOE (Theory, Organizations and Ethics).

(PTSC decisions December 13 2021)

Several candidates have enquired about pre-registration procedures, those have been discontinued and are not in use at the moment.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL TRAINERS

“Following to the several meetings and exchanges that have been taking place throughout the last 12 months and to the mock exams that were conducted independently by EATA and ITAA, the decision has been that EATA will continue to be developing online exams as well as onsite exams  during the next few months; that EATA will continue for the time being to carry out  online CTA exams, to hold TSTA exams online in part one TOE (Theory, Organizations and Ethics). EATA will also be holding Supervision exams online, with some adjustments specifically for the online format, and with some changes for both formats online and onsite (with the latter becoming a requirement in 2022). Information concerning the Supervision part of the exam will be available as of October 2021.

The teaching part of the TSTA exam will require, together with the online format, a further teaching part onsite, as online teaching skills are different than teaching skills “offline” in presence. Candidates will have several possible options available to comply with this requirement.

On the basis of the mutual recognition agreement the TSTA exams done through ITAA will be recognized by EATA , in its three parts, after complying  with the requirement, for candidates, in the teaching part, to have a further onsite teaching segment taught, according to the different options offered to the candidates by EATA. The options will be indicated, in all details, within the end of October 2021.“

(July 12 PTSC meeting –July 17 2021 TAWCS meeting)

Important information concerning Trainers and trainees

PTSC following to some requests of clarification concerning mutual recognition between EATA and ITAA  wishes  to  restate that ITAA and EATA have worked to ensure that there remains mutual recognition between the two organisations for candidates who are successful in exams done with either organisation.When a candidate successfully completes all three parts of their TSTA exam online with ITAA, they will be awarded TSTA by ITAA. EATA will recognize their qualification with the title TSTA (TTA ITAA) – meaning that their Teaching Transactional Analyst qualification is conferred by ITAA, and recognized by EATA. The TSTA (TTA ITAA) can then operate within EATA’s systems , supervising, signing TSTA contracts, teaching, examining  etc. There is no time limit to this recognition. The TSTA (TTA ITAA) may then choose to take the TTA exam part in an EATA TSTA exam, either online, in the blended pre-recorded format, or in person. When they do this, they can then use the title TSTA within EATA, without needing to add the parentheses ‘(TTA ITAA)’.

(PTSC meeting  May 9 2022)

The new version of the Handbook is now online, all trainers have received a mail, from PTSC a few days ago, inviting you to ask for clarification, or further specifications  if needed. We ask you to write to PTSC CHAIR EATA ptsc.chair@eatanews.org, and to esylros@gmail.com Deadline to receive your feedback or questions is December 20 2022.”

The rules established in the Handbook are not retroactive, this means they are not backdated.

Candidates, supervisors and trainers, who have provided training online, in whatever number of hours, until now, have their hours automatically recognized, without having to do anything further.
(PTSC December 7 2022) 

Revised handbook further clarification: Following to the questions asked about supervision requirements for CTA, PTSC wishes to clarify that online supervision is acceptable and the proportion of hours of online supervision to face to face supervision is a decision to be taken with the TA Principal Supervisor. On-line supervision with the Principal Supervisor cannot exceed 50% of the total amount of supervision hours required with the Principal Supervisor (This means 50% of the 40 hours of TA supervision required with the PS). In case of special circumstances a candidate may ask PTSC for an exception. See revised version of Section 7 HandBook  – 7.5 Procedure for CTA examination (page 7):  7.2.3.5.B Recommendations for supervision

(PTSC February 2 2023)

PTSC has decided to offer CTA candidates the option of presenting their  CTA case study as a Pragmatic Research Case Study, using the PCSP Research model. This option is already on the website, in the Handbook and it is indicated as section 8A.

Case studies presented according to this option will need to be sent to the Italian language coordinator -Simonetta Caldarone-, who will send them for evaluation to evaluators specifically trained in this methodology. This option will be applicable from December 2023.
( PTSC meeting decision July 2 2023)

In December 2022, in a revision to the EATA Handbook the option of the TA 101 Instructor qualification for CTA’s was removed. After a number of communications with colleagues PTSC has agreed to temporarily restore this option, in line with the previous version of the handbook, this decision will be reviewed by 31st December 2024. In the meantime we have started a consultation and collaboration process, if you wish to contribute to this process please contact PTSC. 
(PTSC meeting decision 26 October 2023).

Clarification regarding Mutual Recognition of online TSTA exam.

The EATA Ethical Advisor asked PTSC to carry out an assessment of the validity, and the wider implications, of the previous PTSC decisions regarding the mutual recognition of online TTA exams. 

PTSC have now concluded their investigations, and taking new information into account, and in respect of the statement of mutual recognition published in 2023, has decided that the requirement to state TTA ITAA after an IBOC online teaching examination is not necessary and is withdrawn with immediate effect. 

(PTSC meeting 1st March 2024)