Is the course really free?

Yes, completely. No hidden fees, no credit card required. The free training covers wills, LPAs and trusts in full — the same content other UK providers charge £600–£1,000 for. We give it away because we make our money from the optional coached programme that comes after.

Do I need any qualifications?

No formal qualifications needed. Will writing is unregulated in the UK. What matters is proper training — which we provide.

How long does the course take?

Most people complete it in 2–4 weeks, studying a few hours per week. It's self-paced, so you can go faster or slower.

What's the difference between the free course and the coached programme?

The free course teaches the legal knowledge — wills, LPAs and trusts. The coached programme is the optional next step that teaches the sales and business side: how to find clients, charge properly, and build a real estate planning business stage by stage. £199/month for four months, then £99/month for WILLO ongoing.

Can I do this part-time?

Absolutely. Most of our students run it 3–4 hours a day, 3 days a week, around other commitments. You choose your own hours.

What if I just want the free training and stop there?

Brilliant. Plenty of people do — they use what they learn to look after their own family's documents in WILLO. There's no pressure to progress to the coached programme.

Do I need an accredited course to become an estate planner?

No. Will writing is unregulated in the UK, so no qualification is legally required. However, professional body membership (IPW or SWW) provides credibility, insurance access, and employer recognition. Many successful practitioners have employer training plus membership rather than formal accredited qualifications.

What's the difference between IPW and SWW accreditation?

Both are respected professional bodies. IPW has more structured qualification levels (3, 4, 6) while SWW has been established longer. Employers generally value either equally. Choose based on training format preference and cost rather than perceived prestige difference—there isn't a significant one.

Is STEP accreditation worth getting for will writing?

Usually not. STEP is excellent for complex trust work, tax planning, and estate administration—typically for solicitors and accountants. It's expensive (£5,000-£12,000+) and academic. For straightforward will writing and estate planning, STEP is significant overkill. Consider it only if you're targeting high-net-worth advisory roles.

How can I tell if accreditation is genuine?

Verify directly with the claimed accrediting body. Check their website for the course listing. Contact them if needed. Be sceptical of vague claims like "industry recognised" without specifics. Genuine accreditation can always be verified independently—if it can't be, it's marketing.

What qualifications do employers actually require?

Most job listings request: professional body membership (IPW or SWW), relevant experience or training, software competence, and good communication skills. Specific qualifications are often "or equivalent experience." Practical ability matters more than qualification level. Focus on competence, not collecting qualifications.

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Accreditation

Accredited Estate Planning Courses UK 2026

Complete guide to accredited estate planning courses. Learn which accreditations genuinely matter, which are marketing speak, and how to choose qualifications employers recognise.

By Alex Stansbury, Founder

•

14 min read

•Updated January 2026

Understanding Accreditation in Estate Planning

"Accredited" is one of the most misused words in estate planning training.

Unlike medicine or law, estate planning has no single regulatory body requiring specific qualifications. This means "accredited" can mean many things:

•Recognised by a professional body (meaningful)
•On a government framework (meaningful)
•"Accredited by us" (meaningless)
•Industry-endorsed (varies)

Why this matters:

You could pay £5,000 for an "accredited" course that employers don't recognise. Or £0 for employer training that leads to actual employment. Understanding what accreditation actually means helps you make informed choices.

What we'll clarify:

•Which accreditations employers recognise
•Professional body qualifications explained
•Government framework qualifications
•"Accreditation" that's just marketing
•How to verify genuine recognition

The uncomfortable truth:

Because will writing is unregulated in the UK, no qualification is legally required. This means:

•Any course can call itself "accredited"
•Professional bodies set their own standards
•Employers have varying requirements
•Marketing often overstates recognition

Professional Body Accreditation

The most meaningful accreditation comes from industry professional bodies.

Institute of Professional Willwriters (IPW)

What they accredit:

•Their own qualification pathway
•Some external training providers
•CPD activities for members

IPW Qualifications:

•Level 3 Certificate in Will Preparation
•Level 4 Diploma in Will Writing
•Level 6 Advanced Diploma

Recognition: High among employers who specialise in will writing

Membership: Required to use certain titles/designations

Society of Will Writers (SWW)

What they accredit:

•Their member courses
•External training they've approved
•CPD programmes

SWW Qualifications:

•Foundation level qualifications
•Advanced certificates
•Specialist certifications

Recognition: Well-established, respected in industry

Membership: One of the oldest professional bodies

STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners)

What they accredit:

•STEP qualification pathway
•Universities delivering STEP programmes
•Approved training providers

STEP Qualifications:

•Certificate in Estate and Trust Administration
•Diploma in Trusts and Estates
•Advanced Certificate programmes

Recognition: Gold standard for complex work

Note: Primarily for solicitors/accountants, overkill for straightforward will writing

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What professional body accreditation means:

•Course meets their standards
•Curriculum covers required topics
•Assessment verified
•Usually leads to membership eligibility
•Ongoing CPD requirements

What it doesn't guarantee:

•Automatic employment
•Superior practical skills
•Best training available
•Employer recognition (varies)

Government Framework Qualifications

Understanding Ofqual and RQF levels:

Some estate planning qualifications are on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF), regulated by Ofqual.

What RQF levels mean:

•Level 2: GCSE equivalent
•Level 3: A-Level equivalent
•Level 4: Certificate of Higher Education equivalent
•Level 5: Foundation degree equivalent
•Level 6: Bachelor's degree equivalent
•Level 7: Master's degree equivalent

Estate planning qualifications on RQF:

•IPW Level 3: A-Level equivalent complexity
•IPW Level 4: Certificate of Higher Education equivalent
•Some CILEX qualifications: Level 6
•STEP qualifications: Level 4-6 depending on programme

Does RQF level matter?

Honestly? Less than you'd think for employment.

What RQF recognition provides:

•Quality assurance of qualification
•Comparison framework
•Transferability between qualifications
•Academic progression pathway

What actually matters for employment:

•Practical competence
•Industry recognition
•Professional body membership
•Real-world experience

A Level 3 qualification from a respected body often serves as well as Level 6 for most will writing roles. Higher levels matter more for:

•Complex trust work
•Tax planning
•Contentious probate
•Progression to legal qualifications

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Awarding bodies:

Some qualifications are delivered by recognised awarding bodies:

•NCFE (National Council for Education and Training)
•City & Guilds (various programmes)
•Pearson (BTEC framework)

These provide quality assurance but don't inherently mean the qualification is more valuable for employment.

Meaningless "Accreditation"

Red flags and marketing speak to watch for:

Warning signs of fake or meaningless accreditation:

"Accredited by [same company providing training]"

This is circular. Of course they approve their own course. Means nothing externally.

"Internationally accredited"

By whom? For what? Often means nothing concrete. UK employers care about UK recognition.

"Industry-recognised certification"

Which industry? Recognised by whom? Vague language to imply recognition that may not exist.

"CPD certified"

CPD (Continuing Professional Development) certification is easy to obtain. It means the course counts as CPD hours—not that it's a quality qualification or leads to employment.

"Approved training provider"

Approved by whom? For what? Without specifics, this is meaningless.

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How to verify genuine accreditation:

1. Ask specifically: "Which body accredits this? Can I verify that?"

2. Check the body's website: Does the course appear on their list?

3. Contact the body directly: Are they actually affiliated?

4. Ask about membership: Does completing lead to professional body membership?

5. Check employer requirements: Do jobs actually ask for this qualification?

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Real accreditation checklist:

✓ Named professional body (IPW, SWW, STEP)

✓ Verifiable on that body's website

✓ Leads to specific qualification or membership

✓ Employers mention it in job listings

✓ Can provide graduate employment data

Questionable accreditation:

✗ Self-accredited by training provider

✗ Unverifiable claims

✗ Vague "industry recognition"

✗ No professional body connection

✗ Can't demonstrate employment outcomes

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The honest perspective:

Many successful estate planners have no formal accreditation. Their training came from:

•Employer programmes
•On-the-job experience
•Self-study + mentoring
•Short practical courses

Accreditation is helpful but not essential. Practical ability matters more.

What Employers Actually Want

Moving past accreditation to employment reality:

Survey of estate planning job listings reveals:

Most commonly requested:

1. Practical experience (most valued)

2. Professional body membership (IPW or SWW)

3. Will writing software competence

4. Good communication skills

5. Relevant qualifications (but often "or equivalent experience")

Rarely essential:

•Specific qualification level
•STEP membership (unless complex work)
•Legal qualifications
•Academic degrees

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What employers tell us privately:

"I'd rather hire someone with six months' employer training and good client skills than someone with a Level 6 qualification who's never met a real client."

"Professional body membership matters for credibility. Specific qualifications matter less than you'd think."

"Training is important, but we can teach someone with the right attitude. We can't teach attitude."

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The competency employers actually assess:

Technical:

•Can you draft a competent will?
•Do you understand the legal requirements?
•Can you identify when to refer to solicitor?
•Are you competent with software?

Interpersonal:

•Can you build rapport with clients?
•Are you sensitive in difficult conversations?
•Can you explain complex concepts simply?
•Will clients trust you?

Professional:

•Are you reliable and organised?
•Do you present professionally?
•Can you manage your own workload?
•Will you represent the company well?

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Implications for training choices:

Focus on:

•Training that develops practical competence
•Software training available
•Client interaction practice
•Professional body membership pathway
•Demonstrated employment outcomes

Worry less about:

•RQF level numbers
•Multiple letters after name
•"Accreditation" without substance
•Academic prestige
•Cost (expensive ≠ better outcomes)

Accredited Courses Worth Considering

Genuinely recognised options:

Based on employer recognition and graduate outcomes:

Highly recognised - Professional body qualifications:

IPW Level 4 Diploma in Will Writing

•Recognition: Industry standard
•Duration: 6-12 months
•Cost: £2,500-£3,500
•Outcome: Professional qualification + membership pathway
•Best for: Career changers wanting credentials

SWW Professional Qualifications

•Recognition: Well-established
•Duration: Varies by course
•Cost: £1,500-£3,500
•Outcome: Professional standing
•Best for: Those wanting oldest professional body

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Employer-sponsored (often unaccredited but effective):

Company training programmes

•Recognition: Varies by company reputation
•Duration: Weeks to months
•Cost: Often free (employment tied)
•Outcome: Direct employment
•Best for: Those wanting fastest path to working

Example companies:

•Project Will (comprehensive training + WILLO software)
•National Will Writing
•Various regional firms

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Specialist qualifications worth considering:

For complex work:

•STEP Certificate (if targeting wealth management)
•Trust-specific courses (IPW/SWW offerings)
•Tax planning qualifications (if relevant focus)

For specific services:

•LPA training (increasingly important)
•Probate training (expanding services)
•Mental capacity assessment

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Combination approach:

Most effective pathway for many:

1. Employer training (practical competence, free)

2. Professional body membership (credibility, £200-300/year)

3. Ongoing CPD (staying current)

4. Optional specialist qualifications (as career develops)

This provides:

•Genuine practical ability
•Industry recognition
•Lower cost than heavy qualification investment
•Employment from day one
•Flexibility to specialise later

Resources:

Making Your Accreditation Decision

Framework for choosing based on your goals:

If credentials matter greatly to you:

Choose:

•IPW Level 4 Diploma or
•SWW professional qualifications

These provide:

•Genuine industry recognition
•Professional body membership
•Respected credentials
•Clear qualification pathway

Cost: £2,000-£4,000

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If practical skills and employment matter most:

Choose:

•Employer-sponsored training with good reputation
•Add professional body membership after

This provides:

•Immediate employment
•Practical competence
•Real client experience
•Lower financial risk

Cost: Often free + £200-300 membership

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If you want to work independently quickly:

Choose:

•Practical training including software
•Professional body membership for credibility
•Focus on business skills alongside technical

This provides:

•Competence to start practicing
•Professional credibility
•Client-facing skills
•Business development knowledge

Cost: £1,500-£3,000 + membership

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If budget is tight:

Pathway:

1. Apply for employer-sponsored training (free)

2. Join professional body when employed (£200-300)

3. Develop through CPD and experience

4. Add qualifications later if needed

Total initial cost: £200-300

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Questions to ask any provider:

1. Which professional body recognises this qualification?

2. Can I verify that on their website?

3. What percentage of graduates find employment?

4. Can I speak to recent graduates?

5. What software training is included?

6. Is professional body membership included?

7. What ongoing support do you provide?

Red flags:

•Can't name specific accrediting body
•Claims unverifiable
•No employment data available
•Won't provide graduate contacts
•Pressure to decide quickly

Related guides:

Key Takeaways

Professional body accreditation (IPW, SWW) is most meaningful for employment
Self-accredited courses are essentially meaningless—always verify with external body
RQF levels matter less than practical competence for most roles
Employers value experience and practical ability over qualification levels
Employer-sponsored training often provides better outcomes than expensive accredited courses
Always verify accreditation claims directly with the stated accrediting body