What is the Certified Estate and Trust Specialist?

The Certified Estate and Trust Specialist is a globally recognised professional certification by the Global Leadership Institute (GLI), designed to equip professionals with advanced competencies in Soft Skills & Personal Dev..

How long does this certification take?

The programme is 10 Week and can be completed at your own pace through our self-paced online option, or alongside live virtual sessions.

Is this certification globally recognised?

Yes. GLI certifications are internationally recognised and carry CPD credits, making them valuable for career advancement worldwide.

What level is this certification?

This is a Advanced Level certification, suitable for professionals with relevant experience or background in the field.

You can enrol by emailing info@leadership.co.ke, contacting us via WhatsApp at +254 722 223 084, or filling the enrolment form below.

Certified Estate and Trust Specialist (CETS) | Online Certification

Executive Summary

Certified Estate and Trust Specialist

Designed for today’s high-impact professionals, the Certified Estate and Trust Specialist (CETS) delivers a rigorous Advanced-level curriculum that equips participants with the knowledge, tools and frameworks needed to excel in human resource management, talent development and organisational effectiveness.

This 10 Week programme is structured around SHRM, CIPD and ILO Labour Standards, ensuring every graduate applies internationally validated methods to real-world challenges.

GLI’s CETS holders are recognised by leading organisations across Africa, the Gulf, Europe and the Americas as qualified, results-driven professionals. Whether you are advancing your current career or transitioning into new responsibilities, this certification provides the competitive edge you need in 2026 and beyond.

Programme Overview

Certification at a Glance

Certification

Certified Estate and Trust Specialist

Acronym

CETS

Who Should Enrol?

HR Managers and Directors
HR Business Partners
Learning and Development Managers
Employee Relations and OD Specialists

Programme Inclusions

Everything Included in Your Enrolment

All study materials and study guide
Access to GLI online learning portal
Online examination and assessment
Digital certificate and digital badge
Physical certificate (shipped to you)
CPD credits for professional bodies
GLI alumni network membership
Facilitator and tutor support
Resource downloads and reference library
Automatic enrolment confirmation

Certification Benefits

Why This Certification Matters for Your Career

Career Advancement

Accelerate your career towards CHRO and senior people-management roles

Professional Recognition

Credential aligned with SHRM, CIPD and ILO Labour Standards

Leadership Capability

Develop the strategic and operational skills to lead complex human resource management functions

Organisational Impact

Design and implement human resource management systems that drive performance and measurable results

Compliance Readiness

Master the standards, compliance and ethical governance central to human resource management

Global Employability

Qualify for human resource management roles across multinationals, NGOs and international organisations worldwide

Competency Framework

Core Competencies You Will Develop

✦Estate Planning Structures

✦Beneficiary Structures

✦Trust Asset Administration

✦Trust Distribution Systems

✦Estate Risk Management

✦Estate and Trust Compliance

Course Curriculum

Programme Modules

The full programme, module by module.

Core CurriculumModules 1–20 · specific to Certified Estate and Trust Specialist · module 20 is the capstone

1

Estate and Trust Foundations

Trust, estate and fiduciary services · Capital markets: how securities are issued, traded and settled · Real estate development and project appraisal · Real estate regulation, licensing and professional conduct

2

Estate Planning Structures

Demand planning, forecasting and the distortion of signals · Wealth planning: goals, horizons and the whole financial picture · Collective investment: funds, structures and what the investor actually owns · Investment portfolio management

3

Trust Architecture

Building trust through data governance · Building trust and credibility · Identity, access management and the zero-trust shift · Identity, access and the zero-trust principle

4

Trustee Roles

Child-centred communication and specialist interviewing · Recovery capital and community · Access to finance, grants and investment · Basel framework and capital adequacy

5

Beneficiary Structures

Financial strategy and capital allocation · Working capital management and the cash cycle · Short-term financing and money markets · Investment of surplus funds

6

Estate Asset Inventories

Asset-liability committee (ALCO) governance · Asset allocation: the decision that drives most of the outcome · Equity, fixed income and the main asset classes · Knowledge analytics and intellectual capital

7

Estate Liquidity Planning

Liquidity and funding management · Regulatory liquidity ratios (LCR, NSFR) · Solvency, capital and prudential supervision · Residential and commercial property markets

8

Trust Asset Administration

Behavioural finance: the predictable ways investors go wrong · Portfolio monitoring and review: what to watch and what to ignore · Innovation portfolio: horizons, experiments and commercialisation · Transactions: due diligence, valuation and integration

9

Estate Settlement Processes

Product and portfolio strategy · Digital extension and e-advisory · Yield and productivity modelling · Yield, productivity and profitability metrics

10

Probate Interfaces

Portfolio diversification and limits · The company secretary: guardian of process and adviser to the board · Cash and liquidity management · Risk, return and diversification

11

Trust Distribution Systems

Channel, distribution and trade selling · Investor relations and market communication · Cash flow forecasting and liquidity management · Financial analysis, modelling and valuation

12

Estate Tax Interfaces

Job evaluation and internal equity · Reward: pay structures, equity and what money actually does · Pay equity, transparency and reward governance · Reward architecture and pay equity

13

Fiduciary Records

Records, documents and information governance · Fiduciary oversight in practice: solvency, controls and the money · Ratio analysis: liquidity, profitability, gearing · Sourcing strategies and portfolio (Kraljic)

14

Estate Risk Management

Risk and vulnerability assessment · Corporate-level strategy: portfolio, diversification and the parenting question · Sustainable finance: green bonds, taxonomies and ESG investing · Tax compliance and returns

15

Trust Investment Structures

Capstone scoping: an area of practice or client group · Ethical, risk and feasibility considerations · Risk assessment and safety planning · Risk, protective and social factors

16

Beneficiary Communication Systems

Integrated risk and quality control · Market analysis and environmental scanning · Go-to-market and channel strategy · Digital disruption and modern go-to-market

17

Estate and Trust Compliance

IT governance, compliance and data protection obligations · Market and price information systems · Benchmarking and performance · Data for climate and risk

18

Fiduciary Reporting

Evaluation use: reporting findings that change decisions · Crop physiology, growth stages and yield determinants · Livestock records, performance and productivity metrics · Agricultural finance, credit and investment appraisal

19

Estate and Trust Administration

Market systems and price discovery · Market linkages and aggregation · Demand analysis and market intelligence · Monitoring profitability and performance

20

Estate and Trust Advisory Practicum

Operational risk and resilience · Risk appetite and governance · Model risk and provisioning (IFRS 9) · Bribery, corruption and conduct risk

Professional ElectivesModules 21–30 · common to all GLI certifications · broaden your professional range

21

Strategic Communication and Executive Presentation

Vision, purpose and translating direction into work · Audience-centred communication and message structure · Executive leadership: the board interface and enterprise stewardship · Persuasive structure: framing, evidence and the ask

22

Leadership and Team Effectiveness

Leadership identity, style and the limits of style · Leadership assessment, feedback and continuous self-review · What critical reasoning is and what it is not · Situational and adaptive leadership

23

Analytical Thinking and Evidence-Based Reasoning

Creativity and critical-thinking development · Analytical techniques and bias · Evidence-based improvement · Problem framing: symptoms, definition and scope

24

Professional Decision-Making

Managerial decision-making, bias and decision rights · Escalation and decision-making · Decision support: briefs, options and judgement under pressure · Decision frameworks: criteria, weighting and trade-offs

25

Negotiation, Influence and Stakeholder Management

Negotiation preparation: interests, options and the walk-away · Power, followership and organisational politics · Negotiation: preparation, interests and value creation · Concessions, anchoring and the shape of a bargain

26

Project and Execution Management

Proposals, bids and the business case · Project roles and the project manager · Developing the project business case · Planning, scheduling and personal workflow systems

27

Financial Literacy for Professionals

Financial reporting standards and their application · Financial management for the operating manager · Liquidity, funding and balance sheet management · Management accounting: costing, budgeting and decision support

28

Digital Skills, AI and Technology for Professionals

Digital workplace, collaboration and user support · Productivity, collaboration and workflow tools · Tools for interaction and collaboration · Working with data: quality, interpretation and honest presentation

29

Ethics, Governance and Professional Accountability

Ethical leadership: integrity, tolerated behaviour and moral courage · Ethics, conduct and speaking up · Business development risk, ethics and integrity · AI for managers: adoption, oversight and governance

30

Personal Effectiveness, Productivity and Career Growth

Emotional competence: awareness, regulation and expression · Self-awareness, strengths and the accuracy of self-image · Emotional intelligence and self-regulation · Priority: outcomes, importance and the urgency trap

Every module opens in the learning portal with its full lesson set, worked examples, further reading and video masterclasses. 30 modules · 150 lessons.

Learning Outcomes

What You Will Achieve

Establish a comprehensive understanding of Certified Estate and Trust Specialist principles aligned with SHRM, CIPD and ILO Labour Standards
Apply evidence-based methods to improve human resource management, talent development and organisational effectiveness
Master talent acquisition, resourcing and onboarding and learning, development and talent management
Apply performance, reward and employee relations and hr strategy, analytics and workforce planning in real-world settings
Lead risk management, quality and compliance relevant to your field
Design stakeholder engagement and professional communication strategies
Use data-driven decision-making and performance-measurement tools effectively
Apply internationally recognised best practice to advance your career in human resource management

Enrolment Process

How to Get Certified

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Step 1: Choose Your Certification

You are viewing Certified Estate and Trust Specialist — one of GLI's 1,990+ globally recognised professional certifications.

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Step 2: Enrol & Pay Online — Instantly

Click Enrol & Study Online to register and pay securely via Paystack, Visa, Mastercard, M-Pesa or bank transfer. Access is granted the moment payment is confirmed.

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Step 3: Study in the GLI Learning Portal

Work through 15 structured modules and 75 lessons at your own pace, with downloadable resources and expert-designed content — all inside the LMS.

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Step 4: Pass, Get Certified & Verified

Sit your final examination online, earn your certificate instantly, and receive a globally verifiable Certificate ID — plus GLI Alumni Network access.

🎓 Enrol & Study Online — Instant Access

Secure checkout · Instant LMS access · Globally verifiable certificate

Frequently Asked Questions

Common Questions

What is the CETS certification?

The Certified Estate and Trust Specialist is a professional certification awarded by the Global Leadership Institute. It covers 20 core modules specific to Estate and Trust Specialist, culminating in the capstone “Estate and Trust Advisory Practicum”, plus 10 professional elective modules common to all GLI certifications. Candidates study through the online portal, submit the capstone project and sit a final examination; those who pass receive a verifiable certificate carrying a unique certificate ID.

Who should enrol in the CETS?

This certification is ideal for HR Managers and Directors, HR Business Partners, Learning and Development Managers and Employee Relations and OD Specialists, and other professionals seeking to formalise their expertise in human resource management, talent development and organisational effectiveness with a globally recognised credential.

How long does the CETS certification take to complete?

The programme is structured over 10 Week and offers flexible learning modes. Self-paced learners can progress at their own schedule, while live virtual participants follow a structured cohort schedule with facilitator-led sessions.

Is the CETS internationally recognised?

Yes. GLI certifications are recognised across 100+ countries and are aligned with SHRM, CIPD and ILO Labour Standards. Graduates receive a digital certificate, a physical certificate and CPD credits recognised by employers worldwide.

What is the cost of the CETS certification?

The Certified Estate and Trust Specialist is offered in two formats: Self-Paced at USD 499 and Live Virtual at USD 699. Corporate group rates are available for organisations enrolling 5 or more participants. Contact GLI for a bespoke corporate training quotation.

What does the CETS certification include?

Enrolment includes all study materials and study guides, access to GLI's online learning portal, online examination, digital certificate and badge, physical certificate (posted), CPD credits, GLI alumni network membership, and ongoing facilitator support.

What is the assessment format for the CETS?

The Certified Estate and Trust Specialist is assessed through an online examination consisting of multiple-choice questions, case study analysis, and practical application assignments. The assessment is designed to evaluate real-world competency, not just theoretical recall.

What CPD credits do I earn from the CETS?

The Certified Estate and Trust Specialist carries Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits, which can be applied towards professional body requirements including recognised international professional associations.

Can I study the CETS while working full-time?

Absolutely. The self-paced option is designed for busy working professionals and allows you to study when and where it suits you. Live virtual sessions are typically scheduled in the evenings or on weekends to accommodate professional commitments.

What career outcomes can I expect from the CETS?

Graduates progress towards CHRO and senior people-management roles. The CETS strengthens your expertise in human resource management, talent development and organisational effectiveness and positions you for advancement across multinationals, NGOs and international organisations.

Graduate Voices

What Our Alumni Say

“

The curriculum was directly applicable to my daily work. I immediately applied what I learned and saw results within weeks of completing the programme.

HR Director

Private Sector

“

GLI's certification is the most practical professional programme I have attended. The international frameworks gave me credibility with my employer and clients.

People Manager

NGO Sector

“

I earned my CETS while working full-time. The self-paced format made it possible, and the quality of the content is genuinely world-class.

Talent Lead

Government

Certified Estate and Trust Specialist

Certified Estate and Trust Specialist

Certification at a Glance

Who Should Enrol?

Everything Included in Your Enrolment

Why This Certification Matters for Your Career

Core Competencies You Will Develop

Programme Modules

What You Will Achieve

How to Get Certified

Common Questions

What Our Alumni Say

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