CTSA™ Terms

Last updated: July 30, 2026

By registering for the CTSA exam, you agree to all three documents on this page and to the General Terms below. Each document takes effect at a different point in the CTSA path: Exam Terms (Document 1) at registration, CTSA Title and Membership Terms (Document 2) if and when you receive the CTSA title, and the Founding Invitation Agreement (Document 3) if MTZ extends and you accept a Founding invitation. The General Terms apply throughout.

1. Exam Terms

Accepted before you begin the written exam.

Eligibility. You must be at least 18 years of age to register for the CTSA exam. You attest that you have completed the True Sidereal Astrology Course, or that you have equivalent study or practice experience. The exam is general true sidereal astrology; it does not test any one teacher's personal system.

Format and conduct. The written exam is 60 points and 90 minutes, closed-book and monitored: periodic webcam photos are captured through the exam page for integrity review and retained until your result is final (the appeal window has passed or any appeal or investigation is resolved), then deleted. The person completing the written exam must be the person who completes the practical exam evaluation. You may not use any tool, service, or third party, including artificial intelligence systems, language models, or automated assistants, to answer any exam question. Exam content is confidential; you may not discuss, share, publish, transcribe, or disclose the specific content of any exam question or answer key to any person outside of an official appeal proceeding, except as required by law. Cheating, outside help, or protocol violations void the attempt.

Fees and attempts. Examination and membership fees are as published at the time of purchase. Your fee includes two attempts at the written exam. There is a 48-hour wait between attempts, and you have 12 months to use them. Additional attempts are available in pairs.

Grading and results. Grading is performed using automated evaluation against published criteria, with expert review of borderline scores and appeals. You pass at 90%.

Practical Exam. Becoming a CTSA also requires a practical exam. This is a recorded one-on-one Zoom session in which an evaluator provides an unseen chart, and you deliver a natal and predictive reading against a published rubric. You pass at 90%. Your exam fee includes one retake of the practical exam; further retakes are available at the published fee. Retakes are scheduled based on evaluator availability.

Recordings. Your written-exam proctoring capture and your practical-exam recording are retained until your result is final (the appeal window has passed or any appeal or investigation is resolved), then deleted.

Voided attempts. MTZ may void an exam attempt when (i) proctoring evidence is inconclusive; (ii) a technical failure prevented integrity monitoring; (iii) integrity concerns arise from any source, pending investigation; or (iv) the attempt does not meet the published integrity standards. Voiding under (i), (ii), or (iv) is not a finding of misconduct. In those cases MTZ will offer either a retake at no additional charge or a refund of the attempt fee, at the candidate's election. Voiding under (iii) is subject to the outcome of the investigation and the appeals process below.

Appeals. You may appeal a result within 30 days of its issuance. Grounds are limited to a scoring error against the official answer key or the published criteria or rubric, not disagreement with the criteria themselves. Submit a written request identifying the specific answers or rubric dimensions in dispute; a reviewer re-checks them against the published criteria and, for the practical exam, the recording. One appeal per attempt, at no charge, and the decision is final. For voided attempts under (iii) and for title suspension or revocation decisions, you may likewise appeal within 30 days of the decision; the reviewer will assess whether the decision was consistent with these terms and the available evidence. One appeal per decision, at no charge, and the decision is final.

Refunds. Your exam fee is refundable before your first attempt or within 14 days of purchase, whichever comes first. After that, a deferral is available for a documented life event.

Ethics. The CTSA program is governed by a Code of Ethics whose principles are tested on the written exam. By purchasing the exam under these Terms, you agree to uphold the Code as a binding condition of holding the CTSA title once granted. A serious or repeated breach may result in termination of the title under Document 2.

What passing earns. Passing both the written exam and the practical exam grants the Certified True Sidereal Astrologer™ (CTSA) title and the official CTSA badge for public display. Optional annual membership unlocks a featured directory listing, True Sky access, and additional benefits (see Document 2).

2. CTSA Title and Membership Terms

The title takes effect when you pass the practical exam. Membership is an optional annual subscription.

The CTSA title. Passing both the written and practical exams grants the title Certified True Sidereal Astrologer (CTSA), a credential ID in the form CTSA-####, and the right to display the official CTSA badge. You may use "CTSA" and "Certified True Sidereal Astrologer" as your professional title.

Usage rules. Use the marks in the approved credential-line format for your tier: "Jane Smith, CTSA" for standard CTSAs, "Jane Smith, CTSA Member" for active members, and "Jane Smith, CTSA Founding Member" for Founding members. Use the badge only as provided, without alteration. Do not register domain names, social handles, or business names that contain the marks. Do not imply MTZ endorsement beyond the credential itself.

Registry consent. You consent to the publication of your name, credential ID, and credential date on the public verification record so that third parties can confirm your CTSA status.

Ethics obligation. Holding the CTSA title requires ongoing adherence to the Code of Ethics. A serious or repeated breach, or a substantial mark-misuse violation, may result in suspension or termination of the title, subject to the appeals process in Document 1.

Additional grounds for suspension or revocation. In addition to the causes above, MTZ may suspend or revoke a CTSA title or credential for: (a) material misrepresentation in any communication with MTZ or the public regarding the credential; (b) failure to cooperate with an MTZ investigation of a suspected violation; (c) conduct that brings the CTSA credential or the profession of true sidereal astrology into disrepute; or (d) any violation of the Code of Ethics.

Investigation and cooperation. MTZ may investigate any concern that reasonably suggests a violation of these terms or the Code of Ethics. The holder is required to cooperate in good faith. Failure to respond to an MTZ investigation request within 30 days is itself grounds for revocation under (b) above.

Suspension pending investigation. MTZ may suspend a title or credential pending investigation of any listed cause. During suspension, the holder may not display or claim the CTSA title. If the investigation concludes without revocation, the credential is reinstated and the suspension period is disregarded for any renewal or standing purpose.

Membership (optional). An annual membership subscription unlocks additional CTSA benefits including a featured directory listing with your photo, bio, and website link, True Sky access, and additional benefits added from time to time. Membership is not required to hold the CTSA title or to display the CTSA badge.

Renewal. Membership auto-renews annually. If a payment fails, the benefits above pause until the subscription is restored. The title itself is separate from membership status.

Cancellation and reactivation. You may cancel membership at any time through the Stripe billing portal. You may reactivate later. Reactivated memberships are charged at the then-current published rate. Annual membership fees are refundable within 14 days of activation; after that they are non-refundable, and renewals follow the same 14-day rule from each billing date.

Termination by MTZ. MTZ may terminate your membership at any time at MTZ's sole discretion. This applies to all membership types, including paid, Founding, and complimentary memberships. If MTZ terminates for cause (including any ground listed under "Additional grounds for suspension or revocation" above), the termination is effective immediately and no refund is owed. If MTZ terminates a paid membership without cause, MTZ will refund the unused pro-rated portion of your current annual subscription; no refund is owed for terminations of Founding or complimentary memberships, which involve no paid subscription. Termination of membership affects only the membership and its associated benefits (including any Founding CTSA designation). It does not affect the CTSA title, credential ID, official CTSA badge, or public verification record, and no refund is owed on any exam fee or other one-time payment. The CTSA title itself continues under Document 1 subject to its own termination provisions.

Fees. Membership fees are as published at the time of purchase. Every member's rate is locked at the amount they paid on activation and does not change for the lifetime of their active subscription. Invited Founding CTSAs hold a lifetime waiver of membership dues (see Document 3).

Complimentary memberships. Separate from the initial group of Founding CTSAs, MTZ may grant complimentary or reduced-fee memberships at its discretion. These do not confer the Founding CTSA designation and are not an entitlement.

3. Founding Invitation Agreement

By invitation only. Part of the initial group of Founding CTSAs (for example, established astrologers invited into the program).

What you receive. A free exam and a lifetime waiver of membership dues. The Founding CTSA designation.

What we ask in return. One announcement to your audience within 30 days of certification. A CTSA credential line in your public bios. A directory profile. Your announcement and any promotion of the CTSA program must comply with applicable advertising laws, including clearly disclosing that you received complimentary certification and membership.

Other terms. The ethics, mark-use, and title-termination provisions of Document 2 apply in full.

General Terms

These apply across all three documents above.

The parties. These terms are between you and Mastering the Zodiac LLC ("MTZ"), registered in Florida.

Nature of the credential. The CTSA certifies competence in true sidereal astrology. Astrology readings (whether given during evaluation or by a CTSA in their own practice) are for guidance and entertainment and do not constitute professional medical, legal, financial, or psychological advice. The credential is not a guarantee of any outcome.

Independent professionals; no agency. CTSAs are independent professionals. No agency, employment, partnership, joint venture, franchise, or fiduciary relationship exists between MTZ and any CTSA. MTZ does not employ, supervise, direct, or control any CTSA's practice, methods, fees, hours, clients, marketing, or business decisions. Certification signifies only that the individual passed the CTSA examinations as of the date certified and remains in good standing. MTZ does not endorse, warrant, or vouch for the character, judgment, ongoing competence, safety, or performance of any specific CTSA. Users of a CTSA's services engage them at their own risk and are responsible for their own due diligence.

Integrity. A result or credential obtained through cheating, fraud, or misrepresentation may be voided or revoked at any time, even after it is issued. A payment reversal, chargeback, or refund initiated after a credential or benefit has been granted is grounds for voiding the credential, revoking the title, and terminating any related benefits, in addition to MTZ's other remedies. MTZ may contest chargebacks with supporting documentation.

Warranties. The exam, the credential, and all related offerings are provided "as is," without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement, to the maximum extent permitted by law.

Limitation of liability. MTZ will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or for loss of profits, revenue, data, goodwill, or other losses, arising from the exam, the credential, or any offering. MTZ's total aggregate liability arising out of or related to these terms will not exceed the amount you paid to MTZ in the twelve months preceding the event giving rise to the claim. These limitations do not apply to liability for gross negligence, willful misconduct, or any liability that cannot be limited under applicable law. MTZ is not responsible for how any CTSA practices, or for the outcome of any reading a CTSA gives.

Indemnification. You agree to indemnify and hold harmless MTZ, its affiliates, and agents from any claims, liabilities, damages, and expenses (including attorney's fees) arising from your use of the offerings, your practice as a CTSA, your content, or your violation of these terms.

Enforcement discretion. MTZ has sole discretion whether to investigate or act on any complaint about a CTSA. No client, member of the public, or other third party has any right to require MTZ to investigate, discipline, or revoke any CTSA's title. MTZ's decision not to act on any specific complaint is not a breach of these terms and does not give rise to any liability. No third party, including any client, family member, or other person interacting with a CTSA, is an intended beneficiary of these terms or the Code of Ethics. Nothing in these terms or the Code creates any right, remedy, or claim in favor of any third party.

Cancellation. You may cancel your membership at any time through the billing portal to prevent future charges. Refund terms are in Document 2.

Privacy. MTZ collects your name, email, and payment information (payment is processed by Stripe; MTZ does not store card numbers). During the written exam MTZ collects your answers and periodic webcam photos captured through the exam page. The practical exam is a recorded Zoom session, processed by Zoom Video Communications during the session. If you activate membership, MTZ also collects your profile information (photo, bio, city, country, contact link), and, if requested, your True Sky account email. Written-exam responses are transmitted to a third-party AI service (currently Anthropic) for automated grading, with no candidate identity or attempt reference included. Email communications are managed through Brevo. Written-exam webcam captures and practical-exam recordings are retained until your result is final (the appeal window has passed or any appeal or investigation is resolved), then deleted. Your candidate and credential records are retained for the life of your credential; member profile data is retained while your membership is active. You may request access, correction, or deletion of your personal data at any time by emailing [email protected]; some data (including your credential ID and certified date) must be retained to preserve the public verification record.

Changes. MTZ may update these terms at its discretion. Where required by law, MTZ will give notice of material changes. Continued use or renewal after a change means you accept the updated terms.

Severability. If any term is deemed invalid, the remaining terms stay in effect.

Entire agreement. These terms, together with the Code of Ethics, constitute the entire agreement between you and MTZ regarding the CTSA program and supersede all prior communications, oral or written, on this subject. Product-specific agreements you separately accept, including the Mastering the Zodiac website Terms and any True Sky Terms, remain in effect for those programs and are not superseded by these terms.

Governing law and disputes. These terms are governed by the laws of Florida, without regard to its conflict-of-laws rules. Any dispute arising out of or related to these terms will be resolved exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Florida, to the extent permitted by applicable law, and you consent to the personal jurisdiction of those courts. Both parties agree to attempt informal resolution before filing suit. You and MTZ waive any right to bring or join a class action, collective action, or class-wide arbitration; all disputes must be brought in your individual capacity.