Course guide
Which ITPM Course Should You Take?
ITPM's courses are built to be taken in order. Here is how I would match them to where you are right now, based on having completed them myself.
By Michael, mentored ITPM graduate
The most common question I get is which ITPM course to start with.
The short answer is that the courses are organised in a sequence. Anton Kreil guides you through a progression of competencies, so each course builds on the last. The recommended order is IPLT, then PTM 2.0, then POTM 2.0, then PFTM. A mentoring program comes after the courses.
The longer answer depends on where you are right now. That is what this page is for.
The ITPM course order at a glance
- Step 1IPLTIntroduction to Professional Level Trading10 videos, 18 hours
- Step 2PTM 2.0Professional Trading Masterclass43 videos, 64 hours
- Step 3POTM 2.0Professional Options Trading Masterclass37 videos, 49 hours
- Step 4PFTMProfessional Forex Trading Masterclass28 videos, 42 hours
- Step 5MentoringOnline mentoring program3 months, after the courses
Every course includes spreadsheet templates and an exam and certificate.
Why the order matters
I completed IPLT, PTM 2.0 and POTM in succession, then did a mentoring program with Anthony Iser. The information connects seamlessly across them and gives you one consistent framework of thought. That coherence lets you build on your knowledge as you go.
ITPM frames this as a competency hierarchy. Everyone starts at the bottom, in unconscious incompetence, and works their way up towards unconscious competence. That is when you are trading on your own and are consistently profitable. In Anton’s words, your goal is to get yourself up that hierarchy as quickly as possible.
Taking the courses out of order is like skipping chapters in a textbook. You can do it. You will just spend more time confused.
Find your stage
You are new, or you have been trading on your own without a framework
This is where I would point almost everyone. IPLT is the introductory course and the backbone of the fundamental understanding you need before PTM. It shows how the system is often set up for retail traders to fail, where the real opportunities and risks are, how to validate them yourself through the spreadsheet classes, and how to understand volatility properly in the context of a long/short portfolio.
As a retail trader with limited formal education in trading, I found it a fantastic introduction. It is also the lowest cost way to find out if the ITPM approach suits you.
Read my full IPLT review.
You understand the basics and want a complete professional process
PTM 2.0 is the core educational program at ITPM. It is by far the best online trading education available from my perspective, and it is the backbone of how I run my own portfolio today.
It covers the full systematic process in the US stock market. Macroeconomic factors. Leading, lagging and coincident indicators. Portfolio construction. Trade idea generation. Trading psychology. Proactive and reactive risk management. The long/short portfolio section was the lightbulb moment for me, and trade idea generation is the part students gain the most from.
Be ready for the volume. When I started, I was overwhelmed by how much information there was. I went back over the quantitative analysis and trade idea sections at least three times each.
Read my full PTM 2.0 review.
You have done PTM and want to express ideas through options
POTM is the ideal complement to IPLT and PTM. Once you have a solid grasp of volatility and the realities of generating trade ideas, the next step is structuring those ideas using equity options.
What I value most is that it shows you which options strategies matter and which ones do not, so you can stop going down rabbit holes. Almost everything I traded in 2025 was expressed through options on NYSE listed equities.
Read my full POTM review.
You want to apply the framework to currencies
PFTM is the fourth course in the sequence.
The Professional Forex Trading Masterclass is 28 videos and 42 hours of content. It sits last in the order because it builds on the framework from the earlier courses. My own trading is NYSE equities through options, so I would only look at PFTM once the first three are done.
My PFTM page has the course overview.
You have completed the courses and want to implement them properly
Look at the mentoring program.
ITPM offers a three month online mentoring program, and a vacation mentoring program. After completing the courses I did the three month online program with Anthony Iser. After completing both, I found myself actually being consistently profitable.
Mentoring is designed to make sure you have understood the video series and can implement it in real time with a professional trader guiding you. Completing one also gives you access to the Society Discord. Read my ITPM mentoring review.
How long each course takes
It depends on the time you have. Based on my own completion, PTM took around 18 weeks and POTM around 8 weeks. I believe each course can be done in a lot less time.
Anton’s own view is that IPLT is very digestible and can be done in less than a week, and that IPLT, PTM and POTM together take around three months, even with a full time job.
A few things that helped me:
- Be consistent. Watch a video at least once every couple of days. One video every couple of weeks and you will have forgotten everything.
- Watch at 2x speed. You will still understand what is being taught and you will get through it quicker.
- Take notes, then go back. Go through the whole series once, highlight what you need to revisit, and rewatch those sections.
Course access is a 12 month subscription, so you can pace it. Just do not let it drift. My weekly routine since finishing is in How I fit the ITPM trading process into my weekly routine.
What happens after the courses
Choosing a course is the easy part. Running the process with real money is where the real learning happens.
How I run the process today is on my About page, and I am breaking it down in full in The Institute Trader Series. You can see the numbers on my trading results page.
Past performance is not indicative of future results. My results are my own and are not a forecast for anyone else.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which ITPM course should I take first?
IPLT. It is the introductory course and gives you the foundation that PTM 2.0 builds on. It is also the lowest cost way to see whether the ITPM approach suits you.
Can I skip IPLT and go straight to PTM 2.0?
You can, and PTM 2.0 is designed for retail traders of all experience levels. But the courses are built to be taken in sequence, and I took them in order. IPLT covers the volatility and opportunity set foundations that make PTM easier to absorb.
Do I need prior trading experience?
No prior experience is required. The courses will improve your basic understanding of financial markets as you go.
Is POTM worth it if I already know options basics?
For me, yes. The value is not the basic definitions. It is learning which structures are actually useful for a long/short portfolio, and which ones to ignore.
When should I do the mentoring program?
After the courses. The mentoring program is designed for students who have completed the video series and want to implement them in real time with guidance from a professional trader. That is the order I did it in.
Which course is the best?
For me, PTM 2.0. It is the core of the ITPM process and the backbone of how I trade today. But it works best as part of the sequence, not on its own.
Ready to start?
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Every course link and discount code is on one page, so you can start with the course that suits where you are.
Affiliate links. I earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. That does not change my view of the courses, which is based on having completed them myself.
I am a retail trader based in Australia. I do not hold an Australian Financial Services Licence. Nothing on this website is personal or general financial advice. Please consult a qualified licensed financial adviser before making any investment or trading decision. Read the full disclaimer.
