14.6 Genealogy Certifications, Associations, and Conferences

It is not just the data and research report that should be preserved and passed on. The skills acquired in learning genealogy can be applied to school and in a variety of professions. Genealogy can even be a career. There are formal programs that offer degrees in family history and there are many informal options for continuing education through online or in-person classes and conferences.

As far as formal education is concerned, individual courses like this one are becoming more common at colleges and universities. Check individual school catalogs for course offerings. There are associate degrees and bachelor’s degree opportunities, but some may require in-person attendance. For example, Brigham Young University has a bachelor’s degree in Family History1 and a minor in Family History, but their programs must be completed in-person. BYU-Idaho and BYU-Pathway2 offer a certificate program that can be completed remotely. For a master’s degree that includes a professional credential, students could consider the program offered by Strathclyde Institute for Genealogical Studies.3

Formal education is not the only, or even the most common, way to continue improving family history skills. There are a variety of conferences and informal educational activities offered by associations and genealogical companies. RootsTech,4 sponsored each March by FamilySearch is the largest genealogy conference in the world and offers an in-person experience located in Salt Lake City, Utah as well as online offerings. The National Genealogical Society5 offers courses and events to help hone family history skills. Each of the big four websites offers outreach to promote and improve genealogical research for those who enjoy the hobby or work as professional genealogists.

Joining genealogical groups or associations is also a good way to stay involved and up to date on emerging technologies and techniques. Associations vary in size and scope. Some are worldwide and cover all things family history. Others are localized or focused on a particular research interest. Some hold in-person meetings to collaborate, others focus on classes, some meet virtually. There are even family associations that target descendants of a certain couple, organizing research and planning reunions or other events. Historians should search for associations that meet their research interests or consider starting a new one.

Some people are content with family history being an occasional hobby. But, even if it is just a hobby, some may be interested in certifying or being accredited as a professional genealogist. There are several ways of achieving this, including the following:

  • ICAPGEN™: This commission issues professional certifications for Accredited Genealogists or AG®. “The International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists, internationally recognized as ICAPGen™, is a professional credentialing organization dedicated to testing an individual’s competence in genealogical research. The organization is administered by a board of qualified Commissioners with many years of experience. Professional credentials with ICAPGen™ provide numerous benefits.”6

  • BCG: The Board for Certification of Genealogists credentials Certified Genealogists or CG in order to “foster public confidence in genealogy as a respected branch of history by promoting an attainable, uniform standard of competence and ethics among genealogical practitioners, and by publicly recognizing persons who meet that standard.”7

  • RQC: The Register of Qualified Genealogists issues QC accreditations. Completion of University of Strathclyde Glasgow’s master program qualifies graduates for this certification. “The Register of Qualified Genealogists provides, and makes public, a record of those genealogists who hold a recognised qualification in the field of genealogy and associated practices.”8

With so many avenues and opportunities, the end of this course may well be just the beginning of honing the empowering and satisfying skills connected to genealogical research.

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