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Re: Certification



As I recall there was some consensus that if one earned a post-graduate degree, with a concentration in archival science, from an accredited school, that person might not "need" to also earn the "CA" designation. 
 
Still, how many ads say "certified archivist preferred"?  And if you have two equally-qualified individuals, both from accredited programs, but one has the "CA" designation -- who will get the job?  So maybe there's some advantage to having the acronym in your pocket along with the degree.  It might be easier and quicker to just take the test than to try to change the job market's perception.
 
I also know that city officials -- who have their own professional development programs and acronyms -- always need to establish the "credentials" of potential vendors. "CA, CRM, ETC" say a lot, quickly, about a person's background, credibility, and expertise.
 
Certainly it gives someone like myself an alternative to establish credentials outside of a degreed program.  And if I can argue that course work is necessary for "certification," it enables me to apply for my employer's professional development dollars.
 
I also appreciate the "independence" that the Academy of Certified Archivists maintains with its program. There are a number of means whereby a City Clerk can earn the "CMC" designation (Certified Municipal Clerk).  The only national program that I am aware of, however, is through the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC).  One of their requirements for certification, though, is that you must be a member of their association for three years!  To me, this is more about membership retention than professional development.  Yet I see hiring ads in our trade papers looking for that CMC designation.    Personally,  I'll be satisfied wrapping up my CMC through the state program -- not IIMC.  In short, the value of the "certification" is measured in part by the integrity of the certifying body -- and I think ACA serves the profession well.
 
So I guess I'd have to say, "It's a good thing."  It helps establish those in the profession as "professionals."  It offers justification (if that's even needed) for professional development -- getting there and staying there.  And it should prove to be an asset in the job market as an individual or as a vendor.

Paul R. Bergeron
City Clerk
229 Main Street
Nashua, NH 03060
Telephone: 603/589-3010
Fax: 603/589-3029
http://www.gonashua.com/

-----Original Message-----
From: Suzanne Durham [mailto:sudurham@VUU.EDU]
Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2001 3:23 PM
To: ARCHIVES@LISTSERV.MUOHIO.EDU
Subject: Certification

At the risk of opening old wounds, could I learn from this list what the arguments/opposition are against certification and the Academy of Certified Archivists? Maybe this list has hashed out the certification issue, but I'm fairly new to this list so bear with me.
 
I was just finishing graduate school when certification came into existence. I heard grumblings from the professionals around me then about what hoops these were to jump through. However, in the intervening years, I've never heard an argument against certification that will also address the need for a professional standard. In other words, ANYONE can call themselves an archivist. And our salaries and status in organizational charts usually reflect that.
 
Maybe a multiple choice test isn't the best measure of professional expertise, but it's way better than - nothing. I notice many job descriptions now asking for certification, especially among the private sector. In fact, I wonder if the majority seeking certification aren't from the private sector, that there is some dis-incentive for public sector archivists to pursue certification.
 
I'm a private sector archivist who was recently certified. I considered it a professional development activity, which is important in an academic setting. This is all meant to solicit other viewpoints from the profession. Please reply to the list.
 
 
Suzanne K. Durham, C.A.
Special Collections Librarian & University Archivist
L. Douglas Wilder Library
Virginia Union University
1500 N. Lombardy St.
Richmond VA 23220
 
Ph. 804/278-4124
Fx. 804/257-5818