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Accreditation, Education, Family History, Genealogy, Hiring a Professional, ICAPGen, Professionals

Not All Genealogists Are the Same: Understanding Genealogy Credentials Before You Hire

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By Melanie Marsh, AG®

When searching for a professional genealogist to work with, have you noticed the letters many genealogists use after their names? AG®, AGLTM, CG®, CGL®… Ever wondered what they mean? Or if they mean anything at all?

There is no licensing board for genealogists, no state certification, no required process before someone can charge for services. Genealogical skill, experience, and work products are measured differently.

The field of professional genealogy has two rigorous, independent credentialing processes that can increase your confidence when selecting a professional to work with.

Credentials Mean Something

There are two major credentialing bodies in the United States issuing post nominals representing their organization. The Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) awards the Certified Genealogist® (CG®) credential, and the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen℠) awards the Accredited Genealogist® (AG®) credential. Both are nonprofits. Both require renewal every five years. Both hold members to written codes of ethics. Knowledge of the underlying process for each credentialing board gives a deeper understanding of what the credential represents for you.

The CG: Portfolio Evaluation

BCG’s mission is to increase public confidence in genealogy by promoting competence and ethics with uniform standards. Certified Genealogist associates have demonstrated competence in research methodology, analysis, and clear written communication.

To earn the credential, applicants submit a portfolio of client-quality research work. It is evaluated independently and anonymously by at least three BCG-credentialed judges against rubrics grounded in the Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS) and the organization’s published Genealogy Standards. BCG also offers two optional add-on credentials for CG associates: the Certified Genealogical Lecturer® (CGL®) and the Certified Genetic Genealogist® (CGG®).

The AG: Tested Regional Expertise

ICAPGen’s mission is to advance family history and genealogy work by testing competence in genealogical research, writing skills, and regional expertise. Accreditation is offered for many United States and international regions, with more to come. Candidates are tested in depth on methodology, record types, analysis, clear written communication, and regional topics important to genealogical research.

To earn the AG credential, applicants submit a professional, thoroughly researched and documented written report and take three written examinations. Reports and exams are anonymized and evaluated independently by at least three AG professionals against rubrics grounded in the GPS and accepted genealogical standards. The final step is an oral review with a panel of credentialed AG professionals to further evaluate expertise and professional readiness.

The AG credential is region-specific, and the process allows researchers to hold credentials in multiple regions. ICAPGen also offers an optional add-on credential for AG professionals: the Accredited Genealogist Lecturer™ (AGL™).

Other Letters You May See

Membership in the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) is a professional affiliation, not a credentialing board. Membership demonstrates community engagement and agreement with a code of ethics, but it is not evidence that a researcher’s work has been evaluated.

Experience matters. A researcher who has attended many conferences, published widely, or taught extensively may be highly capable without a CG or AG. Credentials are a reliable, independent sign that a neutral body of peers has examined a researcher’s work against documented professional standards.

Questions Worth Asking Before You Hire

Do they hold a current CG or AG? BCG and ICAPGen both maintain public directories you can check in under a minute.

How do they handle research in unfamiliar territory? No genealogist is a specialist or even experienced in every location or type of research. Ask how their specialization or experience might apply to your family.

Can they show you a sample report? A professional should be able to produce a sample of the written work they deliver to clients. Conclusions without citations, or confident claims without explanation, are red flags regardless of the letters after a name.

Credentials tell you an independent evaluation of their knowledge has taken place. A sample report tells you what the work looks like. Together, they give you clear information as you decide.

See other posts in this series:

“Ten Effective Steps to Hiring an Accredited Genealogist (AG®) Professional” by Trish Melander, AG®

“Finding the Right Genealogist: How to Use ICAPGen’s Find an AG® Professional Directory” by Michelle Tucker Chubenko, AG®, ALGTM

ICAPGen

Ten Effective Steps to Hiring an AG® Professional

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handshake3Before you are ready to hire . . .

    1. Identify the research problem that the Accredited Genealogist® professional will be asked to resolve.

    2. Determine how much you can afford to pay for genealogical research. Not everything can be found in one research session.

Making the contact . . .

    1. Utilizing the Accredited Genealogist Lists, contact more than one AG professional specializing in the area where the ancestor lived.

    2. Explain briefly the genealogical problem and what it is that the AG professional will be requested to do, e.g., research a family, perform specific record searches, or act as a consultant to advise you in your research.

    3. Determine the fee to be charged by the professional and ask for an estimate of how long the research might take before you receive an initial report.

Hiring the Accredited Genealogist professional . . .

    1. After you have selected the researcher who will perform the research for you, provide your specific research requirements and objectives in writing so that there will be so misunderstanding.

    2. Provide the researcher with copies of documents from any previously related research in order to avoid or minimize duplication. A research calendar or report should also be provided showing all records that have been searched.

    3. After the researcher has had an opportunity to review the data that you provided, he or she might require some additional information, e.g., what format is required, electronic, paper, or both? Should the information be entered on a genealogy computer program? If foreign research is required, would it be necessary to provide translations?

Finalizing the arrangement . . .

  1. Be sure you both understand and agree upon the costs involved, how often the researcher will send reports, and who will hold publication rights to the final materials.

  2. Realistic expectations are important. The professional may not always find the particular information that is crucial to solving the research problem. Destruction of records may have occurred. Your researcher might have to build evidence based on many documents concerning various family members before the research objective can possibly be completed. If you have any questions or concerns about your research, be sure to communicate with the researcher.