RootsWeb: APG-L Re: [APG] Accreditation and Certification

APG-L Archives

Archiver > APG > 2007-09 > 1190299533

From: "Elissa Scalise Powell, CG" <>
Subject: Re: [APG] Accreditation and Certification
Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2007 10:45:33 -0400

Karen, Perhaps other certified people will chime in with their experiences but I can give you a brief run-down especially since I just gave a lecture on this tonight. Being credentialed (AG or CG) is done for both public and private reasons: 1.) Assures the public that your work is up to standards; that you have signed a code of ethics and that there is an entity that stands behind you. 2.) Savvy clients seek out credentialed researchers for many different reasons including legal cases. 3.) The process is a learning experience and the suggestions from judges for improvement are invaluable. 4.) Validation of skills and acknowledgment of competence 5.) Peer recognition and respect 6.) Self-satisfaction The Board for Certification of Genealogists certification process tests your knowledge of Research, Evidence analysis, Kinship determination, and Reporting. You can demonstrate these areas in any geographic or time period you are comfortable with. The point of the certification portfolio is to showcase your best work, possibly work you have already done. BCG requires a portfolio (notebook) of your work mailed to them containing prescribed requirements as described in _The Application Guide_. The Guide outlines the 7 sections of the portfolio and gives hints as well as cross-references to the _BCG Standards Manual_ for the standards that each element is judged against. You are given one year to complete the portfolio from the time that *you* turn in the preliminary application. But you can turn in the preliminary application after you have received the guide and started working on the 7 requirements. The 7 requirements are: 1.) Genealogists Code 2.) Background résumé 3.) Document work (BCG supplied) 4.) Document work (your document) 5.) Research report 6.) Case study: conflicting or indirect evidence 7.) Kinship-determination project For the first one, read and sign the code of ethics (same one used by ICAPGen). The resume is not judged but gives your judges a sense of what you have done so they can make pertinent suggestions for your continued growth. The third and fourth take a document and transcribe, abstract, give a focus, develop a research plan (don't execute it). Fifth is a client report for anyone outside of your or your spouse's family. It does not have to be a paid commission. Sixth is a proof argument (citations but no actual documents). Seventh is at minimum a 3 generation study proving the parent to child relationship twice where no direct evidence exists. These last two can be your family. Examples of all this were placed on the BCGcertifcation.org website. Under Skillbuilding you will find exercises (and the answers!) for a couple of documents with requirements 3 and 4 in mind. A real portfolio from a successful candidate is also online at the website. Whenever the BCG booth is present at a conference, there are copies of real portfolios that you can look through on-site. The judges give constructive suggestions and comments with the hope that it will help you become a better genealogist (and we can all use that kind of feedback!) Most candidates say the process was valuable to go through and they learned a lot even before they received their results. I also add that it saves me time and money as I direct my continuing education dollars (and conference lecture selections) to the areas I need instead of the ones I gravitate to naturally because I am good at them. I hope this has given you a better feel for the certification process. At National conferences, some regional ones, and at IGHR at Samford University we usually have Certification Seminars where you can learn more in-depth about the requirements. Best wishes on your future endeavors. -- Elissa BCG Trustee and booth coordinator Elissa Scalise Powell, CG www.PowellGenealogy.com CG and Certified Genealogist are Service Marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists used under license after periodic evaluations by the Board. http://www.BCGcertification.org/ > -----Original Message----- > From: [mailto:] On Behalf > Of Karen J Matheson > Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 4:11 PM > To: > Subject: [APG] Accreditation > > I have long wanted to become an Accredited Genealogist (through ICAPGEN), > but I'm nervous to go through the process! I've attended classes that > Karen > Clifford has presented on the subject, and I have a copy of the book she > published a while ago--but I would love to have some input from this > group. > How difficult is this process? What are the advantages/disadvantages of > becoming an AG versus a CG? I know the AG process is based on a > researching > a specific locality. How does the CG differ--or does it? > > I'm confident in my skill level, having had more than 16 years of research > experience (including some professional experience) and having attended > many > many many seminars (such as FGS, etc.) But I worry that I don't know > "enough" to pass--I'm ignorant of how ignorant I am!! > > Please give me some gentle input, as well as a realistic idea of what I > can expect from the different testing processes. > > Thanks, > Karen