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Archiver > TRANSITIONAL-GENEALOGISTS-FORUM > 2008-02 > 1202598551
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Subject: Re: [TGF] A transitional-genealogist's viewpointonProfessionalGenealogy
Date: Sat, 9 Feb 2008 17:09:11 -0600
References: <2AAEFB31EC9C4970A7B74279FA0D596D@MissysOffice>
In-Reply-To: <2AAEFB31EC9C4970A7B74279FA0D596D@MissysOffice>
Melissa wrote:
>I have had clients come
to me that had hired a professional genealogist that had letters after their
name a mile long and asked me to do the research again.
>I have had to clean up
> more messes from credentialed genealogists than from non-credentialed
> genealogists.
> She has just hired me again to complete another project for
> her, a project that another credentialed, professional genealogist did not
> complete properly.
Melissa,
As someone deeply committed to helping one credentialing body (BCG) conduct
rigorous exams, I am distressed by these observations. I know we can't get
too specific in a public forum such as this, but I would like to respond in
two ways:
(1)
Your messages today have referred to "credentials" generically, mentioning
both "education" and "letters after their name." But, of course, there are
different kinds of education--some degrees are relevant to genealogy and
some are not. There are two credentialing bodies in the United States, with
quite different testing procedures and expectations, and there are
honorifics that people use after their names that in no way represent tested
genealogical skill (specifically, most of the F___ initialisms, with the
exception of FASG). There even has been, in the recent past, a group
*selling* the so-called right to use the initials AG, CG, and FACG after
their names.
"Credentials," "education" and "letters after your name" are like every
other kind of evidence in genealogy. Each has to be identified
specifically--and its strengths and weaknesses defined--in order to
interpret the weight to be given to a specific situation or piece of
information.
I agree with your statement that someone who has not yet earned a relevant
credential can still be a very good professional. Conversely, using a set of
initials after one's name does not mean that one has earned a relevant
credential or that one has any genealogical skill at all.
(2)
If any of these individuals carry BCG credentials, would you contact me
offline to discuss it? BCG *always* wants to know if and when any
Board-certified individual produces substandard work. As you know, we
require retesting every five years, in an effort to ensure the maintenance
of quality. But five years is a long time to wait if someone's work
deteriorates due to health or other situations. Unless colleagues or
consumers notify us, the problem will go uncorrected.
However, if your negative experience *has* been with a Board-certified
individual and you do not wish to identify the individually personally, can
we discuss the nature of the *deficiency* that person exhibited, so that we
can review our procedures for ensuring quality in that area?
Appreciatively,
Elizabeth
------------------------------------------
Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL, FASG
Ombudsperson, Board for Certification of Genealogists
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