How to Find a Professional Genealogist: Part 2
UPDATED: 2 February 2021
In July, I began my series How to Find a Professional Genealogist by talking about specialties. In Part 1, we discussed that you’re more likely to have a positive experience if you seek out a genealogist who specializes in topics related to your ancestor or research problem. Specialties may be related to geography, culture, or the kind of problem you’re trying to solve (such as using DNA to solve unknown parentage cases).
Today, we’re going to be looking at genealogical credentials, learning certificates, and other clues to a genealogist’s experience level. In other words, how do you make an educated guess about a genealogist’s qualifications?
Professional Credentials
Worldwide, there are professional organizations that offer credentials to genealogists. In the United States, the two most popular are:
Certified Genealogist(R) credential, awarded by the Board for Certification of Genealogists. Like JDs, Ph.Ds, and MDs, genealogists who have obtained certification have “CG” after their names: Pat Doe, CG.
Accredited Genealogist credential, awarded by ICAPGen. Accredited genealogists have “AG” postnominals: Pat Doe, AG.
To obtain certification, genealogists must complete an extensive portfolio of work samples, document analysis, and narrative writing. For accreditation, genealogists must submit work samples and pass a test on a geographic area of specialty. Both are judged by top genealogists in the field. The CG and AG markers indicate that a genealogist’s work has met certain standards.
Now, let’s be clear: a genealogist who holds a CG and AG credential may not specialize in the thing you need. Also, many CGs and AGs do not take clients. But perhaps this is the biggest takeaway:
Many of the best genealogists in the industry are not certified or accredited.
In other words, a genealogist who lacks a CG or AG postnominal is not necessarily unqualified. So how do you identify a great genealogist if they don’t have a CG or AG after their name? That brings us to our next section:
Published Articles in Peer-Reviewed Journals
I should probably have put this section first because it’s a big one. Genealogists may publish their work in a handful of peer-reviewed journals. A history of publication or an editorial position at a journal signifies a high level of work. Publication shows that a genealogist’s work has been vetted by other highly skilled genealogists in the field.
How do you know which articles were published in journals? Look for these titles in a genealogist’s list of past publications (in no particular order):
The Genealogist, published by the American Society of Genealogists.
The American Genealogist, often abbreviated as TAG.
The National Genealogical Society Quarterly, or the NGSQ, is published by the National Genealogical Society.
The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, or The Register, is published by the New England Historic Genealogical Society.
The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, or The Record, is the journal of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society.
Institutes, Certificates, and Study Groups, with a Caveat
Both professional and hobby genealogists may sign up for courses on a range of topics, from Scandinavian ancestry to chromosome mapping. (It’s really fun!) Some are called institutes, which are weeklong courses on a single topic. Others take weeks or months to complete.
If you’re looking to hire a professional genealogist for, say, New England research, it can be a good sign if they completed or taught a course on the subject.
That said, there are caveats:
Institutes and study groups do not offer grades, with a few exceptions. As such, seeing a course on a resume means that the person attended, and does not necessarily equal mastery of the material.
Each program and course teaches different skills, which may or may not apply to your particular project. So, if you’re looking for a genealogist to evaluate your DNA test results (a genetic genealogist), you might look for institutes or courses relevant to genetic genealogy.
Popular institutes and courses that you might see on a genealogist’s resume include:
Boston University Genealogical Certificate Program (not the same as certification). This is a semester-long foundational course that teaches a range of research and professional skills, with some beginning DNA work.
Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG)
Institute for Genealogical and Historical Research (IGHR)
Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP)
Genealogical Institute on Federal Records (Gen-Fed)
Midwest African American Genealogy Institute (MAAGI).
Just to be clear, institutes are not the same as conferences.
A Small Red Flag
You’ll find that a lot of genealogists’ bios and professional profiles mention that they are a member of a range of genealogical societies. A long list of genealogical society memberships can be a little misleading because other than APG (described in Part 3), genealogical societies do not require any expertise to join. Just like a local museum or historical society, anyone can join a genealogical society by paying annual dues. So, when you’re comparing genealogists, areas like continuing education, publishing, and credentials are much better indicators of skill. (If you’d like to join a genealogical society yourself, consider the National Genealogical Society, or use their website to find a society in your area.)
Ready for part three? Learn where to find listings of professional genealogists in the final installment, How to Find a Professional Genealogist: Part 3.
Disclosures: I hold the Certified Genealogist (CG) credential. In the past, I was affiliated with, studied with, published with, or received scholarships or awards from several of the organizations mentioned in this post. I did not receive compensation in any form for mentioning any of the credentials, organizations, publications, or programs mentioned herein. For a complete list of disclosures, visit About Me and Talks & Text.