Academy of Certified Archivists

Academy of Certified Archivists
Name	Academy of Certified Archivists
Abbreviation	ACA
Formation	1989
Type	Professional association
Headquarters	Austin, Texas
Region served	United States

Academy of Certified Archivists is a U.S.-based professional organization that administers a certification program for archival practitioners, promoting standards, ethics, and continuing education. Founded in 1989 amid debates involving Society of American Archivists, National Archives and Records Administration, Library of Congress, Harvard University, and Yale University archivists, the organization sought to formalize credentials paralleling initiatives at American Library Association, Association of Records Managers and Administrators, International Council on Archives, and Archives Association of Ontario. The Academy interacts with institutions such as Smithsonian Institution, New York Public Library, National Archives of the United Kingdom, British Library, and associations including Society of American Archivists Foundation, Canadian Council of Archives, and Council of State Archivists.

History

The Academy emerged from discussions among practitioners influenced by events at Society of American Archivists conferences, consultations with staff from National Archives and Records Administration, and models from American Institute of Certified Planners and American Institute of Architects. Early leadership included archivists affiliated with University of Michigan, University of California, Berkeley, Columbia University, and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, while advisory input came from professionals connected to Library of Congress, Princeton University, Duke University, and Johns Hopkins University. The formation reflected broader credentialing trends seen at American Nurses Association, American Bar Association, and American Medical Association, and debates referencing standards from International Council on Archives. Over time, the organization established relations with state archives such as Texas State Library and Archives Commission, California State Archives, and Massachusetts Archives and collaborated with repositories like Newberry Library and Bodleian Library.

Certification Program

The certification program was designed to assess competence comparable to certifications like Certified Public Accountant, Project Management Professional, and Certified Financial Planner. It defines core competencies informed by archival practice at institutions such as National Archives and Records Administration, Library of Congress, Harvard University, Yale University, University of Illinois, and University of British Columbia. Program aims align with initiatives from Council of State Archivists, Society of American Archivists, and international benchmarks by International Council on Archives and European Association for Architectural Education professionals working on cultural heritage standards. The program is frequently cited in hiring at Smithsonian Institution, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Getty Research Institute, and university archives across University of California campuses.

Examination and Eligibility

Eligibility criteria reference academic preparation similar to degrees from Simmons University, University of Maryland, College Park, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Florida State University archival programs, and professional experience drawn from posts at National Archives and Records Administration, Library of Congress, New York Public Library, and State Historical Society of Missouri. The examination covers topics paralleling archival curricula used at Rutgers University, University of Michigan, Indiana University Bloomington, and Syracuse University, and evaluates skills comparable to licensing exams such as those from American Institute of Certified Planners. Test administration has been coordinated with testing providers experienced with professional exams used by Educational Testing Service and similar organizations. Examination content reflects practice areas encountered in repositories like Bodleian Library, British Library, Newberry Library, and Harvard University Archives.

Governance and Membership

The organization's governance model includes a board structure echoing nonprofit boards at Society of American Archivists, American Library Association, Association of Research Libraries, and Museum Association of New York. Board members have served from institutions such as University of Michigan, Yale University, Columbia University, Duke University, and University of Texas at Austin. Membership and certified cohorts include professionals employed at Smithsonian Institution, Getty Research Institute, National Archives and Records Administration, Library of Congress, and state archives like California State Archives and Texas State Library and Archives Commission. The Academy collaborates with associations including International Council on Archives, Society of American Archivists, Council of State Archivists, and Association of Canadian Archivists on policy and outreach.

Professional Standards and Code of Ethics

The Academy's standards and Code of Ethics are informed by ethical frameworks developed at Society of American Archivists, International Council on Archives, and institutional policies from Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, Smithsonian Institution, and university archives at Harvard University and Yale University. Guidance parallels professional codes promulgated by American Library Association, Association of Research Libraries, and Institute of Museum and Library Services. These standards influence practice in areas like appraisal and access at repositories including British Library, Bodleian Library, Newberry Library, and Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Continuing Education and Recertification

Continuing education requirements mirror recertification models used by American Medical Association, American Bar Association, and Project Management Institute and are supported through workshops, webinars, and conferences organized in partnership with Society of American Archivists, Council of State Archivists, Association of Canadian Archivists, and regional bodies such as Southeastern Archivists Conference and Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference. Educational offerings feature contributions from practitioners at National Archives and Records Administration, Library of Congress, Smithsonian Institution, Getty Research Institute, and academic programs at University of Michigan and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Impact and Recognition

Certification has been cited in job announcements and promotion criteria at National Archives and Records Administration, Library of Congress, Smithsonian Institution, Harvard University, Yale University, and University of California, Berkeley. The credential is recognized alongside academic qualifications from Simmons University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and University of Maryland, College Park and is discussed in professional literature appearing in journals affiliated with Society of American Archivists, American Archivist, and international venues tied to International Council on Archives. Recipients have advanced to leadership roles at institutions such as National Archives and Records Administration, Library of Congress, Smithsonian Institution, Getty Research Institute, and major university archives.

Category:Archivist associations