Archival Certification Is One Piece of the Professionalization Puzzle
Emily Hughes Dominick, Rosemary Pleva Flynn, Cheryl Oestreicher, Katy Sternberger, Margery N. Sly, Mott Linn, Gerrianne Schaad, Dara BakerABSTRACT
In response to Ashley Todd-Diaz and Alex H. Poole's 2022 article published in American Archivist, “Who Is This Godot? The Academy of Certified Archivists and Graduate Archival Education,” the Academy of Certified Archivists (ACA) affirms the continuing relevance of archival certification and its place in the profession. ACA outlines its ongoing work to engage members, support graduate archival education, and further the discussion surrounding professionalization of the archives field. Based on themes that arose from ACA board discussions and a member forum, the authors discuss how certification complements graduate education; address how ACA values collaboration; explain how the certification examination is a valid and reliable measure of archival knowledge; consider how certification is a personal and professional investment; and affirm that certification is a worthwhile and relevant credential that enhances archivists and the profession.