Becoming an Accredited Genealogist®: The Why, What, and How – SLIG 2022

Have you thought about working towards a genealogy credential? Would you like to become a better researcher in a certain locality? If so, you might consider accreditation through the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen). To take the mystery out of the accreditation process, my ICAPGen colleagues and I have created an institute course through the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) titled “Becoming an Accredited Genealogist®: The Why, What, and How.” We would love to have you join us!

Six years ago I started my own journey towards accreditation. I remember sitting in a track of classes on accreditation at the BYU Conference on Family History and Genealogy. I wondered if this was something I could do and if it was something I wanted to do. Two statements by the instructors resonated with me.

Accreditation will make you a better researcher.

Accreditation will open doors in the professional genealogy world.

I had discovered I liked client research just as much as my personal research. The thrill of putting together the pieces of a family’s puzzle was real! I decided if I wanted a new career as a professional genealogist, I wanted the backing of a credential. Two years later I met my goal – receiving my Accredited Genealogist®credential in the Gulf South regions of the United States.

Since then, I’ve worked as the Presentation Specialist for ICAPGen, teaching about the process and encouraging other aspiring genealogists to tackle the challenge. I met my friend and colleague, Lisa Stokes, in the 2015 track on accreditation. She also set a goal to earn the credential and after her accreditation became the ICAPGen study group leader.

Lisa and I have attended many institute courses and believe that a week-long immersion in the accreditation process will benefit anyone interested in pursuing the AG credential. We’ve brought together a team of excellent presenters to teach the courses. Each will share their unique perspective and skill set. Check out our video discussion of the course on YouTube.

FAQ’s

 

When and where is the course?

January 9th-14th in Salt Lake City, Utah.

What will the course cover?

Topics necessary for quality research and successful accreditation – writing a quality report, source citations, research logs, evidence analysis, transcription, abstraction.

Information needed to pass each level of the accreditation process.

Who are the instructors?

Three AG colleagues will join Lisa and me in presenting the classes: Jenny Hansen, Mindy Taylor, and Jana Greenhalgh. Each of us teaches regularly on accreditation and improving research skills.

What is the difference between the ICAPGen Level 1 and Level 2 & 3 Study Groups and the SLIG course?

Both the study groups and the SLIG course cover the needed topics for successful accreditation and have hands-on assignments with peer review and mentor feedback. Both help aspiring professionals set goals focused on their accreditation readiness and accreditation milestones. Both have knowledgeable mentors and instructors.

The study groups meet online once a week for several weeks, whereas the SLIG course will be an intensive week-long experience. The SLIG course will have some unique benefits.

What benefits can I expect if I take the course?

In-person networking: Being able to meet in person to develop professional relationships and friendships brings added value to the Accreditation Course.

One-week focus: Being able to focus on accreditation for the entire week gives continuity and clarity to the accreditation process.

Q & A Time: The structure of the course schedule gives a chance for in-depth learning and includes extra time for question-and-answer sessions.

Skill building: The course focuses on skill-building to help attendees of all levels hone research and writing skills and improve accreditation readiness.

In-class activities: Instructor-guided in-class activities give participants the chance to practice and apply the skills being taught, a chance to discuss their project with peers, and the opportunity to receive verbal feedback from peers and instructors in a positive and encouraging environment.

Pre-requisites and homework: Students will come to class with a list of prerequisites assignments to help them prepare for the course. Daily homework assignments reinforce the concepts taught.

Practice Test: The highlight of the week is the opportunity the take a four-hour practice test in person at the Family History Library. The tests will then be peer-reviewed.

Personalized Meeting: Meeting with an Accredited Genealogist professional who is knowledgeable in your accreditation region caps off the week of learning and gives participants a chance to ask region-specific questions.

Syllabus: One of the biggest bonuses of the course is the printed syllabus for each participant to take home and continue their learning.

Check out the course – it’s going to be a great week! To view prerequisites and a complete schedule,  go to the SLIG 2022 webpage and click on “read more” for our course.