Joshua Kitchens is the current Regent of Outreach for ACA (The Academy of Certified Archivists) and on May 3, 2021, his presentation went over the organization and the benefits of becoming a certified archivist. Kitchens is an Archival Educator at Clayton State University in Georgia, and is passionate about spreading awareness about the archival profession as well as the certification exam that is hosted by ACA itself.
ACA certifies archivists who are pursuing professional archival standards through this exam. ACA, also known amongst members as: The Academy, was established in 1989 and consists of board members in different regents. Depending on the regent, board members are in charge of creating exam questions, helping members renew their certificates, or promoting the exam.
Kitchens shared some reasons for why certification is advantageous for archivists:
-validating one’s skills
-standing out in the job market
-comparing one’s knowledge to a consensus national standard
-can help improve pay
The largest demographics of test-takers come from those working for governmental institutions (30%), academic institutions (25%), and corporate institutions (20%). Those who either want to, or are already working for these groups, would most likely be interested in taking the exam, although every archivist can apply to take it!
There are three main options to qualify for the exam.
- Option 1 is for those with a masters degree, 9 hours of archival courses, and 1 year of professional experience (1,750 hours).
- Option 2 is for those with a masters degree and 2 years of professional experience (3,500 hours).
- Option 3 is for those with a masters degree, 9 hours of archival courses, and who are committed to accomplishing 1,750 hours within 3 years. Option 3 is the most popular choice for students who just graduated from a library masters degree program.
The application process includes a $75 fee and some supplemental information such as descriptions of the archival program one is involved in, transcripts, and a letter of recommendation. Kitchens recommends documenting descriptions of archival work, so that when one’s hours are done and they’re ready to apply, they don’t have to spend much time writing about their specific achievements from the past 1-3 years.
The Academy breaks down knowledge into an overview of seven domains. Kitchens described these domains as the major work that archivists do or “the universe of archival roles and responsibilities.” Exam questions cover these topics.
- Selection, Appraisal, and Acquisition
- Arrangement and Description
- Reference Services and Access
- Preservation and Protection
- Outreach, Advocacy, and Promotion
- Managing Archival Programs
- Professional, Ethical, and Legal Responsibilities
Recertification takes place every five years, and one can choose to either retake the exam or petition. The exam is remade every two years, so content is kept current. Petitioning includes demonstrating to the Academy that they are either contributing to the profession or continuing their education. There is no cost to recertify. Kitchens elaborated that recertification prevents a stalemate in the profession, and shared his personal experience with feeling great when petitioning. Revisiting all of his past triumphs and personal/professional development allowed him to feel more confident with his skills and more involved within the field.
There are study guides and study sessions to help people prepare for the exam. Kitchens graciously shared his email addresses at the end of his PowerPoint so that if the website doesn’t cover a question, one can contact him directly. ACA’s website is: https://www.certifiedarchivists.org. His email addresses are: aca@caphill.com and outreach@certifiedarchivists.org. SJSU SAASC wants to thank Kitchens for his helpful and detailed presentation. It not only covered the basics for a well-known exam, but also introduced many students to its existence. We are grateful for his time and assistance!
For those of you who are taking the test this June, good luck! If you are interested in becoming a certified archivist, start planning for the 2022 exam, and get your application ready in March/April.