1. Why Archival Certification
Why Archival Certification?: Professional Development, Continuing Education, and Credibility
Susan Hamburger, Ph.D.
Librarian Emerita, The Pennsylvania State University
SAA Research Forum, August 2, 2016

2. Problem statement
In 2013 the author presented research findings and subsequently published an article on the correlation between archival certification and employment.
The current research project is a follow-up study of why archivists seek archival certification.
What benefits do archival certification offer archivists when most archives do not require certification for employment?

3. Research method
Developed 16-question online confidential and anonymous survey that solicited responses from a broad array of certified archivists
Survey launched on July 14, 2014 using Qualtrics and closed on August 18, 2014
Link to the survey was included in an to the Archives & Archivists Listserv

4. Results overview
149 responses from certified archivists from a variety of archival institutions
86% of employers do not require certification
43% were offered a higher salary because they are certified
Only 8% received a pay increase when they became certified after hiring

5. Survey questions #1 - 2
Did you obtain archival certification from the Academy of Certified Archivists?    
Yes, by exam    
Yes, grandfathered/grandmothered in     No
If No, Are you planning to sit for the exam?    
Yes    

6. Certification results
Certification from the Academy of Certified Archivists (159 responses)
84% (133) Yes, by exam
10% (16) Grandfathered/grandmothered in
6% (10) No
Planning to sit for the exam
60% Yes
40% No

7. Survey question #3
If Yes, What year did you become a certified archivist?    
before 1989    
    
    
    

8. Year certified results
43% (63) between 2010 and 2014
27% (39) between 2004 and 2009
14% (21) between 1998 and 2003
10% (14) between 1989 and 1997
6% (9) before 1989 [SAA’s Interim Board for Certification coordinated the certification-by-petition process and developed the first accreditation examination before ACA.] 

9. Survey question #4
If certified, Did you renew your membership in the Academy of Certified Archivists and become recertified?    
Yes, once and am current    
Yes, once but membership has lapsed    
Yes, at every renewal and am current    
No, I haven't been certified long enough to renew    
No, not since my initial certification and membership has lapsed

10. Renewal results ACA membership renewal
3% (5) renewed once and let lapse
1% (2) didn’t renew and let lapse
34% (49) renewed every time and are current
21% (31) renewed once and are current
40% (59) haven’t been certified long enough to renew

11. Survey question #5
If did not renew, Why did you not renew your certification? (Please select all that apply)   
I could not afford the annual dues    
My employer does not require archival certification    
I am self-motivated to actively participate in professional development activities    
My job no longer involves archival duties    
Other, please specify

12. Not renewing results Reasons for not renewing certification
8% (4) couldn’t afford the annual dues
8% (4) are self-motivated to actively participate in professional development activities
4% (2) report their employer does not require archival certification
2% (1) no longer have archival duties on their job
90% (45) provided other reasons

13. Other reasons results Of the 90% (45 responses) who did not renew
38 haven’t been certified long enough
1 is retired
1 feels certification did not deliver benefits to the profession that were originally anticipated
1 is still involved in professional development activities but didn’t get anything from ACA membership

14. Survey question #6
If did renew, Why did you renew your ACA membership? (Please select all that apply)    
I believe in certification as a professional credential    
I support the Academy of Certified Archivists and gladly pay my dues    
Having to renew forces me to remain current in the field    
I renew in case I need to look for a new job that will require a C.A.  
Other, please specify

15. Why renew results Why did you renew your ACA membership
81% (65) believe in certification as a professional credential
56% (45) support the ACA and gladly pay dues
50% (40) renew in case a new job requires C.A.
45% (36) renewing forces them to remain current in the field
19% (15) provided other reasons

16. Other reasons results
Of the 19% (15 responses) who had other reasons for renewing
5 say their employer requires C.A.
4 have a commitment to standards, professionalization, and seal of approval
1 hopes it helps get a new job
1 sees it as a personal goal toward learning and understanding records issues
2 see it as alternative to MLS or graduate degree
2 see no point in letting credential lapse

17. Survey question #7 Are you currently employed?
Yes, full-time permanent    
Yes, part-time, seeking full-time    
Yes, part time, by choice    
Yes, temporary (grant-funded, fixed-term)    
No, looking for work    
No, no longer in the job market    
No, unpaid internship    
No, volunteering to get experience

18. Employment results 153 respondents
86% (132) are employed full-time, permanent
5% (7) are employed part-time, by choice
4% (6) are employed temporary (grant-funded, fixed-term)
3% (4) are unemployed and looking for work
2% (3) are no longer in the job market
1% (1) are full-time, contract or temporary
0 are part-time seeking full-time, unpaid interns, or volunteers

19. Survey question #8
If currently employed, Did your employer require you to be certified before or after hiring?    
Yes, before hiring   
Yes, after hiring    
My employer does not require me to be certified

20. Employer required certification results
Employer required certification before or after hiring (145 responses)
86% (125) My employer does not require me to be certified
8% (12) Yes, after hiring
6% (8) Yes, before hiring

21. Survey question #9
If certification required before hiring, When you were hired, did your employer offer a higher salary because you are a certified archivist?    
Yes    
No    

22. Higher salary when hired with certification results
Employer offered higher salary for certified archivist (7 responses)
57% (4) No
43% (3) Yes

23. Survey question #10
If certification required after hiring, Did you or will you receive a pay increase when you became/become certified?    
Yes     No

24. Pay increase after certification results
Did you or will you receive a pay increase when you became/become certified? (12 responses)
92% (11) No
8% (1) Yes

25. Survey questions #11 and 12
If certified, In your opinion, how has archival certification improved your job performance?    
Very Significantly    
Significantly    
Neutral    
Insignificantly    
Very Insignificantly
Additional comments about the benefits or drawbacks of archival certification.

26. Job performance results
How has archival certification improved your job performance (142 responses)?      
37% (52) Significantly    
35% (50) Neutral  
10% (14) Very Significantly       
11% (15) Very Insignificantly
8% (11) Insignificantly

27. Benefits and/or drawbacks to certification responses
Certification showed my employer that I had the credentials to take over responsibility of the archives.
With so few jobs and an ever-growing pool of applicants, it’s a small way to set yourself apart from the crowd.
Certification should be a personal/professional goal within 1-2 years of employment. This helps support requests for workshops, travel to conferences, etc.
ACA certification encourages professional development.

28. Benefits and/or drawbacks to certification responses
The annual cost is frustrating
Financial burden to pay for professional development credits not required of librarians and historians
I don’t need a standardized test and pay an academy a yearly sum to validate my professional status
Doesn’t help when applying for another job
Not convinced the exam demonstrates anything beyond test-taking ability
ACA has not been the networking opportunity I expected

29. Survey question #13
The following questions are for demographic purposes.
What academic degrees have you earned? (Please select all that apply)    
Associates    
Bachelors
Masters - Library Science    
Masters - Archival Studies    
Masters - Subject Specialization    
Advanced Certificate in Archival Studies    
Doctoral Candidate (A.B.D.)    
Doctorate

30. Education results Academic degrees earned (151 respondents)
59% (89) Masters in Library Science
50% (75) Bachelors degree
50% (75) M.A. subject specialization
21% (31) Masters in Archival Studies
7% (11) Doctorate
5% (8) Certificate in Archival Studies
4% (6) Associates degree
2% (3) Doctoral candidate (A.B.D.)

31. Survey questions #14 and 15 What is your gender? Male Female
If currently employed, please categorize your current institution    
Academic Library/Archives    
Corporate Archives    
Governmental/Tribal Archives    
Historical Society    
Museum Archives    
Public Library    
Other, please specify

32. Gender results
Gender (151 respondents)
74% (111) female
26% (40) male

33. Institutional employment results
Institutional employment (143 respondents)
38% (55) academic
22% (31) government/tribal
19% (27) other (congressional, religious, private, non-profit, self-employed)
7% (10) museum
6% (8) public library
5% (7) corporate
3% (5) historical society

34. Survey question #16 What is your annual salary range, before taxes?
Under $20,000    
$20,000 - $29,999    
$30,000 - $39,999    
$40,000 - $49,999    
$50,000 - $59,999    
$60,000 - $75,000    
Over $75,000

35. Salary results Salary ranges of 148 respondents
22% (32) earn $50,000-59,999
21% (31) earn $60,000-75,000
20% (29) earn $40,000-49,999
19% (28) earn $30,000-39,999
14% (21) earn over $75,000
4% (6) earn $20,000-29,999
1% (1) earn under $20,000

36. Observations The majority of respondents Are recently certified
Believe in certification as a professional credential, forces them to remain current
Have full-time, permanent jobs
Certification is not a requirement of their current job
Renew just in case it will help get a new job
Financial reward not given for certification
Believe certification improved their job performance

37. Conclusion Respondents are optimistic
Professional credential gives them credibility outside the profession
Certification forces professional development and continuing education
Even though employers don’t require certification or reward archivists for having it, it’s still good to have “just in case”

38. Further research What is the future purpose of certification?
Encourage continuing education?
Encourage participation in professional conferences?
Self-satisfaction?
External recognition of credentials?
Additional hiring credential?
Will the recently certified archivists renew as they find that employers don’t require or reward certification?
How can a standardized test measure how well someone can function in a real world archival job?