How To Become an Archivist

What degree do you need

One of the most common questions that we always get is what major or degree do I need to become Archivists or what courses do I need to take.

We also asked Archivists what did they major in college or university and here are the top 5 most popular majors that came up.

Most employers prefer Archivists to have a graduate degree in history, library science, archival science, or records management.

How hard is it

You will need an extensive amount of skill, knowledge and experience to be an Archivist. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, a surgeon must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

Careers in this difficulty category may need some on-the-job-training, but most of these careers assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, and work-related experience and training. These careers usually involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Similar careers include pharmacists, lawyers, astronomers, biologists, neurologists, and veterinarians.

License and certifications

The Academy of Certified Archivists offers voluntary certification for archivists. Archivists with at least a master’s degree and a year of professional archival experience can obtain the Certified Archivist credential by passing an exam. They must renew their certification periodically by retaking the exam or fulfilling continuing education credits. At this time, only a few employers require or prefer certification.

Skills required

We asked other Archivists if they could only have 5 skills, what would they be. Here is what they said.

Knowledge required

Just like any other job, you will need certain know-hows to excel at your job. Archivists are generally very knowledgeable in these 5 key areas.

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