Why Archival Certification?: Professional Development, Continuing Education, and Credibility

1. 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 email 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     • No

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     • 1989-1997     • 1998-2003     • 2004-2009     • 2010-2014

8. Year certified results • Year certified • 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 • Benefits • 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 • Drawbacks • 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?