The Academy of Certified Archivists (ACA) is a non-profit, voluntary, credentializing
agency for the archival profession. It exists to certify the knowledge and abilities
of individuals who possess at least a master's degree and one year of appropriate
archival experience. Candidates take a written exam on the primary aspects of
archives administration. The exam is held once a year at various sites nationally.
Candidates must re-certify every five years to retain membership in ACA.
The ACA was founded in 1989 at the annual meeting of the Society of American
Archivists (SAA). Prior to the establishment of the ACA, the SAA established the
Interim Board of Certification (IBC) to develop a certification program for the
profession. With the support of the SAA, the IBC conducted initial phases of
certification by petition and examination.
The main goals of the ACA are to define and advance professional archival education,
concepts, and issues. The organization also strives to identify and promote
understanding of archival goals, ethics, and standards. It also promotes the value
of certification as being the only standard in which employers are able to judge the
qualifications of prospective staff memebers.
The ACA is led by four officers (president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer)
and five regents (analogous to board members in other organizations).
