Professional Genealogist

Many people believe that a professional genealogist is just someone who's been doing it for years and has traced their family lineage back to the Stone Age. The truth is, however, that a true professional genealogist is much more than that. And in this technological age, when genealogy work is enhanced by the tremendous capabilities of the Internet, the need for true professional genealogists is great.

Heirlines Family History and Genealogy hopes to educate people so that they can recognize inexperienced or self-designated professional genealogists and, far worse, the unprofessional businessmen who take advantage of the unregulated nature of the Internet to provide people with inaccurate information for the sake of making a profit.

What Makes a Genealogist a Professional Genealogist?

The professional standards in genealogy are no different from those in any other industry. Professional genealogists have built a firm for themselves a firm foundation in genealogy through education, established professional standards, ethics, and experience.

Education. A professional genealogist has undergone significant education. The genealogy researchers at Heirlines, for example, are expected to have obtained college degrees in genealogy research, history, political science, or related fields.

Established Professional Standards. A genealogist demonstrates that he or she can uphold established professional standards by earning credentials from either the Board for the Certification of Genealogists (BCG) or the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen) or both. Becoming certified or accredited requires many hours of experience, an extensive application, and a rigorous exam. Many professional genealogists are also members of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG). Heirlines encourages their researchers to obtain these credentials and even provides mentoring and classes to assist interested genealogists in accomplishing these goals.

Experience. In order to even apply for accreditation or certification, interested genealogists must have completed a required number of hours of genealogy work in the specific region or ethnic group for which they wish to become accredited or certified.

Ethics. A significant part of the certification and accreditation process is to agree to uphold the ethical standards of the genealogical researcher profession.

Contact a Professional Genealogist
Heirlines' team of professional researchers have backgrounds representing expertise in many geographical areas. Contact Heirlines today for a free professional consultation and get started working with a professional genealogist today.