Get Certified!
Become a Certified Archivist
The Certified Archivist (CA) credential is earned by passing the Certified Archivist Examination and is maintained through annual ACA membership and recertification every five years.
The CA designation signals professional knowledge, competence, and a commitment to archival principles and standards. There are no education or work prerequisites to sit for the exam.
Exam Information Guide to the ExamThe path to certification
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Apply
Submit your application during the open application period, March 1 through April 30.
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Pass the exam
Sit for the Certified Archivist Examination, held once a year over three days in June.
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Activate your credential
Pay your first year of ACA membership dues by September 30 following notice that you passed.
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Keep it current
Pay annual dues each year, and recertify once every five years.
About the examination
The examination is based on the Role Delineation Statement for Professional Archivists, which describes the responsibilities and competencies required to manage and sustain effective archival programs. It tests both your understanding of professional standards and your ability to apply them in practice.
Dates, application steps, and testing details are on the Exam Information page. Exam structure and policies are covered in the Guide to the Exam.
Already a Certified Archivist? If you plan to recertify by taking the 2027 exam, use the Choose Your Path form by February 1, 2027, rather than applying here as a new candidate. See Certification Maintenance.
Who can take the exam
There are no education or work experience prerequisites. Beginning with the 2026 examination, ACA removed all eligibility requirements. Archivists enter the profession through many routes, and the credential is open to all of them. Read about All Pathways.
While there are no prerequisites, the exam does assume a solid foundation in archival knowledge and professional practice. Successful candidates are typically able to:
- Apply core archival principles and standards
- Work confidently across all eight practice domains
- Interpret and apply professional terminology and policies
- Evaluate archival issues using sound professional judgment
The CA credential is held by archivists in public, private, nonprofit, academic, and corporate settings.
After you pass
Passing the examination makes you eligible for the credential. It becomes active when you pay your first year of ACA membership dues, due by September 30 following notice that you passed. From then on, two separate requirements keep it active.
Annual membership dues
Every year · due September 30Dues keep your credential in good standing. If they go unpaid, the credential becomes Lapsed and then Suspended.
Recertification
Every five years · July 1 to June 30Earn 60 Continuing Education Credits and file the Petition for Recertification, or retake and pass the exam. Certification Maintenance
Paying dues does not count toward recertification, and earning credits does not cover your dues. Understanding Your CA Credential explains how the two work together.
Key dates and fees
| Item | Date or amount |
|---|---|
| Application period | March 1 - April 30, 2027 |
| 2027 Examination | June 10-12, 2027 |
| First-year dues deadline | September 30 following notice that you passed |
| Examination fee, first-time candidates | $125 (includes registration and a practice exam) |
| Annual ACA membership dues | $75 |
Fees are set by the ACA Board of Regents and are subject to change.
Prepare for the exam
Dates, application steps, and testing details.
Exam structure, rules, and policies.
Core readings across the practice domains.
Practical advice for planning your preparation.
Questions?
For questions about the examination or your application, contact the Regent for Exam Administration at examadmin@certifiedarchivists.org.
For questions about membership dues or activating your credential, contact ACA at office@certifiedarchivists.org or (518) 694-8471.