As you plan to offer genealogical services on a fee basis, the Association of Professional Genealogists has some guidance to offer. Professional genealogists come from a variety of backgrounds and offer a variety of skills, including genealogical research, writing, and lecturing. Your desire to be a professional genealogist indicates that you enjoy genealogy and sharing your talents with others. The following information has been designed to help you determine if the genealogical profession suits you and if you have the necessary skill, experience, and expertise to offer your services to others for pay. Qualifications Of primary importance is your adherence to high standards with regard to both quality of work and ethics.
Personal experience is essential before working for others - lots of experience.
By solving a wide variety of genealogical problems you will build a diverse background and achieve a higher level of competence and experience. If you are unsure about your qualifications, enlist the services of a professional genealogist to critique your work and to provide advice. Do work for friends to test your skills. No matter what your educational background or your experience level, you need to determine if you possess a wellrounded set of skills in preparation for the genealogical service you plan to provide. A genealogist must be familiar with the records appropriate for solving a particular problem, know where to access the records and how to analyze and interpret the evidence, and be knowledgeable of the proper form for citation of sources.