Guidance > Conservation accreditation - a guide

Conservation accreditation - a guide

The Conservation Register requires that the lead member of each business seeking to join the Register is accredited; those businesses already included in the Register are being reviewed to ensure that their lead members are accredited by April 2007. The Register recognises several different accreditation schemes, each of which is briefly outlined below.

PACR - Professional Accreditation of Conservator-Restorers www.pacr.org.uk

The PACR scheme is operated by the Institute of Conservation, the British Horological Institute, and the Society of Archivists.

Accreditation through the PACR scheme is the principal professional qualification in conservation-restoration, denoting that the accredited practitioner is a fully-qualified and capable professional. It applies a common standard across the profession regardless of the specialism in which the conservator works (e.g. ceramics, paintings, furniture, architectural stonework, or clocks). It is a professional membership qualification.

Unlike an academic qualification, accreditation is subject to certain ongoing requirements, these include: a commitment to continuing professional development, adherence to professional guidelines and codes of ethics, and continued membership of a participating body.

As a guide, conservators applying for accreditation have in excess of ten year's experience if they have gained their knowledge and experience in the workplace, or in excess of five years post-qualification experience if they have undertaken a formal conservation training course such as a degree. Conservators complete an application form using a range of examples of work to demonstrate how they meet the professional standards. They are assessed in their place of work by two trained assessors, each of whom are themselves accredited conservators. The assessors evaluate how the conservator meets the accreditation standards and reports back their findings to the Accreditation Committee. The professional body awards accredited status to those meeting the required standards. A summary of the professional standards is given below:

Summary Professional Standards for Conservation-Restoration

Professional judgement and ethics    i.   understanding principles and practice  ii.   understanding the wider contexts of conservation-restoration  iii.   critical thinking, analysis and synthesis  iv.   openness to alternative methods and approaches  v.   understanding the ethical basis of the profession  vi.   observing code of ethics and practice  vii.   observing legal requirements  viii.   responsibility for the care of cultural heritage  ix.   responsible and ethical dealings with others  x.   respect for the cultural, historic and spiritual context of objects  xi.   handling value-conflicts and ethical dilemmas  xii.   understanding and acting within the limits of own knowledge and competence

Primary conservation-restoration standards   1.  Assessment of objects, collections and sites assessing and reporting on condition, assessing risks, identifying any problems to be solved   2.  Conservation-restoration options and strategies identifying and evaluating options, negotiating courses of action for treatment or preventive measures   3.  Conservation-restoration treatments undertaking treatments across a conservation-restoration discipline, including using relevant practical skills; developing and testing treatments; maintaining conservation records; advising on aftercare   4.  Preventive measures advising on the care of collections and objects; implementing preventive strategies; planning to minimise the effects of disasters and emergencies; maintaining conservation records Primary conservation-restoration standards   5.  Organisation and management managing projects and workflow; client / internal and external relations; health and safety; security; records and reports; communication   6.  Professional development maintaining up-to-date practice; extending and communicating knowledge; promoting conservation-restoration

Conservators accredited under the PACR scheme may use the designation ACR after their name. Only PACR accredited conservators can use the registered trademark shown here.

British Association of Paintings Conservator-Restorers www.bapcr.org.uk

The British Association of Paintings Conservator-Restorers operates a Fellowship scheme. After seven years' experience, including training in a studio or on a university course, Associate Members can apply to the Council for their work to be examined and assessed. A candidate's suitability for Fellowship is judged by two assessors from the BAPCR visiting the Member and looking at paintings they have been working on.

British Antique Furniture Restorer's Association www.bafra.org.uk

Membership of BAFRA is only open to artist-craftsmen who have been engaged in full-time restoration for a minimum of five years. All full and specialist members are accredited by BAFRA. Candidates for BAFRA membership are required to provide satisfactory references and are then assessed by an examiner appointed by the Executive Committee. Candidates are assessed on the levels and diversity of their skills, their knowledge of antique furniture and its history and their integrity as conservators. Their studio-workshops are assessed and they must satisfy fully the need for the highest levels of professional standards. The examiner's findings are then presented to the Executive Committee for approval.

Institute for the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works in Ireland www.irelandconservation.org

All members of ICHAWI are accredited. To become a member of ICHAWI an applicant must be a graduate of a recognised training institution such as the University of Northumbria, the Textile Conservation Centre, Camberwell College of Art, or the Courtauld Institute. This should be followed by a minimum of three years practical experience. Having applied for membership, the candidate is given the names of three conservators, members of ICHAWI, who have volunteered and trained to act as mentors. The candidate chooses one of these to act as a mentor who will advise the candidate what to expect during the accreditation procedure. The accreditation procedure itself involves an interview with an external assessor which takes place in the candidate's studio or on site during which the candidate is required to present a portfolio.

Use the Conservation Register to Find a conservator.

© Icon, the Institute of Conservation 2006.

This article offers general guidance and is not intended to be a substitute for the professional advice of an accredited conservator. The views expressed are those of the author or authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of the Institute of Conservation. The Institute of Conservation and its partners accept no liability for any loss or damage which may arise if this guidance is followed.