Faculty:
- Coordinator and Instructors Christine Murphy
- Other Instructors: Michelle Chubenko, AG; Laura Cubbage-Draper, CG; Kimberly Powell, AG; Judy G. Russell, JD, CG®, CGL®, FUGA
Tuition:
- Regular Price: $615
- NGS Member Price: $575
Description:
Many skilled genealogists reach a point where they want to pursue professional opportunities, but few educational programs address the practical realities of building a sustainable genealogy career. While many courses and classes effectively teach records and methodology, advanced amateur genealogists often struggle with the administrative and strategic “realities” of transitioning to professional work, such as defining a statement of services, navigating legal structures, and establishing a repeatable client path. This course bridges that divide, serving as a vital roadmap for those ready to turn their passion into a sustainable career.
Course Objectives
- Explore the different ways genealogists can build professional careers.
- Identify their skills, interests, and areas of expertise.
- Understand the basics of starting and running a genealogy business.
- Develop a professional practice for working with clients.
- Understand the ethical standards and professional expectations of working as a genealogist.
Prerequisites: None
Recommended Reading: None
NOTE: All times are listed in Eastern Time.
Live Sessions may be subject to schedule adjustments by your course coordinator.
| Day | Session | Time | Session Title | Description | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M | 8:30-9:00 | Welcome | Murphy | ||
| M | 1 | 9:00-10:15 | So You Want to Be a Professional Genealogist? | Professional genealogy extends far beyond traditional client research. This session explores the many ways genealogists turn their knowledge and skills into a profession, including client research, writing, lecturing, forensic genealogy, lineage society applications, archival work, editing, and content creation. Participants will consider both the opportunities and the realities of working professionally and begin identifying where their own interests and abilities might fit within the field. | Murphy |
| M | 2 | 10:45-12:00 | Find Your Niche: Where Do You Fit in Professional Genealogy? | There is no single career path for a professional genealogist. This session explores specialties such as forensic and genetic genealogy, house histories, lineage society research, military research, African American and Jewish research, probate research, archival consulting, publishing, and education. Participants will consider how experience, education, and focused study can develop into recognized expertise—and how specialization can strengthen professional opportunities. | Chubenko |
| M | 3 | 1:30-2:45 | Research Skills Aren’t Enough: What Makes a Great Professional? | Strong research skills are only part of becoming a successful professional genealogist. This session examines the analytical, writing, organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills needed to work effectively with clients, colleagues, repositories, and other professionals. Particular attention will be given to reliability, critical thinking, adaptability, professionalism, and managing the challenges that accompany professional work. | Cubbage-Draper |
| M | 4 | 3:15
-4:30 |
Can You Really Make a Living Doing This? Careers in Genealogy | Professional genealogists work in many different settings. This session explores self-employment, contract research, institutional positions, archives and libraries, government agencies, media work, and remote research opportunities. Participants will also consider the practical realities of professional genealogy, including fluctuating workloads and income, deadlines, client expectations, and maintaining a workable balance between professional and personal commitments. | Chubenko |
| T | 5 | 9:00-10:15 | Never Stop Learning: Building Your Genealogical Expertise | Professional development does not end when genealogical research becomes a career. This session explores educational opportunities available through institutes, conferences, certificate programs, academic programs, webinars, independent study, and mentorship. Participants will learn how to evaluate educational opportunities and develop a continuing-education plan that supports their individual professional goals. | Powell |
| T | 6 | 10:45-12:00 | More Than Finding Records: Evidence, Standards, and Solid Conclusions | Professional genealogy requires more than finding records, it requires evaluating evidence and reaching defensible conclusions. This session introduces genealogical standards, evidence evaluation, source citation, and sound research methodology. Participants will examine how professional standards influence research decisions, written conclusions, and the quality of work delivered to clients. | Cubbage-Draper |
| T | 7 | 1:30-2:45 | When Things Get Complicated: Ethics, Privacy, and Professional Judgment | Professional genealogists routinely encounter sensitive information and difficult decisions. This session examines ethical responsibilities involving privacy, DNA testing, copyright, client relationships, cultural sensitivity, conflicts of interest, and professional reputation. Through common ethical dilemmas, participants will consider how thoughtful professional conduct protects clients, researchers, and the integrity of the profession. | Russell |
| T | 8 | 3:15-4:30 | Do Letters After Your Name Matter? Credentials and Professional Credibility | Do professional genealogists need credentials? This session explores certification and accreditation programs, portfolio requirements, and professional organizations available to genealogists. Participants will consider the benefits—and limitations—of credentials, professional memberships, and continuing involvement in the genealogical community when establishing credibility and developing a career. | Powell |
| W | 9 | 9:00-10:15 | From “Who Was Grandma?” to a Research Plan: Managing Client Projects | Successful client work begins long before the first record is located. This session follows the professional research process from establishing a clear objective through developing a research plan, tracking findings, maintaining research logs and client files, managing time, and evaluating progress. Participants will learn practical workflow strategies for keeping complex projects organized, efficient, and focused | Cubbage-Draper |
| W | 10 | 10:45-12:00 | You Found It—Now Explain It: Writing for Clients | Excellent research loses much of its value if the results cannot be communicated clearly. This session focuses on professional writing, including research reports, proof arguments, client correspondence, educational writing, and editing. Participants will examine clarity, documentation, tone, organization, and formatting, with particular attention to producing work that clients can understand and future researchers can follow. | Chubenko |
| W | 11 | 1:30-2:45 | Work Smarter, Research Better: The Professional Genealogist’s Digital Toolkit | Technology has transformed how professional genealogists research, organize, analyze, and deliver their work. This session explores genealogy software, citation tools, cloud storage, DNA platforms, AI-assisted research tools, project-management systems, scanners, and digital workflows. Emphasis will be placed on selecting tools that improve efficiency without sacrificing careful analysis and sound methodology. | Murphy |
| W | 12 | 3:15-4:30 | DNA on the Job: Using Genetic Evidence Professionally | DNA evidence has become an increasingly important part of professional genealogical practice. This session provides an overview of genetic genealogy and its applications in client research, unknown-parentage cases, forensic investigations, and kinship analysis. Participants will also consider the ethical, privacy, and legal issues that accompany the professional use of genetic evidence. | Murphy |
| Th | 13 | 9:00-10:15 | From Researcher to Business Owner: Making Genealogy Your Profession | Turning genealogical expertise into a sustainable business requires more than research ability. This session covers defining services, identifying target clients, establishing business policies, setting realistic goals, evaluating startup costs, and creating a workable business structure. Participants will begin considering what kind of professional practice best matches their skills, interests, and long-term goals. | Cubbage-Draper |
| Th | 14 | 10:45-12:00 | What Is Your Expertise Worth? Pricing Your Time and Running the Numbers | Setting fees can be one of the most difficult decisions for a new professional genealogist. This session examines hourly rates, retainers, project pricing, contracts, invoices, bookkeeping, taxes, and other financial considerations. Participants will explore approaches to pricing their expertise fairly while building a financially sustainable professional practice. | Chubenko |
| Th | 15 | 1:30-2:45 | Getting Noticed—and Getting Hired: Building Your Professional Presence | Clients need to know not only that you exist, but why they should trust you with their research. This session explores websites, blogs, social media, speaking, publishing, networking, referrals, and other methods of developing professional visibility. Participants will learn how to establish credibility, communicate their expertise, and attract appropriate clients without compromising professional standards. | Chubenko |
| Th | 16 | 3:15-4:30 | Don’t Go It Alone: Building Your Genealogy Network | Genealogy may involve many hours of independent research, but successful professionals rarely build their careers alone. This session explores networking, mentorship, collaboration, conferences, volunteer leadership, and peer support. Participants will identify practical ways to develop genuine professional relationships that encourage learning, referrals, collaboration, and long-term career growth. Special attention will be given to the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) and its role in supporting those working in the business of genealogy. Participants will explore APG membership, its Code of Ethics and Professional Practices, continuing-education opportunities, chapters and special interest groups, the APG Directory, APG Quarterly, the Professional Management Conference, and opportunities for networking, collaboration, leadership, and professional visibility. | Murphy |
| F | 17 | 9:00-10:15 | What’s It Really Like? A Day in the Life of a Professional Genealogist | What does working as a professional genealogist actually look like? In this moderated panel, working professionals representing different specialties and career models will discuss how they entered the profession, how their businesses or careers evolved, and what their work looks like today. Panelists will share successes, challenges, client experiences, financial realities, continuing-education choices, and lessons learned along the way. An extended question-and-answer period will give participants an opportunity to explore the realities of professional genealogy directly with those doing the work. | Chubenko and Powell |
| F | 18 | 10:45-12:00 | Your Next Chapter: Turning Genealogy into a Profession | The final session turns what participants have learned into a practical plan for moving forward. Participants will evaluate their current skills, interests, experience, and professional goals and identify realistic next steps in education, specialization, networking, business development, credentialing, and professional involvement. Each participant will leave with the beginnings of an individualized roadmap for developing or strengthening a career in professional genealogy. | Murphy |