... to foster public confidence in genealogy as a respected branch of history by promoting an attainable, uniform standard of competence and ethics among genealogical practitioners, and by publicly recognizing persons who meet that standard ...

Purpose

Incorporated in 1964, BCG is an independent, not-for-profit certifying body that is nationally and internationally recognized. BCG promotes ethics and standards through its certification program and publications. These publications include Genealogy Standards; The BCG Application Guide; OnBoard, its newsletter; and SpringBoard, its blog. BCG also promotes ethics and standards through skillbuilding lectures at national conferences, through seminars, and through webinars.

Certification results from evaluation of work samples in a portfolio submission. For each certification category, BCG requires different materials. Applicants are evaluated on standards for documenting, standards for researching, and standards for writing. Three to four evaluators independently assess each application. Certification says a practitioner has met the rigorous standards for knowledge and competence of the field.

Learning Center

Understand the concepts and strategies that produce quality genealogical research that stands the test of time. Learn from resources available in the BCG Learning Center: webinars, journal and magazine articles, books, and blog posts.

Take advantage of hiring a Board-Certified Genealogist® by searching in the directory. BCG's associates know the records in their areas of expertise. They are able to research thoroughly, cite properly, analyze and correlate evidence efficiently, deal with conflicting evidence, and write a clear and convincing conclusion.

Those who hold a Certified Genealogist® credential have demonstrated their competence in research, analysis, kinship determination, and reporting skills. Using the resources here to learn about working to standards and experience may lead to a desire to validate this competence by acquiring the CG® credential. The process is explained.

BCG News

BCG releases a new Application Guide effective 1 July 2025. The new guide incorporates the application details for the new two-part process for certification. For more details, click here.
BCG Board

At its October board meeting, the Board for Certification of Genealogists approved the following officer positions. Jenny Rizzo Irwin will fill the vice president position, and new board member Barbara A. Bombaci will assume BCG's secretarial duties.

The BCG board is composed of fifteen trustees. All hold the Certified Genealogist ® credential, and serve without compensation. Every year, five trustees are elected by BCG associates to serve a three-year term which will begin after the annual board meeting on 19 October 2026.
New Associates

Congratulations to new associates Vanessa Wood of Newtown, CT; Christine E. Neumann of Carmel, IN; Mary Kathryn Kozy of Kent, WA; Andrew Quackenbush of Ontario, Canada; Susanna Richards of Switzerland; and Janna Heuer of Standardsville, VA.
Associate News

BCG is proud to share that Jennifer L. Zinck, CG®, CGL®, AG®, AGL™, has been appointed by Governor Ned Lamont to the Connecticut State Historical Records Advisory Board (SHRAB), for a term extending through June 2029.

SHRAB is Connecticut's central advisory body committed to expanding preservation, access, and discovery of the state's historical record.
Associate News

Karen Mauer Jones of Ithaca, NY; William B. Saxbe of Williamstown, MA; Carol R. Whitmer of Vero Beach, FL; David Grawrock of Ivins, UT; Yvette Hoitink of Alphen aan den Rijn, Netherlands; Yvonne Mashburn Schmidt of Vidalia, GA; Constance T. Shotts of Leland, NC; and Nicole Gilkison LaRue of Arnold, MD have successfully renewed their credentials.