Serious genealogists never stop learning. There are many options for genealogical education; the opportunities listed below are not exhaustive, nor are they compulsory. Each of us starts from a different place. Each of us has to choose what will work best given our different interests, aptitudes, friends, colleagues, budgets, and learning styles.

That said, serious genealogists do not confine themselves to the local, the familiar, or the easy. Those who succeed in becoming certified—and growing beyond that point—typically combine a variety of learning opportunities. BCG’s internal statistics show that applicants who engage in ambitious learning opportunities have a higher success rate than those who have not.


The purpose of the BCG Learning Center is to provide serious genealogists with resources for genealogical education. It is up to you to determine which options are appropriate and of value.

> BCG Resources on Key Skills

Select articles from OnBoard, BCG’s newsletter

“Ten-Minute Methodology” series of posts from SpringBoard, BCG’s blog

BCG’s Webinar Series

Preparing a Portfolio: Applying to Become a Certified Genealogist (webinar)

Genealogical Work Samples

Test Your Document Skills

> Recommended Reading

Recommended reading, in book, journal, and blog form, including content on DNA by BCG associates.

> Educational Activities

Educational activities including but not limited to academic programs (both online and onsite, usually lasting months or years); collaborative online study groups; institutes (usually one week onsite with a single focus); independent-study courses; and regional, national, and international conferences.

> Related Resources

Related organizations, including but not limited to other genealogical organizations and organizations of allied professionals.

Libraries and archives, a non-inclusive list of repositories containing significant genealogical collections.