The
Registered Genealogist Program is intended to give people an
opportunity to become a 'registered' genealogist so that they may offer
their services to others as a professional and trained genealogist.
Although we realize that a person does not need credentials to call
themselves a professional genealogist, there are those that desire the
opportunity to learn more and to have their name offered to the public
as a professional. The course will be taught by other Accredited and
Certified Genealogists associated with the Hawking Institute, an international non-profit organization.
The Registered Genealogist Program is designed
after the Accreditation Program offered by the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints, but is not associated with their program, although it is overseen by a former Accredited Genealogist with 25 years experience. You do NOT
have to be LDS, or even live in the United States to take this program.
You may live anywhere in the world and you may specialize in any area
of the world. This program is entirely online and available to anyone
of any age or background. No one will refused admission. Graduation
will be dependent upon you.
The following areas of specialization are available:
- United States Research
- Eastern United States
- Southern United States
- Midwestern United States
- Western United States
- LDS Research
- Native American Research
- African American Research
- Canadian Research
- Central American Research
- Mexico Research
- South American Research
- Pacific Island Research
- Pacific Research
- Aboriginal Ancestry
- Australian Research
- New Zealand Research
- Asian Research
- Korean Research
- Laois Research
- VietNam Research
- Hong Kong Research
- Japan Research
- Phillipine Research
- British Isles
- Ireland Research
- Scotland Research
- England Research
- Wales Research
- Isle of Man Research
- Greenland Research
- Iceland Research
- Scandanavian Research
- Norway
- Sweden
- Denmark
- European Research
- Spain
- Portugal
- Poland
- France
- Germany
- Netherlands
- Switzerland
- Greece
- Italy
- Romania
- Czechoslovakia
- Russian Research
- India
- Pakistan
- Middle East Research
- Turkey
- Israel
There
are other areas available but at this time we have had no one express
an interest in those areas. If there is one that interests you that is
not listed, please let us know by emailing the webmaster at dianamuir@motherhubbardscupboard.net.
The
Registered Genealogist class is a total of 12 classes, each one taking
a month, and each month is free. Before you can take the final test,
you must sucessfully complete all 12 courses. You do NOT have
to take them in order and may skip a month if necessary. A new class
will start each month and after 12 months there will be 12 different
classes online at once.
The following topics will be covered in the following order:
- Organizing Your Research - Collecting information and forms useful for keeping track.
- Primary Records - Vital Records
- Probate Records
- Land Records
- Church Records
- Cemetery Records
- Census Records
- Military Records
- Miscellaneous Records
- Specialty Area Primary Records
- Specialty Area Secondary Records
- Report writing and acountability.
There
is rolling enrollment and you can register for the class and begin at
any time. The majority of the material will be online and will be more
indepth than the free classes which you might be familiar with. There
will also be homework assignments required to be turned in at the end
of each month prior to grading.
The final
test (after all 12 classes) will take approximately 4 hours to complete
and will be mailed to you for completion. It will include questions
about basic methodology, resources, history, and about your specialty
area. You will also be required to submit a four generation pedigree
chart with documentation and accompanying family groups sheets, with a
report detailing the methodology and prospects for that research in the
area in which you wish to specialize. You must pass the written test by
85% and submit the four generation research in order to become
'registered'.
Once 'registered' your name
will be added to a list of Registered Genealogists and linked to the
WorldGenWeb as professionals who may be contacted for assistance in
research. You may set your own rates, but remember, if complaints are
received about any person, the WorldGenWeb Board will convene to
discuss the issues and decide whether to keep that person's name on the
register or not.
As a courtesy, Accredited
and Certified Genealogists who have documentation from another entity
may submit it to the Hawking Institute staff and be listed on the
register as a courtesy each year. The register will be maintained by the Hawking Institute but will be made available to anyone who wants to link to it.
To register for the certification class, please send your:
- Name
- Physical (not an alias email such as a geocities address) Email address for homework assignments to be returned to.
- Snail mail address to mail the final exam to.
- Area of Specialty
- Classes are now free.
- Social Security number (later!) when final transcripts are made up for college credit.
The Hawking Institute, Inc.
c/o Diana Muir
3400 Valley Vista RD SE
Smyrna, GA 30080
If you have further questions, please contact Diana Muir, the Administrator of the Hawking Institute, Inc. and the Instructor for the first portion of this class at dianamuir@motherhubbardscupboard.net.
To Begin Lesson 1:
