Career advancement can be achieved with relevant work experience and additional training. Many preservationists move on to work or manage larger projects within their specific expertise or special interest (say, the Spanish influence in the Southwest or preserving landmarks found along the famous Route 66).
Experienced preservationists may also advance to positions in the private sector. Many businesses such as architectural firms or law firms that specialize in the housing market may not be interested in restoration but still desire skilled professionals with knowledge of the National Register. Some preservationists, especially those interested in the legal side of restoration, opt to pursue a law degree specializing in restoration law. Some law schools offer a dual degree in law and a preservation-related field such as urban planning.
- Active and Contemplative Religious Sisters and Brothers
- Anthropologists
- Archaeologists
- Archivists
- Artists
- Book Conservators
- Conservators and Conservation Technicians
- Demographers
- Directors of Corporate Sponsorship
- Directors of Fund-Raising
- Directors of Volunteers
- Economists
- Education Directors and Museum Teachers
- Environmental Education Program Directors
- Environmental Lobbyists
- Ethnoscientists
- Exhibit Designers
- Fund-Raisers
- Futurists
- Gallery Owners and Directors
- Genealogical Researchers
- Genealogists
- Geographers
- Grant Coordinators and Writers
- Historians
- Land Acquisition Professionals
- Land Trust or Preserve Managers
- Lexicographers
- Librarians
- Linguists
- Lobbyists
- Medical Ethicists
- Museum Attendants
- Museum Directors and Curators
- Museum Technicians
- National Park Service Employees
- Nonprofit Social Service Directors
- Park Rangers
- Political Scientists
- Proposal Managers
- Public Interest Lawyers
- Public Opinion Researchers
- Public Relations Specialists
- Rabbis
- Roman Catholic Priests
- Social Workers
- Sociologists
- Statisticians
- Taxidermists
- Tour Guides
- Zoo and Aquarium Curators and Directors
- Zookeepers
- Zoologists