High School
Your love of history is a good foundation for a career in preservation. In high school, take as many history classes as possible. Start with U.S. history, but also consider the history of art and architecture. Business classes such as marketing and finance will prove helpful when raising funding for a new project or finishing one within a set budget. As a historic preservationist, you will be expected to write proposals to nominate a potential site, research a specific architectural style, or work as a liaison between federal and local agencies. Begin your training with classes, such as speech and English, that will strengthen your writing and speaking skills.
Postsecondary Training
Colleges and universities throughout the United States offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in historic preservation. Most positions, especially those connected with the federal government, require at least a bachelor's degree. Management positions, such as those of staff historian, will require a master's degree or Ph.D.
Expect to take classes that focus on the history of a particular design, such as architecture, landscape, archeology, or urban development. You will also take classes on the proper techniques of preservation and documentation. Many programs offer elective classes in law, real estate development, business, government, and design.
Most programs also require successful completion of an internship or short-term apprenticeship. For example, if you choose to intern at the National Park Service, you could acquire valuable field experience working alongside professionals at a variety of locations—a historic site, museum, or national landmark.
Certification
Some colleges and universities offer undergraduate and graduate certificates in historic preservation and related fields. For example, New York University offers a certificate in historic preservation studies. To earn the certificate, students must complete the following courses: Understanding Traditional Architecture, Preservation Planning and Practice, Preserving Historic Neighborhoods, and Changing Standards in Historic Preservation. Contact schools in your area for information on available programs.
Other Education or Training
The National Preservation Institute offers seminars in eight main areas: identification, planning, and evaluation; laws and regulations; cultural and natural resource management; Native American cultural interests; technology; historic property management and design considerations; curation, conservation, and stewardship; and emergency preparedness and response. Visit https://www.npi.org/trainings for more information.
- 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