Membership Requirements

There are two types of Professional Members, the Conservator and the Conservation Scientist.

A Professional Member is admitted to CAPC in one or more areas of specialization. In the case of the Conservator, the specialization is defined by the type of material on which they work (e.g. paintings, wooden objects, metals, etc.) or by the type of activity engaged in (e.g. conservation management, preventive conservation, etc.) In the case of the Conservation Scientist, the specialization is defined by the area of scientific enquiry (i.e. analysis, environment, etc.).

Minimum Requirements for Membership

To be eligible for membership in CAPC, the following four requirements must be met:

1. Training in conservation: the candidate must have received training in conservation in any one of the following ways (or a combination thereof):
   1. Formal conservation training program
   2. Apprenticeship under experienced conservator(s) or conservation scientist(s)
   3. Other training, including self-training, which may be considered by the Board of Examiners to be equivalent to the above on a case-by-case basis.
2. Experience: applicants must have a minimum of six full years in conservation including training and practice. In the application, applicants must demonstrate sufficient experience to be able to conduct all their work without supervision.
3. Professional involvement: a demonstrated involvement in the conservation field for at least four years is required. Examples of professional development include professional interaction or consultation with other conservators, membership in professional conservation organizations, and/or other activities.
4. Status: The candidate needs to be a Canadian citizen, a landed immigrant, and should be working principally in Canada.