This one-hour video seminar covers the essentials about BCG certification.

Presenters are Elissa Scalise Powell, CG, CGL , Dr. Thomas W. Jones, CG, CGL, FASG, and Rev. Dr. David McDonald, CG.

This session was recorded at the Federation of Genealogical Societies 2012 conference in Birmingham, Alabama. The video seminar follows the same format as the certification seminars BCG presents at the annual conferences of the National Genealogical Society and the Federation of Genealogical Societies.

BCG certification seminars have also been presented at various regional conferences, at Samford University's Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research, and at the National Institute on Genealogical Research in Washington, DC.

Certification: Measuring Yourself Against Standards

Many thanks to FamilySearch who made this video possible.

© Copyright 2012 - Board for Certification of Genealogists ®. All Rights Reserved. Videos for personal use only. Presentation at meetings or public assemblies requires prior written permission from BCG.

ELISSA SCALISE POWELL, CG, CGL, is a western Pennsylvania researcher and co-director of the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP). Certified since 1995, she is the President of the Board for Certification of Genealogists; an instructor for the “Genealogy Profession” module of Boston University’s on campus and online Genealogical Research Certificate course; and coordinator of the “Professional Genealogy” course at the Samford University Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research. She is a former director of the Association of Professional Genealogists and past president of two local genealogy societies. She is a co-editor of a cemetery book series and a regional and national speaker on methodology, Pennsylvania records, professional development, and society management.

THOMAS W. JONES, Ph.D., CG, CGL, FASG, FUGA, is a genealogical researcher, editor, and educator. Since 2002 Tom has co-edited the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, a leading scholarly journal in the field. He teaches "Evidence Evaluation and Documentation" in Boston University's certificate program in genealogy, "Writing and Publishing for Genealogists" at the Samford University Institute of Genealogical and Historical Research, "Advanced Genealogical Methods" at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, and "Determining Kinship Reliably with the Genealogical Proof Standard " at the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh. He earned his doctorate, in education, at the University of Pittsburgh. Certified since 1994, Tom is a trustee and past president of BCG.

DAVID McDONALD, D. MIN., CG, is a former president of the Board for Certification of Genealogists and a current BCG trustee. He chaired the Board's outreach committee from 2005-09. He is, or has been, a director of the National Genealogical Society, the Association of Professional Genealogists and the International Society for British Genealogy & Family History. Based near Madison, Wisconsin, he specializes in research in the pre-Civil War period, and English research. He lectures on religious practices and denominational/congregational records as well as migration and methodolgy. Dave is a past editor of the Wisconsin State Genealogical Society Newsletter, and his articles have appeared in a number of genealogical publications, including the NGS Quarterly and Magazine. He holds a doctorate in theology from Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. Board-certified since 2004.