... to foster public confidence in genealogy as a respected branch of history by promoting an attainable, uniform standard of competence and ethics among genealogical practitioners, and by publicly recognizing persons who meet that standard ...

Purpose

Incorporated in 1964, BCG is an independent, not-for-profit certifying body that is nationally and internationally recognized. BCG promotes ethics and standards through its certification program and publications. These publications include Genealogy Standards; The BCG Application Guide; OnBoard, its newsletter; and SpringBoard, its blog. BCG also promotes ethics and standards through skillbuilding lectures at national conferences, through seminars, and through webinars.

Certification results from evaluation of work samples in a portfolio submission. For each certification category, BCG requires different materials. Applicants are evaluated on standards for documenting, standards for researching, and standards for writing. Three to four evaluators independently assess each application. Certification says a practitioner has met the rigorous standards for knowledge and competence of the field.

Learning Center

Understand the concepts and strategies that produce quality genealogical research that stands the test of time. Learn from resources available in the BCG Learning Center: webinars, journal and magazine articles, books, and blog posts.

Take advantage of hiring a Board-Certified Genealogist® by searching in the directory. BCG's associates know the records in their areas of expertise. They are able to research thoroughly, cite properly, analyze and correlate evidence efficiently, deal with conflicting evidence, and write a clear and convincing conclusion.

Those who hold a Certified Genealogist® credential have demonstrated their competence in research, analysis, kinship determination, and reporting skills. Using the resources here to learn about working to standards and experience may lead to a desire to validate this competence by acquiring the CG® credential. The process is explained.

BCG News

BCG releases a new Application Guide effective 1 July 2025. The new guide incorporates the application details for the new two-part process for certification. For more details, click here.
BCG Board

The Board for Certification of Genealogists congratulates three returning and two newly elected trustees for their election to terms beginning in October 2026.

Returning Trustees

𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐁. 𝐖. 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬, 𝐂𝐆®, 𝐂𝐆𝐆®, 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐧 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧, 𝐂𝐆®, 𝐂𝐆𝐆®, 𝐂𝐆𝐋®, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐲𝐞 𝐉𝐞𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬, 𝐂𝐆®.

Newly Elected Trustees

𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐀. 𝐁𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐢, 𝐉𝐃, 𝐂𝐆®, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐆𝐢𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐑𝐮𝐞, 𝐂𝐆®, 𝐀𝐆.

The BCG board is composed of fifteen trustees. All hold the Certified Genealogist ® credential, and serve without compensation. Every year, five trustees are elected by BCG associates to serve a three-year term which will begin after the annual board meeting on 17 October 2026.
New Associates

Congratulations to new associates Christine E. Neumann of Carmel, IN; Mary Kathryn Kozy of Kent, WA; Andrew Quackenbush of Ontario, Canada; Susanna Richards of Switzerland; Janna Heuer of Standardsville, VA; and Patricia R. Reed of Wheat Ridge, CO.
Associate News

BCG is proud to share that Jennifer L. Zinck, CG®, CGL®, AG®, AGL™, has been appointed by Governor Ned Lamont to the Connecticut State Historical Records Advisory Board (SHRAB), for a term extending through June 2029.

SHRAB is Connecticut's central advisory body committed to expanding preservation, access, and discovery of the state's historical record.
Associate News

William B. Saxbe of Williamstown, MA; Carol R. Whitmer of Vero Beach, FL; David Grawrock of Ivins, UT; Yvette Hoitink of Alphen aan den Rijn, Netherlands; Yvonne Mashburn Schmidt of Vidalia, GA; Constance T. Shotts of Leland, NC; Nicole Gilkison LaRue of Arnold, MD; and Mary O'Brien Vidlak of Williamsburg, VA successfully renewed their credentials.