CIfA Approved Training & CPD is our brand name for training and CPD approved by us. It is a quality mark - any training, CPD or other learning opportunity carrying this logo will have been assessed against a set of learning criteria.
A wide range of learning opportunities have already been approved. Some Registered Organisations have had their in-house employee training approved and our own annual conference and CIfA Group events have also been approved.
We ask the learning opportunity leader to submit written evidence to support an application to become CIfA Approved Training & CPD and this is assessed against a set of criteria.
Any CIfA Approved Training & CPD learning opportunity may be randomly selected for reassessment at any time.
If you would like further information, explore our CIfA Approved Training & CPD section using the button below, or contact Anna at approvedcpd@archaeologists.net.
Advertising your courses with CIfA
Our weekly Jobs Information Service & Training (JIST) bulletin is the most comprehensive source of information about work and training opportunities in archaeology and related disciplines. It is available to CIfA members free of charge and non-members or Institutions for a fee. It includes adverts placed directly by employers and all archaeological, heritage, research and training opportunities that appear in the national press and specialist journals during that week.
Apprenticeships
Historic England has been working with CIfA and employers across the sector in the development of apprenticeships for those working in Historic Environment occupations. See the Historic England's Apprenticeships in the Heritage Sector page, or email HeritageApprenticeships@HistoricEngland.org.uk for further information
National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) in Archaeological Practice
The NVQ in Archaeological Practice level 3 was developed by and is available through CIfA to everyone working in archaeology, on a paid or a voluntary basis, or anyone seeking to develop a career in archaeology who can gather appropriate evidence and helps to demonstrate that they have particular set of skills, competencies or experience which will be of benefit when applying for jobs, promotion or CIfA accreditation at Practitioner (PCIfA) grade.
Take a look at successful NVQ3 candidates talking about the scheme in the following YouTube videos.
For more information about NVQs email anna.welch@archaeologists.net.
Accredited Degrees
Choosing an accredited undergraduate or Masters degree is a well-established career entry route in many sectors including engineering, planning and architecture, and is widely recognised as the first step on a career pathway leading to professional status. CIfA and UAUK have developed a scheme to accredit degrees in the UK.
Accreditation is only open to paid members of UAUK, and it is only available to institutions based in the UK.
The process of accreditation is either for entire degree programmes, or for defined pathways within these degrees (sets of modules or units). Undergraduate (single and joint honours) and Masters’ programmes may be accredited. In practice, this will mean that the degree or the pathway through a degree is accredited not the individual doing the degree. However, upon graduating from an accredited degree/pathway a graduate should meet the criteria for PCIfA (Practitioner) grade. ‘Practitioner’ is one of CIfA’s three professionally accredited member grades assessed on demonstrated technical competence and ethical suitability. Find out more about accredited member grades on the CIfA website.
There is more information about the application process in the downloadable documents below. You are strongly advised to contact Anna Welch at anna.welch@archaeologists.net from CIfA in advance of an application.
If you would like to discuss your application with UAUK please contact Ben Jennings at B.R.Jennings@bradford.ac.uk.
There are two deadlines a year for accreditation. These are: 1 December 2024 and 1 June 2025.