After completing my Archaeology degree at the University of Central Lancashire, I began my career in professional archaeology as a trainee at Cotswold Archaeology (CA). During my time at CA, I steadily progressed from Trainee to Archaeologist, and eventually to Experienced Archaeologist. After around four to five years in fieldwork, I decided to shift my career into a different direction towards consultancy. Drawing on the experience I had gained in the field, I secured a role as an Assistant Archaeology Consultant at Mott MacDonald. I’m now approaching my fourth year at Mott MacDonald, currently working as an Archaeology Consultant.
Applying for ACIfA felt like a natural progression in my career, having spent several years at Practitioner level. One of the key benefits of chartership is that it formally acknowledges your professional skills and experience, while also enhancing your career prospects and strengthening your professional reputation.
Through Continued Professional Development (CPD) I’ve been able to hone my technical skills and knowledge by taking part in various online courses. Opportunities for training and courses are everywhere, it’s just knowing where to look. There are numerous organisations online that provide excellent and insightful courses, such as the University of Oxford, CIfA and Historic England. Additionally, archaeology and heritage companies often have in-house specialists, so don’t hesitate to reach out to colleagues to arrange training sessions. Leveraging these networks can be a valuable part of your professional growth.
My journey to achieving ACIfA status was a gradual one, largely due to little time spare to prepare my application. For anyone looking to upgrade, my advice would be to tailor the process to suit your own schedule - make it manageable and realistic. There’s no single ‘correct’ way to approach your application; what matters most is that you feel confident and satisfied with the final result. The guidance provided by CIfA for Associate applications is incredibly helpful and ensures you're heading in the right direction.