(Full disclosure: I'm an uncertified archivist.)

> My only disagreement with your statement is that not all archivists 
> are hired by other archivists.

 	Corporate archivists are the ones that generally find it most 
useful to have the certification while job hunting. In those 
environments, where the archives is primarily considered an 
administrative or business function, employers often will look for a CA 
for their archivists much like they look for a CPA for their 
accountants. If they know nothing else about archives, which many of 
the people doing the hiring don't, they can focus on certification as a 
criteria.
 	It is rare to see it required for even corporate archives 
positions, but I think a certified candidate will have a distinct 
advantage over their competitors in that environment.

 			Curtis Lyons
 			Va. Commonwealth Univ.

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