Taking a genealogy course is a great way to acquire further family history skills and potentially even qualify as a professional genealogist. Luckily, many genealogy courses are available online or by correspondence - meaning you can get started on family history or expand your skills from your own home.
The best online and correspondence genealogy courses available now
Society of Genealogists
The latest online family history course from the Society of Genealogists is 'Beginners' Palaeography with Caroline Adams'. This course will teach you how to read old handwriting for use in family and local history. Starts 22 January, lasts five weeks, cost £65.
Pharos Tutors
Pharos Tutors are specialists in online genealogy courses. They offer anytime courses on topics including beginning your family tree and inspiring children’s interest in family history (prices range from £19.99 to £45.99) and they have a two-part 'Foundations of Family History' course showing you how to begin your family history research. They also have a full programme of courses on different aspects of family history. Upcoming courses include 'Advanced Military Research - 20th Century Conflict' (starts 20 January, lasts three weeks, cost £50) and 'Introduction to One-Name Studies' (starts 20 January, lasts five weeks, cost £70).
University of Strathclyde
The Strathclyde Institute for Genealogical Studies in Glasgow offer flexible learning pathways perfectly suited for beginner through to expert to help you develop the skills required to progress your family history research. Choose from a range of eight week online classes (costing £176.00) commencing in January, April, and October each year. Or take one of their free online MOOCs, allowing you to study anytime, anywhere in the world. If you already have an existing interest and experience in genealogy, you can take your research further with their flexible online postgraduate degree in Genealogical Studies or even a PhD in History with Genealogical Studies!
Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies
The Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies (IHGS) is an independent charitable trust dedicated to family history and genealogy education and research. They offer a range of correspondence genealogy courses which can be done from home at your own pace.
Celia Heritage
Celia Heritage is an author, professional genealogist and Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine contributor who offers a range of genealogy courses from a one-off video tutorial on using wills for £12.99 to her complete 7-module family history e-course for £447.
The best genealogy courses to become a professional genealogist
If you are a keen and experienced family historian, you may well have thought about setting up a business as a professional genealogist. There is no one genealogy course for becoming a professional genealogist. However, if you wish to join a professional body for genealogists in the UK, such as the Register of Qualified Genealogists (RQG) or the Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives (AGRA), a qualification may be one of the requirements for acceptance.
For full RQG membership applicants need a postgraduate diploma level qualification currently offered by:
• The IHGS Higher Certificate & Diploma in Genealogy
• The University of Strathclyde Postgraduate Diploma in Genealogical, Paleographic and Heraldic Studies
For AGRA, passing one of the following genealogy courses will grant you exemption from some aspects of the membership assessment process:
• The IHGS Higher Certificate & Diploma in Genealogy
• The University of Strathclyde Postgraduate Certificate in Genealogical, Paleographic and Heraldic Studies
• Pharos Tutors Family History Skills & Strategies (Advanced) Distance Learning Course (run in association with the SoG)
Rosemary Collins is the features editor of Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine
