The 1970s saw much internal SAA discussion of education and professional development, but few colleges and universities were interested in program accreditation.
[4][5] The ACA exam, offered annually at various locations, is a multiple choice test that covers seven domains of knowledge:[6] The benefits of certification have been a subject of debate within the profession and in its literature.
[7] In a 2013 survey, Susan Hamburger found that "archival certification has a lukewarm to hostile response from hiring managers."
[8] Eira Tansey's analysis of listserv job postings between October 2006 and May 2014 revealed a distinct regional split: "Few jobs indicate a hiring preference for ACA archival certification, however those that do tend to be in the South and Midwest.
"[9] Mott Lin argues that certification places archives firmly in line with other professions, and that "archivists of today are fortunate" for the practice in light of the failure to implement accreditation of individual archives or educational programs.