Shara,

There is no nationally recognized "certificates" in conservation in the USA. 
The American Institute for Conservation (AIC) is in the process of developing 
a certification program. This certification will be structured to take place 
after fulfilling your educational requirements.  Pretty much these days, if you 
want to work for an institution as a professional conservator, you will need 
a graduate degree in conservation. There are conservation programs in North 
America at:

Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and 
Preservation.

Conservation Center of the Instate of Fine Arts, New York University.

Queens University, Art Conservation Program (Kingston, Ontario, Canada)

Buffalo State College, Art Conservation Department.

Straus Center for Conservation, Harvard Art Museums, Harvard University.

University of Delaware/Winterthur, Art Conservation Department.

University of Pennsylvania, Graduate Program in Historic Preservation.

University of Texas at Austin, School of Information.

There are prerequisites that you will need to fulfill to enter any of the 
programs. This generally will require a combination of course work in chemistry, 
studio art, art history,  anthropology, or library science (in the case of 
book conservation). Usually the programs require a level of laboratory experience 
under the guidance of a conservator (usually short-internships) and a 
portfolio of the projects you have worked on. The specific prerequisites will vary 
from program to program.

You should locate any conservators nearby and talk to them about a career in 
conservation - were pretty friendly folks!

The AIC website has detailed information on becoming a conservator at:

http://aic.stanford.edu/education/becoming/

All Best Wishes,
Dave

David Harvey
Objects Specialty Group, Emeritus Chair
Los Angeles, California

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