The Museums Association (MA) in the UK administers a training course which
leads to a Diploma and allows those having achieved it to use the letters
AMA after their names (Associate of the Museums Association).  In the past,
to achieve this, you had to have worked for certain number of years in a
museum, and undertake several weeks training on residential courses, take a
written exam and a practical exam talking about objects in your discipline.
 This more or less worked for curatorial staff, but not for those in
education or exhibitions, administration, or security etc.  The way it
works now, there are several routes to the AMA: a degree plus a
postgraduate course in Museum Studies; taking NVQs (National Vocational
Qualifications) in various museum-related subjects; and a couple of others
I cannot now remember.  After which you sign on to do 70 hours CPD
(continuing professional development) over 2 years, laying out what you
want to achieve and how.  The CPD can be completed by attending formal
training courses and conferences,self-directed learning, research, pretty
much anything as long as it is over and above your normal work e.g. day to
day documentation of the collection would not count but researching a new
database to do the job better would.  Progress through the 2 years is
monitored by a mentor, who offers advice (mentors are all members of the
profession who volunteer their time - we don't get paid), but its pretty
much up to the individual to work out the CPD goals and to keep going.  At
the end of the 2 years, the CPD is evaluated by a team put together by the
MA, and there is an interview, and the applicant has to agree to abide by
the MA Code of Ethics, and then they get their AMA.  I believe there is a
committment to continue CPD and they might introduce that as a condition of
continuing to be an AMA for those of us who went through the old system.
Not a bad idea, as it compels people to keep up to date with skills and
what's going on.  There is no compulsion on museum professionals to take
the AMA, but many job adverts say they are looking for someone with it, or
someone willing to study for it.

If anyone wants more information they should contact the MA directly:

http://www.museumsassociation.org/

Hope this helps.



Ann V. Gunn
University of St. Andrews