Professional Membership

Professional membership provides the right to vote in all matters of the association, to be elected to office, and to receive all membership benefits. Professionals are encouraged to volunteer in support of the association and to attend the Annual General Meeting. Professional members in good standing are permitted to use the acronym CAHP|ACECP after their names. Professional members sign and agree to abide by the Code of Ethics. Specialization descriptions for Professional Members (used for marketing purposes and public information) are found on the CAHP|ACECP Directory of Professionals.

Requirements

Professional applications are reviewed for the following criteria:

  • Education and Training
  • Knowledge of Heritage Conservation Principles
  • Work Experience
  • Favourable commendation from their CAHP|ACECP Sponsor and references

Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics

The Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals, hereafter referred to as the “Association”, has several objectives in establishing a code of professional conduct and ethics, notably:

  • the establishment of guidelines for members to follow when conducting their professional affairs
  • the establishment of a set of standards to which members must comply
  • ensuring that the interests of the public in general and the clients in particular will be properly served by members of the Association.

Application Requirements and Procedures

Applications for Professional status must include:

  • completed application form (hard copy or digital)
    • signed Code of Conduct & Ethics Agreement  (signature for this agreement is included on the application form)
    • max 90wd description of expertise (synopsis for directory)
    • three references (sponsor cannot also be a reference) – letters from references are encouraged but not required.
  • updated CV (please attached an up-to-date CV to your application)
  • completed Experience Record Form used by professionals to log their annual experience
  • sponsor letter (letter of recommendation from a CAHP|ACECP member signed and dated)
    • your sponsor should be familiar with your heritage work and must be able to provide a letter of agreement for your application.
  • application fee ($75.00 non-refundable)

Intern Membership

CAHP|ACECP Interns have completed their studies, have a minimum of 12 months of total direct heritage experience in the heritage field, are currently employed in a heritage field, typically spending more than about 50% of their employment focused on heritage work. Simply being “interested” in heritage but not actively employed in a heritage-related field does not meet the requirement for Intern status.

An Intern does not have a specialization or text description listed in CAHP|ACECP’s member directory. Interns are not permitted to use the CAHP|ACECP acronym after their names. CAHP|ACECP Intern members are permitted volunteer on CAHP|ACECP committees. Upon completing the requirements for Professional Membership, CAHP|ACECP Interns are encouraged to apply for professional status.  Note: Applicants do not have to be an Intern CAHP|ACECP member prior to becoming a Professional CAHP|ACECP member.

Intern membership can be held for a minimum of 1 year up to a maximum of 5 years, after which the member must apply for Professional status or is removed from the membership rolls.

Application Requirements and Procedures

Applications for Intern status must include:

Qualifications for Acceptance as CAHP|ACECP Intern

CAHP|ACECP Intern Sponsor (required)

Each Intern applicant must have a CAHP|ACECP Sponsor, as follows:

  • The CAHP|ACECP Intern Sponsor is to be a current CAHP|ACECP Professional Member in good standing.
  • The CAHP|ACECP Intern Sponsor is permitted to be the Intern applicant’s employer, as long as the employer-sponsor is a current CAHP|ACECP Professional Member in good standing. When the Intern eventually applies for Professional membership, the applicant will be required to have at least two additional references that are not employed by the applicant’s (or sponsor’s) current workplace.
  • The Intern Sponsor fills in and signs the Intern Sponsor Form
  • The Intern Sponsor becomes familiar with the applicant’s work and meets with the Intern periodically (at least annually) to discuss the applicant’s knowledge of heritage conservation principles and the application of conservation principles in their work. The Intern is to submit the completed Intern-Sponsor Meeting Sign-Off Form
  • The Intern Sponsor should be the applicant’s sponsor when the applicant eventually applies for Professional Membership.

Education and Training (required)

Intern applicants are to have one or more of the following:

  1. Degree in heritage conservation from an accredited university;
  2. Degree in another heritage-allied field (e.g. architecture, engineering, history, archaeology/anthropology, museum studies, etc.), plus Item 3 or Item 4 below.
  3. Certificate program in a heritage-related field (e.g. craft/trade program or post-graduate heritage specialty certificate);
  4. Courses/seminars in heritage-related subjects taken before, during or after a degree or certificate program. Courses are to be 20 hours or more; 1-hour sessions at a conference do not count toward this requirement.

Knowledge of Heritage Conservation Principles (required)

  • Ability to demonstrate basic heritage conservation principles verbally to their Intern Sponsor
  • Demonstrates how he or she is beginning to use an analytical approach regarding heritage standards and guidelines in their field, as confirmed verbally to their Intern Sponsor

Work Experience (required)

Minimum 12 months of total direct experience in the heritage field and is currently working in the heritage field. For example, if the applicant spends about 50% of their time on heritage projects, then a minimum of 24 employed months (12 heritage focussed months) would be required.

  • Maintains Experience Record Form that logs the following: project names, project descriptions, dates/hours of time on each project, and other information required by the log.

Volunteering / Committee Work  (optional; not required to become Intern)

Intern applicants are not required to have had previous volunteering work in the heritage field to become an Intern, but Interns should consider doing volunteer work prior to applying Professional Membership, as this will strengthen their Professional application. Heritage-relevant volunteer work could include:

  • Volunteering for CAHP|ACECP, such as writing for the E-Forum or helping with the CAHP|ACECP AGM/Conference
  • Holding a position on municipal heritage advisory committee
  • Participation in heritage organizations (committee work/volunteer work, not just membership)
  • Work with other local groups deemed relevant to heritage
  • Paid or unpaid research for heritage structure or heritage conservation district nominations
  • Teaching heritage courses or giving lectures on heritage topics to community or post-secondary groups
  • Presenting at heritage conferences (such as Heritage Canada, APT, ICOMOS, provincial/local heritage group conferences, etc.) or presenting heritage topics at other conferences (e.g. professional associations)

Maintaining Intern Status

  • At the time an Intern is accepted to CAHP|ACECP, the Membership Committee will inform the person of the minimum required Intern period during which to gain additional work experience and heritage training.
  • Interns are to submit completed Experience Logs with their annual renewal forms/payment during each year of the required Intern period.
  • If annual Intern fees are not paid according to the Membership Renewal Policy, the Intern loses their CAHP|ACECP Intern status. Re-application to Intern status requires paying the Intern application fee and submitting all Intern application forms for review by the Membership Committee again.
  • Dropping down to “Inactive” or “Subscriber” CAHP|ACECP membership status does not substitute for being part of the CAHP|ACECP Intern program, unless there is a parental or student leave requested to the CAHP|ACECP Board which is approved. Otherwise, to become an Intern again requires re-application, including paying the application fee again.

Inactive or Retired

Inactive or Retired Members have previously held CAHP|ACECP Professional status but are no longer currently employed or consulting in the heritage field.

Should an Inactive or Retired member begin working again in the heritage field, they are obligated to inform CAHP|ACECP of their change in status. Failure to do so will result in disciplinary action determined by the Board.

Inactive or Retired members are not displayed in the Professional directory and are not permitted to use the CAHP|ACECP acronym after their name. Retired or Inactive members may attend the Annual General Meeting and social events, but they cannot be elected to the Board of Directors, sit on a committee or vote. Retired or Inactive members who would like to support CAHP|ACECP by offering volunteer services are encouraged and welcomed.

Application Requirements and Procedures

Applications for Inactive/Retired status must include:

Student

Student membership is available to those who are currently enrolled in a post secondary education program full time or part time and not employed or consulting in the heritage field. Student members will receive conference and workshop notices and can attend CAHP|ACECP social events. They will receive updates on membership news, activities and award programs (but are not permitted to apply for the awards). Student members have no voting privileges and may not be elected or appointed to the Board. Students are welcomed and encouraged to offer volunteer services to support CAHP|ACECP.

Application Requirements and Procedures

Applications for Student status must include:

  • completed application form (hard copy or digital)
  • updated CV  (please attached an up-to-date CV to your application)
  • no application fee

Subscriber

Subscriber Membership is open to individuals or institutions who would like to receive information from the association, but who cannot be, or do not wish to be Professional members.

Subscriber members will receive conference and workshop notices and can attend CAHP|ACECP social events. They will receive updates on membership news, activities and award programs (but are not permitted to apply for the awards). Subscribers have no voting privileges and may not be elected or appointed to the Board. Subscribers are welcomed and encouraged to offer volunteer services to support CAHP|ACECP.

Application Requirements and Procedures

Applications for Student status must include:

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