How to Become an Archivist: Career Guide, Courses, After 12th, Eligibility, Entrance Exam, Skills, Salary

Qualifications to Become an Archivist

Certain qualifications are typically required to become an archivist in India. The basic qualifications are mentioned in the following points.

• Candidates should possess a minimum bachelor’s degree in disciplines like history, humanities, social sciences and library sciences. A master’s degree can provide better career prospects. 
• Candidates should possess practical experience and specialised skills to handle and manage different types of samples of historical importance.

Eligibility to Become an Archivist

The eligibility criteria vary according to the different courses that can be pursued to become an archivist. The general eligibility criteria are as follows. 

• For bachelor’s courses like BA history/social science and more, candidates are required to clear class 12 with a 50% mark from a recognised board. 
• For master’s courses in related fields, candidates have to obtain a bachelor’s degree in history or other disciplines from a recognised university with a minimum of 50% marks. 
• Candidates have to qualify for entrance exams if they are targeting top colleges for education. 

Types of Archivists

Depending on the nature of work and records handled, archivists can be of many types. Some common types of archivists include.

• Historical Archivist - Focus on preserving and managing historical records of historical significance like manuscripts, maps and documents. 
• Corporate Archivist - Work for businesses to preserve and manage their records like business documents, financial records and correspondence.
• Government Archivist - Ensure compliance with record management policies and provide access to government records for different purposes. 
• Digital Archivist - Deals with electronic documents and digital resources, ensuring their long-term preservation and accessibility.
• Art Archivist - Work in art galleries and museums to preserve records related to art collections and artist galleries. 

Steps to Become an Archivist

Candidates looking for a career as an archivist are required to have a combination of education and practical experience. The general steps are mentioned in the following points.

• After clearing class 12, candidates have to obtain a bachelor’s degree in history, social science, library science or related fields from a recognised university. 
• Candidates targeting top colleges have to appear in entrance exams to get selected for the coursework.
• Candidates can also pursue master’s courses to gain in-depth knowledge and better career prospects. 
• Candidates should look for internships at museums, archives and cultural institutions to gain practical knowledge.
• Candidates can also consider obtaining additional certificates and training in archival management and conservation techniques to improve their chances of getting hired.
• Candidates should keep an eye on different portals advertising archivist jobs and apply to suitable ones

Archivist Courses

Candidates aspiring to become archivists have to pursue courses in history, humanities, social science and other related disciplines. The details for some of the top courses are mentioned in the table below.

Entrance Exams

There are many examinations that candidates can appear in to get admission in top colleges offering courses to become archivist. The details for some of the top exams are mentioned in the following table.