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why Register?

Registration is a voluntary act that recognizes an individual’s commitment to be accountable for their behavior as a professional. Formal acknowledgment of the essential connection between personal responsibility and professional integrity across the discipline of archaeology is what sets RPAs and RAs apart.

Benefits of Registration

  • Your professional home – The Register of Professional Archaeologists is international and the largest archaeological professional registry in the Americas—and we have a place for you!

  • Work in more places – Registration is required to do archaeological work in many jurisdictions - and the list is growing every day.

  • Support for professionalism – Our grievance process protects RPAs/RAs who follow the Code of Conduct (Code) and Standards for Research Performance (Standards). The Register of Professional Archaeologists supports RPAs/RAs against frivolous allegations when an investigation shows they upheld the Code and Standards.

  • Education – We screen and certify continuing professional education programs and notify RPAs/RAs of these opportunities to improve their professional practice in diverse and dynamic discipline.

  • Marketing – The Register of Professional Archaeologists promotes the use of RPAs/RAs through advertising and outreach to industry associations and the public. We increase the demand for RPAs/RAs by promoting the advantages of the use of registered, accountable professionals to those who hire archaeologists.
  • Get paid more – RPAs/RAs generally earn higher salaries and have greater job responsibilities than archaeologists who are not registered.
  • With your Registration you will get: 
    • A customizable professional profile
    • Tools for connecting and collaborating with archaeological colleagues
    • Team management capabilities, such as workspaces, message boards, and more
    • An easy way to manage your RPA account and renew your registration
    • Exclusive access to premium workshops
    • Specialty use of JSTOR resources.
    • Collaborative and dynamic opportunities for career growth
    • Professional networking opportunities
    • ... and much more!


Photo Credit: Michael Spears, RPA 17067

requirements for rpa registration

  1. Accept the Register Code and Standards. The applicant must accept and agree to abide by the standards the Code of Conduct, Standards of Research Performance, and Grievance Procedures of the Register of Professional Archaeologists.

  2. Hold an advanced degree in archaeology or a related field. The applicant must have an advanced degree (such as an M.A., M.S., Ph.D., or equivalent) from an accredited institution and submit their official transcript with their application. The degree must be in archaeology, anthropology, classics, or another germane discipline with a specialization in archaeology.

  3. Design, execute, and report on archaeological research and analysis in a thesis, dissertation, or equivalent documents. The report must include substantive data analysis by the applicant directed towards an explicit archaeological research problem.

requirements for ra registration

  1. Accept the Register of Professional Archaeologists Code and Standards. The applicant must accept and agree to abide by the standards the Code of Conduct, Standards of Research Performance, and Grievance Procedures of the Register of Professional Archaeologists.

  2. Hold a Bachelor’s degree.

  3. Have at least two years of supervised work experience within the archaeological field. Accepted experience includes employment, internship, laboratory work, or field work. Participation in a field school for credit does NOT meet the qualification.

  4. Have a thesis or equivalent work completed.
  5. Find an RPA to sponsor you.

Register of Professional Archaeologists
411 East Northfield Drive, Box 9
Brownsburg, IN  46112

Phone: (317) 798-3001

Grievance Hotline: (410) 246-2150

You do not have to be an RPA/RA to file a Grievance

Email: info@rpanet.org

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