IGG Professional Standards

In response to the need for standards and credentialing in the field of investigative genetic genealogy (IGG), the Investigative Genetic Genealogy Accreditation Board (IGGAB) has published its IGG Professional Standards after extensive efforts on the part of the board, the advisory board, and input from the public during a sixty-day public comment period. Additionally, IGGAB will be providing the first IGG accreditation exam in late 2023 or early 2024. This presentation will follow-up on last years’ table talk at ISHI but go into more depth on the Standards themselves and provide details about the accreditation exam.

The IGG Professional Standards include: accreditation requirements for applicants, the IGG Standard of Proof, competency standards, ethical proscriptions, and dispute resolution provisions for credentialed IGG practitioners who fall below standards. In total, the IGG Professional Standards represent a pivotal step towards the professionalization of the field of IGG. The IGG accreditation exam will test applicants’ knowledge of a series of core competencies in IGG.

In this talk, members of the board of IGGAB will describe the development of the IGG Professional Standards, why certain elements were included or excluded, preparation for the upcoming accreditation exam, and the next steps in working collaboratively with all stakeholders to further professionalize the field of IGG.