Certificate in Museum Studies FAQ

Certificate in Museum Studies Program Application Closure for 2026 - 2027

Due to significant oversubscription in the Certificate in Museum Studies (CMS) Program, the Alberta Museums Association (AMA) is closing new applications to the CMS Program for the 2026 - 2027 fiscal year. This closure will allow currently enrolled participants better access to the CMS courses required to complete their Certificate and graduate from the Program.

The Program has an oversubscription rate of approximately 31%, which is increasing each year. Since the digitization of the Program, the AMA has seen a 15% increase in participants each year, while only 6% of participants are graduating. While the Program allows participants eight years to complete all eight courses, most participants endeavour to complete the program as quickly as possible, typically in two years.

Participants enrolled in the Program will have priority access to course registration with any available spaces opened to the broader museum community. The AMA is temporarily increasing the number of available spaces in online courses and investigating alternative ways to support participants through the Program.

The AMA recognizes that this oversubscription indicates a strong need in the sector for museum studies education and wants to emphasize that the temporary closure of the CMS Program Application will not prevent non-program or ad hoc participation in CMS courses. Successful completion of individual CMS course(s) will be considered for credit towards the Certificate in Museum Studies for future participant enrolment.

How was the Certificate in Museum Studies (CMS) Program developed?

The Certificate in Museum Studies (CMS) Program has been developed over almost 40 years through ongoing research and development with contributions from a variety of knowledgeable museum professionals, including instructors, consultants, and the AMA Secretariat. It was first offered in 1988 as the Citation Program in Museum Studies. In 1992, the Citation Program was expanded into two levels, offering the opportunity to build on skills and knowledge gained in Level 1. In 1999, The Learning Coalition was formed, consisting of Education Coordinators from Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Ontario to share information, resources, and investigate joint initiatives and the standardization of the courses across Canada's provincial museums associations.

The CMS Program has undergone a number of reviews, with the most recent from 2021-2025. This in-depth review and digitization project redeveloped the courses to include online learning opportunities and ensure the curriculum aligns with current standards and issues in the museum sector. The CMS Program is now fully digitized and offers courses both in person and online.

What format are the CMS courses offered in?

In-person courses are delivered throughout the province in a two-day format, hosted by museums and other heritage organizations. They typically run from 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. each day for a total of 15 hours of training.

Online courses are self-paced, module-based, combined asynchronous and synchronous courses that run on the AMA's virtual learning platform over a duration of four weeks. Participants are expected to spend approximately 5 hours per week on course content, including live, virtual meetings.

When do the courses take place?

Courses are offered throughout the year, based on internal capacity and instructor availability. We attempt to offer each course every two years. Visit our Upcoming Learning Opportunities page to see our course offerings.  

Where do I register for an upcoming CMS course?

Registration information for open CMS courses is available on our events page.

Where can I find course descriptions?

For more details on the CMS Program, including course descriptions, please download the CMS Program Information PDF. 

How long does it take to complete the Program?

Participants have up to eight years to complete the Program; however, many participants are able to complete the Program in 2-3 years.

How can I stay informed about upcoming CMS courses?

The AMA announces our CMS courses through our e-Bulletin, on Main-L, and by direct email to our list of current CMS applicants. A list of upcoming learning opportunities can be found on the Upcoming Learning Opportunities page.

Do I need to be an AMA member?

The Program is open to any individual; AMA membership is not required.

Many CMS Participants choose to invest in an Individual or Student / Volunteer membership to gain access to discounts on the CMS Program Application, CMS course registrations and other professional development and learning opportunities, and access to the AMA's Knowledge Development Bursary.

Are there any prerequisites for the Program?

There are no prerequisites for the Program.

What is the difference between taking a course for-credit or not-for-credit?

To obtain a Certificate in Museum Studies, participants must apply to the CMS Program to gain credit in CMS courses towards the Certificate. For-credit participants must successfully complete assignments for all eight courses

Participants can attend courses without obtaining credit. In this case, assignments are not required.

What does it cost to apply to the CMS Program?

*Please note that the CMS Program Application will be closed for the 2026-2027 due to oversubscription.

Application Fee 

What does CMS Program application fee include?

The CMS Program application fee includes access to the Introductory Webinar, a copy of the Standard Practices Handbook, 3rd Edition, which is the required textbook for the Program, and administrative costs.

Does my application to the CMS Program automatically register me in upcoming courses?

No, participants must register in each course as it becomes available and pay the appropriate course registration fee. 

How much does each course cost?

CMS Course Prices

$125          Students
$225          Individual or Institutional Members
                  ($200 per person for more than one participant from the same institution)
$300         Non-Members

Additional financial support is available for Indigenous Members via the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit (FNMI) Scholarship. View "What supports are available to help with the cost of the Program?" below for more information.

What supports are available to help with the cost of the Program?

Knowledge Development Bursary

The AMA offers a Knowledge Development Bursary, which provides financial support to Individual Members of the AMA for both Formal and Informal learning opportunities that will enhance the current phase of their museum careers. For more information about the Knowledge Development Bursary, please contact the Grants Program Lead at grants@museums.ab.ca.

First Nations, Métis, and Inuit (FNMI) Scholarship

The AMA is pleased to announce the formalization of our First Nations, Métis, and Inuit (FNMI) Scholarship.

Since the introduction of the FNMI fee waiver for Indigenous Certificate in Museum Studies (CMS) Program participants, the Alberta Museums Association (AMA) has seen greater engagement with and representation from Indigenous individuals in the Alberta museum community. To better facilitate and support interested self-identified, Indigenous participants, the AMA is introducing a formalized scholarship structure.

Applications for the FNMI Scholarship will open annually in January and will remain open until all FNMI spaces are filled. FNMI participants who miss the scholarship intake will still be eligible for the Knowledge Development Bursary and will have access to discounted CMS course rates.

This scholarship is part of the AMA's work to integrate reconciliation into all of the Association's programs and services, and to encourage greater engagement with and representation of Indigenous individuals and perspectives in the Alberta museum community. 

For more information about the FNMI Scholarship, please contact Meredith Leary, Program Lead, at 780.424.2626 or learning@museums.ab.ca.

My question isn't here. Where can I find more information?

For more information about the Certificate in Museum Studies Program, please contact the Program Lead at learning@museums.ab.ca.

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Museum Assistance Program (MAP) of the Department of Canadian Heritage towards the digitization of the Certificate in Museum Studies Program.