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Library certification requirements vary by state and country. In the US, a teaching certification or an ALA-approved master’s degree is required. The UK and Australia require a Bachelor’s degree in library science and a Master’s degree, plus an internship. Some states only require library directors to be certified, while others require a certain number of certified librarians for government funding. Contact the state board of education or the ALA for specific requirements.
Each state in America and each country has its own requirements and specific courses and tests that need to be passed in order to obtain a library certification. In most US states, a teaching certification in any discipline must be earned through courses accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Another way to do this is to earn a bachelor’s degree in any subject and then take an American Library Association (ALA)-approved master’s degree. In the UK and Australia, for example, the requirements are similar, as you need a Bachelor’s degree in library science and an internship or a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline, as well as a Master’s degree in library science or a related field, plus an internship.
At this time, the application for librarian certification is accepted in some states, while others prefer additional requirements, such as teaching experience, before the application is approved. Countries such as the UK and Ireland require a certain number of years as an apprentice or trainee. This is especially true if the candidate is seeking a school librarian position. Countries like Australia and Canada also require librarian membership. In Australia, future librarians must also become members of the Australian Library and Information Association, and in Canada, they must join the Canadian Library Association.
In 2006, the ALA created another method for earning a librarian certification for those who have three or more years of experience as a librarian but are not yet certified. This is called a certified public library administrator (CPLA). In some countries, a certain number of years of learning can automatically qualify a person for librarian certification.
Not all states require all employees to be librarian certified. States like Massachusetts only require library directors to be certified, while other states like Iowa require that a certain number of librarians be certified to receive government funding. Most schools, however, prefer certified librarians with teaching experience.
Considering all variations, it is recommended that anyone wanting to become a certified librarian in the US contact their state board of education or visit the ALA for state-by-state requirements. Typically, to earn a librarian certification, a candidate must first have a teaching certification in any discipline and take an ALA-accredited course. This is usually followed by a test on library media.
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