International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists

What International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists does

The International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen) is a Utah-based nonprofit credentialing organization, founded in 1964, that awards the Accredited Genealogist® (AG®) and Accredited Genealogist Lecturer™ (AGL™) credentials to professional genealogists. Its core evaluation process is a multi-phase testing regime comprising a four-generation research project submission, in-depth written examinations, and exhaustive oral examinations. Standard testing is conducted at the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, with custom-scheduled testing at facilities worldwide. The organization covers 50+ accreditation regions organized under seven broad geographic areas: the United States (with sub-regions including a dedicated African American research track), British Isles, Canada, Continental Europe, Latin America, and Scandinavia.

ICAPGen operates a web-based credentialing platform built around a searchable "Find a Professional" directory that connects consumers seeking genealogical research with AG® professionals organized by geographic specialization. Supporting services include mentored Study Groups (Four-Generation Project and Test Prep tracks), a regional accreditation taxonomy, and an Emeritus AG® Status honorary designation for credential-holders with 10+ years of continuous accreditation. The platform does not expose APIs or SDKs and has no disclosed AI/ML functionality; core evaluation is human examiner-driven.

Revenue is generated through two streams: one-time credential application and testing fees (including the $150 four-generation project submission and $150 study group fees) and recurring annual maintenance fees of $80 per year for AG® professionals (with $20 add-ons per additional accredited region and $20 for the AGL™ credential). The organization is governed by a Board of Commissioners and is supported by an 8-person staff, with active leadership succession including 2025 election results, a January 2026 Board of Commissioners appointment, and a 2026 President-Elect announcement.

Name

International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists

Legal name

International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists

Website

https://icapgen.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ICAPGen is a Utah-based nonprofit credentialing body that awards the Accredited Genealogist® and Accredited Genealogist Lecturer™ credentials through rigorous written and oral examinations, serving professional genealogists seeking accreditation and consumers hiring accredited researchers across 50+ global regions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Credentialing Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDADAFAG

Psychometric Standards, Test Development & Validation Authorities

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Assessment, Examinations & Qualifications Authorities

SECONDARYEDADAFAC

Awarding Organizations & Credentialing Bodies (Certificates/Diplomas)

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Assessment, Examinations & Qualifications Authorities

Keywords

• Professional genealogy credentialing
• Genealogist accreditation services
• Genealogy certification programs
• Genealogical examination services
• Professional genealogy testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Salt Lake City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Credential Application and Testing Fees: Fees charged for application processing, four-generation project submission, study groups, and testing examinations
2. Annual Maintenance Fees: Recurring annual fee of $80 for AG professionals maintaining their credential, with $20 additional fee per extra region and $20 for AGL credential

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ICAPGen is a nonprofit credentialing organization that awards the Accredited Genealogist® (AG®) and Accredited Genealogist Lecturer™ (AGL™) credentials to professional genealogists who pass rigorous written and oral examinations. The organization tests competence in genealogical research across 50+ specific geographic regions, operates a searchable Find a Professional directory connecting consumers with credentialed researchers, and offers mentored Study Groups to help applicants prepare for the accreditation process.

Product overview

ICAPGen is a credentialing organization that offers two primary credentials: the Accredited Genealogist® (AG®) credential and the Accredited Genealogist Lecturer™ (AGL™) credential. The core offering is the accreditation testing service, which combines in-depth written and exhaustive oral examinations to evaluate competence in genealogical research across specific geographic regions. Supporting services include a mentored Study Groups program for applicant preparation, a searchable Find a Professional directory for consumers seeking accredited researchers, and regional accreditation covering areas worldwide including the British Isles, Canada, Continental Europe, Latin America, Scandinavia, and the United States. Emeritus AG® Status provides honorary recognition for retired professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Accredited Genealogist® (AG®) Credential

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• AncestryProGenealogists: AncestryProGenealogists is the professional research arm of Ancestry, employing and connecting consumers with professional genealogists. It competes for the same consumer research budget as ICAPGen-accredited professionals but operates as a corporate platform rather than a credentialing body.
• Legacy Tree Genealogists: Legacy Tree Genealogists is a commercial professional genealogy research firm whose researchers serve the same consumer-hire market as AG-credentialed professionals. It represents a downstream buyer of genealogical credentialing — its staff pursue AG/BCG credentials — making it a meaningful adjacent peer.
• American Ancestors (New England Historic Genealogical Society): American Ancestors / NEHGS is a long-established genealogical society offering research services, education, and credentialing-adjacent programs. It serves overlapping consumer and practitioner segments with ICAPGen, particularly in the New England and US Northeast regions.

Others

• FamilySearch: FamilySearch, operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, hosts the Salt Lake City library where ICAPGen conducts its testing. FamilySearch is a key infrastructure partner and the dominant free genealogy record platform, making it a critical enabling peer rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• MyHeritage: MyHeritage is a major international consumer genealogy and DNA-testing platform serving the same global consumer-hire market as AG professionals. It is a broad incumbent in the genealogy services ecosystem rather than a credentialing competitor.
• Ancestry: Ancestry is the largest consumer genealogy platform globally, offering DNA testing, record access, and a professional researcher marketplace. While not a credentialing body, its scale and consumer reach define the broader market in which ICAPGen-credentialed professionals compete for consumer hiring.

Direct peers

• National Genealogical Society: The National Genealogical Society (NGS) is a long-established educational and professional society for genealogists offering courses, conferences, and credentialing-adjacent programs. NGS serves the same practitioner and serious-consumer base as ICAPGen and is a natural adjacent credentialing and education provider.
• Federation of Genealogical Societies: The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) is an umbrella organization supporting genealogical and historical societies, with overlapping education, training, and professional-development missions. FGS addresses a similar practitioner and society audience as ICAPGen.
• Board for Certification of Genealogists: The Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) is the other major US credentialing body for professional genealogists, offering its own Certified Genealogist credential through written and portfolio-based evaluation. BCG competes directly with ICAPGen for the same population of professional genealogists and consumer demand for credentialed researchers.
• Association of Professional Genealogists: The Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) is a membership-based professional association for genealogists that supports the same practitioner base as ICAPGen. While APG focuses on membership services and ethical standards rather than credentialing, it directly overlaps in serving and representing professional genealogists.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/icapgen
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ICAPGen
• Facebookfacebook.com/ICAPGen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-commission-for-the-accreditation-of-professional-genealogists

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists