Certificate Program

Rare Book School’s Certificate of Proficiency Program allows students to create a specialized focus of coursework to earn formal recognition for their concentrated studies at the School. The program enables students to plan for and attend a series of related classes that reflect their bibliographical interests. Certificates are awarded every April and October.

Certificate Requirements

To complete the Certificate Program, you must select and/or propose and complete a series of five (5) classes within eight years* in your chosen area of study (i.e., a student completing a certificate in 2026 can apply courses going back to 2019, &c.). Each course can only be counted once (you cannot count the same course toward multiple certificates).

Online courses and shorter in-person courses may be applied toward Certificates of Proficiency. The following combinations serve as the equivalent of one 30-hour in-person course:

• a combination of three 6-hour courses;
• two of either the 10- or 12-hour courses (including one 10-hour and one 12-hour);
• two 6-hour courses with one 10- or 12-hour course;
• one 22-hour course.

These short course pairings do not have to be related topically; you will be able to explain in your course proposal why you selected them and how they contribute to your overall certificate program.

Students who have concerns about meeting specific requirements should contact and consult with the Director of Programs & Education.

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*Due to the cancellation of Summer 2020 courses, all Certificate applicants impacted by the cancellations have an extra year to complete their five applicable courses.

Certificate Programs

Students may choose which Certificate of Proficiency they wish to pursue, based on the three options below.

Areas of Study