Association of Professional Genealogists
www.apgen.org
The APG is a support organization for professional genealogists and interested amateurs. If you think you'd like to become a professional, read the excellent guide to going pro. The site also provides helpful information for anyone who is considering hiring a professional researcher—including a member directory.

Board for Certification of Genealogists
www.bcgcertification.org
Want to turn pro? This is the organization that tests anyone who wants to receive official certification, and BCG clearly details the steps to certification here. Skillbuilding, a section of columns from BCG's newsletter, offers useful tips to analyze wills, deeds, city directories and published sources.

Federation of Genealogical Societies
www.fgs.org
FGS serves as an umbrella organization to more than 500 member societies in the United States and Canada. Members include genealogical societies, family associations and historical societies. FGS publishes excellent resource materials for societies to aid in management and membership strategies.

National Genealogical Society
www.ngsgenealogy.org
NGS is one of the leading organizations in providing education to the genealogy community. It offers a home-study course and an online course. And don't miss the link to the NGS Virtual Lecture Series.

New England Historic Genealogical Society
www.newenglandancestors.org
NEHGS members ($60 a year) can take advantage of three databases containing 1.9 million names: New England Historical and Genealogical Register 1847-1994, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633 and Massachusetts Soldiers in the Colonial Wars. All visitors can search the NEHGS library catalog and read articles about New England genealogy. Beginners, click New to Genealogy for tips from Ralph Crandall's Shaking Your Family Tree, a popular guidebook published by the NEHGS.