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OaSIS 2025 Version 1.0
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51101.01 – Conservators

Conservators restore and conserve artifacts belonging to museums, galleries and owners of cultural property.

Overview

Example job titles

  • Book conservator
  • Conservator - museum
  • Historical artifact conservator
  • Library and archives conservator

Core competencies

  • Oral Communication: Oral Comprehension to accurately understand detailed instructions, collaborate effectively with experts and interpret critical verbal information related to preservation tasks
  • Critical Thinking, Decision Making and Problem Solving to assess various treatment options, weigh the benefits and risks and implement preservation techniques effectively while adapting solutions to unexpected challenges in preserving cultural and historical artifacts
  • Colour Perception to recognize fine colour differences, assess the original colours of artifacts, match dyes or paints accurately and ensure any restoration work blends seamlessly with the original and honours historical accuracy
  • Near Vision to clearly see and distinguish fine details at close range, allowing precise examination, repairing and restoration of intricate artwork, artifacts and historical objects and preserving their integrity
  • Attention to Detail to detect, document and address subtle signs of deterioration or damage through precise execution of conservation techniques, ensuring restoration work is consistent with the artifact's original state
  • Knowledge in Library, Conservation, and Heritage to understand practices to preserve artifacts to assess their condition and determine appropriate techniques and materials to restore them without causing further damage

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Examine artifacts, determine their condition, suggest methods for treating them and recommend preventive conservation techniques to their owners
  • Restore and conserve paintings, photographs, books, papers, sculptures, furniture, pottery or other museum and art gallery artifacts as per particular field of specialization
  • Provide advice on display and storage of museum and gallery artifacts to ensure proper maintenance and preservation
  • Explore new conservation and restoration techniques
  • Provide consultation to museums, art galleries or private individuals
  • Supervise conservation technicians and other museum technicians.

Additional information

  • Progression to museum or art gallery management positions is possible with experience.
  • Conservators and curators may specialize in a particular type of collection or material, such as furniture, weapons, books, paintings and musical instruments.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

5 – Occupations in art, culture, recreation and sport

TEER

1 – Occupations usually require a university degree

Major group

51 – Professional occupations in art and culture

Sub-major group

511 – Professional occupations in art and culture

Minor group

5110 – Librarians, archivists, conservators and curators

Unit group

51101 – Conservators and curators

Occupational profile

51101.01 – Conservators

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.