View occupational profile

Search the OaSIS

Conservators

OaSIS code 51101.01

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

Overview

Also known as

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

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:

  • Museum designer (in 53123.03 Exhibit designers)
  • Curatorial assistants, museum extension officers, museology technicians and museum registrars and cataloguers (53100.04)

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

Work characteristics

Work characteristics gathers the various components describing the work environment of each occupation, such as employers, work activities, and the work context. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of complexity (for Work Activities) or other measurement dimensions (for Work Context), and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Work Activities

Proficiency or complexity level
Handling and Moving Objects
4 - High Level
Providing Consultation and Advice
4 - High Level
Applying New Knowledge
3 - Moderate Level
Clerical Activities
3 - Moderate Level
Communicating with Coworkers
3 - Moderate Level

Work Context

Structural Job Characteristics

Structured versus Unstructured Work
Degree of freedom to determine tasks and priorities
3 - Moderate amount of freedom
Work Week Duration
Worked hours in a typical week
2 - Between 35 to 40 hours

Physical Work Environment

Physical Proximity
Physical distance from others
3 - Somewhat close (e.g. share office)

Physical Demands

Sitting
Duration
4 - More than half the time
Standing
Duration
2 - Less than half the time
Bending or Twisting the Body
Duration
2 - Less than half the time

Interpersonal Relations

Contact with Others
Frequency
3 - Once a week or more but not every day
Duration
3 - About half the time
Work with Work Group or Team
Importance
3 - Important
Frequency
4 - Every day, a few times per day

Workplaces/employers

  • Art galleries
  • Museums
  • Self-employed
  • Universities

Skills and abilities

This section displays the various competencies required for an occupation. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of proficiency (for Skills and Abilities) or importance (for Personal Attributes) and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Abilities

Proficiency or complexity level
Colour Perception
5 - Highest Level
Depth Perception
4 - High Level
Finger Dexterity
4 - High Level
Near Vision
4 - High Level
Arm-Hand Steadiness
3 - Moderate Level

Skills

Proficiency or complexity level
Decision Making
4 - High Level
Oral Communication: Oral Comprehension
4 - High Level
Problem Solving
4 - High Level
Coordinating
3 - Moderate Level
Critical Thinking
3 - Moderate Level

Personal Attributes

Importance
Attention to Detail
5 - Extremely important
Active Learning
4 - Highly important
Analytical Thinking
4 - Highly important
Collaboration
4 - Highly important
Creativity
4 - Highly important

Interests

The OaSIS uses the Holland Codes to describe the work-related interests. According to the Holland model, people work best in work environments that match their preferences, which means that people and work environments can be matched for a best fit. Occupational environments in Holland’s theory are described according to a combination of main interests and the activities they represent. There are six interests in the Holland typology: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising and Conventional. All occupations in OaSIS have up to three interests assigned to them.

Interests

Preferences for work environments and outcomes.

Interests profile: RAI

Realistic (R)

Realistic occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail the explicit, ordered or systematic manipulation of objects, tools, machines and animals. Many of these occupations do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Artistic (A)

Artistic occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail artistic expression to create, compose or produce visual, performing, literary or applied art. These occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns and often require self-expression and the accomplishment of work without following a clear set of rules.

Investigative (I)

Investigative occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail the observation and systematic or creative investigation of physical, biological, or cultural phenomena. These occupations require an extensive amount of thinking and frequently involve working with ideas, searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Employment requirements

Employment requirements includes the education, training, certifications and the knowledge required to work in each occupation. The Knowledge category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of proficiency, and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of Knowledge descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Education, certification and licensing

  • Conservators may be accredited by the Canadian Association of Professional Conservators.
  • Conservators require a master's degree in art conservation or completion of a two-year college program in conservation technology and several years of experience in conservation work.

Knowledge

Knowledge level
Clerical
3 - Advanced Level
Library, Conservation, and Heritage
3 - Advanced Level
Arts
2 - Intermediate Level
Humanities
2 - Intermediate Level
Languages
2 - Intermediate Level

Skills for success

 
Skills for Success Model
 
Skills for Success are skills that help you in a quickly changing world. Everyone benefits from having these skills. They can help you to get a job, progress at your current job or even change jobs. The skills also help you become an active member of your community and succeed in learning.
 
 
Linkages Between ESDC Skills Models and Frameworks
 
ESDC makes available a dictionary of over 300 terms (or descriptors) and definitions, known as the Skills and Competencies Taxonomy (SCT). Descriptor information from the Taxonomy is used in the Occupational and Skills Information System (OaSIS).
 
While there is general commonality of meaning between the descriptors in the SCT and the Skills for Success model, there are some differences in their definitions due to their distinct purposes. The Skills for Success Model [9 broadly defined skills] identifies the skills that are universally applicable. The SCT displays specific skills and competency requirements for 900 occupations. Users of the Skills for Success Model and Essential Skills content may find competency information from the Taxonomy and the OaSIS to be complementary.
 
Stay tuned to this section for more information and updates regarding linkages between the Skills for Success model and the OaSIS.

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.

Date modified: