Free Field Experience and Technician Training
Over the past few years, the Association for Washington Archaeology (AWA) members and affiliated cultural resource management (CRM) companies in Washington have partnered with local tribes, agencies, and universities to offer FREE TRAINING SESSIONS for individuals interested in pursuing careers as archaeological technicians. The AWA Field Technician Training Program aims to provide students, tribal members, recent graduates, early career professionals, and those seeking accessible training with opportunities to develop and enhance their professional skills.
The training sessions are led by volunteer CRM professionals each spring and summer across various locations in Washington. They provide some experience with skills needed for entry-level CRM work, such as pedestrian survey, shovel probes, test excavation, artifact identification, archaeological monitoring, and more. Past sessions have also included introductions to CRM, networking opportunities, guidance on seeking employment, and resume assistance. Efforts are made to offer both virtual and in-person trainings at night, during various weekdays, and on the weekends.
Disclaimer: These technician trainings are intended to help the attendees build their basic understanding of CRM practices in Washington, and instill confidence in participants when applying for jobs. The training sessions are not supposed to replace formal field school. Rather, attending these trainings may help a student, tribal member, recent graduate, early career professional, or someone seeking training fill a gap in their education or get a jump start on a job in CRM. These trainings are offered by professional volunteers to meet their staffing needs. Attendees can list the specific AWA Technician Trainings they attended on their resumes when applying for archaeological positions. Although the AWA Technician Trainings do not meet minimum qualifications for all jobs, such as federal positions that require attending a field school to adhere to Secretary of Interior Professional Qualification Standards, some firms may be willing to hire on new staff with this training experience and provide them with guided, on-the-job supplemental training.
The training sessions are led by volunteer CRM professionals each spring and summer across various locations in Washington. They provide some experience with skills needed for entry-level CRM work, such as pedestrian survey, shovel probes, test excavation, artifact identification, archaeological monitoring, and more. Past sessions have also included introductions to CRM, networking opportunities, guidance on seeking employment, and resume assistance. Efforts are made to offer both virtual and in-person trainings at night, during various weekdays, and on the weekends.
Disclaimer: These technician trainings are intended to help the attendees build their basic understanding of CRM practices in Washington, and instill confidence in participants when applying for jobs. The training sessions are not supposed to replace formal field school. Rather, attending these trainings may help a student, tribal member, recent graduate, early career professional, or someone seeking training fill a gap in their education or get a jump start on a job in CRM. These trainings are offered by professional volunteers to meet their staffing needs. Attendees can list the specific AWA Technician Trainings they attended on their resumes when applying for archaeological positions. Although the AWA Technician Trainings do not meet minimum qualifications for all jobs, such as federal positions that require attending a field school to adhere to Secretary of Interior Professional Qualification Standards, some firms may be willing to hire on new staff with this training experience and provide them with guided, on-the-job supplemental training.
Training Sessions for 2025 will open for Registration in May!
Please join us by contacting [email protected] with general questions. We look forward to hearing from you!
Professionals interested in giving trainings should also message [email protected] to express interest.
Professionals interested in giving trainings should also message [email protected] to express interest.
PROGRAM SCHEDULE
Message from the 2025 Technician Training Coordinator: AWA would like to thank you for your patience and we are thrilled to announce that the 2025 schedule will come out in May. Please stay tuned and feel free to reach out to [email protected] for updates or inquiries!
We recommend that all prospective trainees read through the full schedule and line-up of sessions before making selections in the registration sign-up sheet. Once you have signed up for your desired trainings, the various session leads will contact you with important information, such as specific site access instructions or virtual meeting invitation links, closer to the day of your training/s. After signing up, you will also receive notifications for any new sessions added to the list post-launch, as more are likely to be added throughout the month of April.
How to Register: Training sessions are listed on the registration sign-up sheet in order of the date offered. Scroll to the right to view more training sessions. Please enter your email under the column of each training session that you would like to attend. You are allowed (and encouraged) to enter as many training sessions as you would like. Please enter your email under the last entered email in a column.
If there are no more available spaces (the green spaces) for the training you would like to attend, please enter your name in the white space. White spaces are treated as "standby" for slots to open up. For any questions, please contact: [email protected]
We recommend that all prospective trainees read through the full schedule and line-up of sessions before making selections in the registration sign-up sheet. Once you have signed up for your desired trainings, the various session leads will contact you with important information, such as specific site access instructions or virtual meeting invitation links, closer to the day of your training/s. After signing up, you will also receive notifications for any new sessions added to the list post-launch, as more are likely to be added throughout the month of April.
How to Register: Training sessions are listed on the registration sign-up sheet in order of the date offered. Scroll to the right to view more training sessions. Please enter your email under the column of each training session that you would like to attend. You are allowed (and encouraged) to enter as many training sessions as you would like. Please enter your email under the last entered email in a column.
If there are no more available spaces (the green spaces) for the training you would like to attend, please enter your name in the white space. White spaces are treated as "standby" for slots to open up. For any questions, please contact: [email protected]