In respect to course lengths, The S.A. Institute for Objects Conservation offers an exceptional and proven curriculum path that relies on compact, introductory courses at novice level, supplemented by specialist, mid-career modules that subsequently guide the practitioner’s professional development.

This approach succeeds at producing conservation practitioners who are equipped with an exceptional depth and range of practical bench skills - exercised in full compliance with widely accepted vocational practices, sensibilities and ethics. The qualities of knowledge, skill and restraint are revered at the Institute, and are deliberately promoted at all levels of tuition.

The Institute’s introductory level certificate courses, which have been developed for the novice, are generally four weeks in length, and employ a full-day format. At some venues, these introductory level certificate courses are presented in two sessions of two weeks each, punctuated by a self-study period in between. At the Institute’s central campus, the novice may also complete his/her initial training in a single session.

Having completed their introductory training, the majority of objects conservation students will set up entry-level studios, undertaking work on commercial collectibles and articles of sentiment. Valuable skills and necessary revenues are hereby derived, which lay a foundation for the practitioner’s continued professional development.

In time, the majority of such practitioners will voluntarily re-enter the Institute’s training programme at the mid-career module level. These intensive, short course modules deal with relevant, specialist topics and are each five days in length. The Ceramics Conservation Department and the Metals Conservation Department respectively, are each served by a set of seven such mid-career course modules, on subjects of high relevance to the particular specialism.

Continued participation in the mid-career module series accumulate entry credits, which are a prerequisite to eventual enrolment in the Institute’s Graduation Module - an intensive, nine-day programme. Annually, the Ceramics Conservation Department and the Metals Conservation Department restrict entry into the Graduation Module to only seven persons each.

Conservation practitioners who advance through the Institute’s training programme, do so largely at their own pace, often continuing to expand their training over the course of five to ten years, in response to the needs of their clientele and their studio. Through the committed technical support provided by the Institute’s faculty staff, and its indefinite help-line service, the Institute’s unique curriculum path continues to produce sought-after practitioners of exceptional standard.