Advanced Certificate in Heritage Conservation

About

The Advanced Certificate in Heritage Conservation is a two-year apprenticeship for architects, engineers, archaeologists and craftspeople. It is offered jointly by the Center for Heritage Conservation (CHC), CEPT Research and Development Foundation (CRDF), and CEPT Professional Programs (CPP), and is delivered through CHC’s Conservation Site Schools. 

For two years, participants work on a live heritage project, mentored jointly by experts, architects, engineers and master craftspeople. Alongside, they take eight courses in Cultural Heritage Conservation, Structural Repair, Historic Places Studies and Digital Humanities.

Eligibility

• Architects: B.Arch degree, or any other international four-year Bachelor degree validated through the relevant national council. 
• Engineers: B.Tech in Civil Engineering, or any other international four-year Bachelor degree related to building sciences, validated through the relevant national council.
• Archaeologists: BA or MA in Archaeology from an approved university.
• Craftspeople: Minimum four years of verifiable experience on site.

Learning Through Practice 

Participants join one of the Conservation Site Schools as apprentices to the architects and engineers leading a heritage site. Over two years they work on:

• Documentation, value and condition assessment
• Conservation strategies and a monitoring and management plan for the site
• Stakeholder engagement, material characterisation and structural assessment, where possible
• Hands-on repair and craft work alongside master craftspeople

In most cases, apprentices join a site while conservation work is being carried out. Where a site lies in an inhabited neighbourhood, they also work directly with residents, owners or custodians, because CHC understands the conservation brief as emerging from that engagement rather than being fixed in advance.

Courses: Alongside the apprenticeship, participants take courses from a pool offered in the areas of Heritage Conservation Basics, Digital Humanities, and Structural and Architectural Conservation, delivered in online, hybrid and in-person formats.

Selection process: Selection takes place in three rounds 

1. Shortlisting on the basis of CV
2. Portfolio and Recommendations
3. Followed by an Online Test and Interviews.

Admission and dates 
Admission is open on a rolling basis. Applications received before 30 November 2026 will be given priority for this year’s seats. The first batch begins on 11 January 2027. 

Contact

For queries, write to achc.apprenticeship@cept.ac.in

How to Apply 

Click: Apply Here
 

Spread the Word

We will share updates on the Advanced Certificate in Heritage Conservation, including admission dates, course announcements and stories from the sites, through our Instagram pages (@chccept, @cpp.cept, and @ceptresearch) and our Twitter handles (@chccept and @ceptresearch). You can help us by sharing this announcement with architects, engineers, archaeologists and craftspeople who may wish to apply, and by encouraging them to submit their applications.