BCG Practice Test

This page is for genealogists preparing a portfolio for certification by the Board for Certification of Genealogists. BCG has no timed exam. You upload an electronic portfolio, and at least 3 judges assess it against standards-based rubrics. This page lists the fees and deadlines from BCG's published materials. It also has free practice questions on proof, evidence, citation and DNA, and a study plan for using them alongside the official guide.

BCG Exam at a Glance

What changed for BCG in 2026

• Oct 26, 2026: Number of questions changed to Two-part portfolio, max 75 pages per part (previously Two-part portfolio, max 75 digital pages per part).^[1]
• Oct 26, 2026: Registration deadline changed to Part 1 due within 1 year of signing the preliminary application; Part 2 within 1 year after Part 1 approval (previously Part 1 due within 1 year of signing the preliminary application).^[3]
• Oct 26, 2026: Late registration deadline changed to $80 per one-year extension (no limit on extensions) (previously $80 per one-year extension).^[2]
• Oct 26, 2026: Passing score changed to At least 3 judges evaluate against standards-based rubrics (previously Judged by at least 3 judges against rubrics).^[2]
• Oct 26, 2026: Retake policy changed to Reapply with new work samples; same fees as first-time applicants (previously Reapply with new work samples, same fees as first-time applicants).^[2]
• Oct 26, 2026: Other (update 2026-07-01) changed to Associates whose renewal date falls on or after 1 July 2026 must use the 2025 Application Guide requirements. (previously Associates whose renewal falls on or after 1 July 2026 must use the 2025 Application Guide requirements.).^[1]
• Oct 26, 2026: Delivery changed to Electronic portfolio upload (no timed exam) (previously Electronic portfolio (no timed exam)).^[3]
• Oct 26, 2026: Eligibility changed to Open to any applicant who meets the standards; work must be in English (previously Open to any applicant who shows they meet the standards; submissions in English).^[2]
• Jul 1, 2026: Associates whose renewal date falls on or after 1 July 2026 must use the 2025 Application Guide requirements.^[1]

What the BCG is and how it works

According to Board for Certification of Genealogists, “Each part is limited to 75 digital pages.”^[1]

The Board for Certification of Genealogists gives credentials to people who show they can meet genealogical research and ethical standards. There is no timed exam. You build an electronic portfolio of your own work and submit it as Part 1 and Part 2. Each part is limited to 75 digital pages.

Certification is open to any applicant who meets the standards, and the work you submit must be in English. The process starts with a preliminary application, which costs $80. Part 1 is due within 1 year of the date you sign that form. Part 2 is due within 1 year after Part 1 is approved. If you need more time, each 1-year extension costs $80, and there is no limit on extensions. The final application fee is $200 for each part.

At least 3 judges evaluate each portfolio using rubrics based on genealogical standards. The result depends on whether your work meets those standards. Evaluation usually takes about 5–6 months. If your portfolio is unsuccessful, you may reapply with new work samples. The fees are the same as for first-time applicants, and BCG asks you to first work on the weak skills your judges identified.

Once certified, you can use the credential for 5 years. You pay an annual maintenance fee of $80 and renew every 5 years for $300. Fees and rules can change, so check the current application guide at bcgcertification.org before you apply.

Worked examples: how to reason through BCG questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: What is the recommended frequency for reviewing and updating evidence analysis & documentation protocols?

1. Monitoring outcomes through regular data collection and trend analysis
2. Reviewing results only at year-end
3. Relying on periodic external audits as the sole evaluation method
4. Tracking activity volume without measuring quality

Answer: A. Monitoring outcomes through regular data collection and trend analysis

Explanation:

A is correct. The best way to keep evidence analysis and documentation protocols current is to watch outcomes all the time. Collect data on how your work performs, look for trends, and revise when the evidence shows a weakness. Review becomes an ongoing habit, not a single date on the calendar.

B is wrong because waiting until year-end lets problems repeat for a long time before anyone notices. C is wrong because outside audits are useful but should not be the only check, since you are responsible for your own quality. D is wrong because counting how much work you do says nothing about whether your conclusions are sound or your citations are complete.

Rule to remember: review your methods continuously and judge them by quality, not volume.

Example 2

Question: Under BCG standards, which statement best describes how genetic genealogy evidence should be cited?

1. DNA test results need not be cited since they are digital
2. Cite the testing company, kit number, test date, match name, and shared DNA amount
3. Only cite DNA when it is the sole evidence for a conclusion
4. Cite DNA results using the same format as census records

Answer: B. Cite the testing company, kit number, test date, match name, and shared DNA amount

Explanation:

B is correct. A DNA result is evidence like any other source. Its citation must let a reader find and evaluate it, so it needs the testing company, kit number, test date, match name and amount of shared DNA. Without these details, nobody can check the match or judge how much it proves.

A is wrong because digital sources still need citations. Being stored in a database does not exempt them. C is wrong because you should cite DNA whenever it supports a conclusion, whether it stands alone or sits alongside documents. D is wrong because a census citation format has no place for kit numbers or shared DNA, so it would leave out what a reader needs to verify the match.

Rule to remember: cite every source, including DNA, in enough detail for someone else to find the same evidence.

Example 3

Question: What is the primary objective of documentation & record management within the BCG professional framework?

1. Relying on informal observations and anecdotal reports
2. Analyzing data systematically using validated assessment tools
3. Copying approaches used by competitors without adaptation
4. Making assumptions based on previous experience alone

Answer: B. Analyzing data systematically using validated assessment tools

Explanation:

B is correct. Record management in genealogy exists so that conclusions rest on evidence that is organized and analyzed systematically. Working through your records with a consistent, tested method keeps evidence findable and helps you spot conflicts between sources. Research logs, source tracking and structured analysis are examples of such methods.

A is wrong because informal observations and anecdotes are not documented sources. C is wrong because copying someone else's approach without fitting it to your own research problem skips the analysis the problem needs. D is wrong because assumptions carried over from past cases are not evidence for the current one. Each conclusion needs its own documentation.

Rule to remember: organize and analyze records systematically so every conclusion can be traced back to its sources.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official BCG application guide and the genealogical standards the judges use. Your portfolio is judged against those rubrics, not against our questions. Use the practice sets as quick checks on the skills the portfolio requires.

1. Take Genealogical Proof Standard and Proof Arguments and Evidence Analysis and Documentation first. Each missed question points to a standard to reread.
2. Use Report Writing and Communication and Documentation and Record Management while you draft research reports and citations.
3. If your work uses DNA, add DNA and Genetic Genealogy. Also work through Ethical Standards and Professional Practice and Genealogical Research Methods.
4. Keep a log of your wrong answers and match each one to a weak spot in your own drafts. Then fix the draft, not just the answer.
5. Plan your calendar around the deadlines. Part 1 is due within 1 year of signing the preliminary application, so set interim goals and decide early whether you might need an extension.

Practice questions cannot tell you whether your portfolio meets the standards. Ask a colleague to read your drafts for clarity, and check your work against the published requirements before you upload.

Sources & last verified

1. Board for Certification of Genealogists — number of questions, other (official source). “Each part is limited to 75 digital pages.” Verified Oct 26, 2026 · source checked Oct 26, 2026.
2. Board for Certification of Genealogists — passing score, exam fee, retake fee, retake policy (official source). “At least three judges evaluate each application for initial certification using rubrics to assess whether the submitted materials meet genealogical standards.” Verified Oct 26, 2026 · source checked Oct 16, 2026.
3. Board for Certification of Genealogists — delivery, registration deadline (official source). “Submitting an Electronic Portfolio BCG requires electronic portfolios.” Verified Oct 26, 2026 · source checked Oct 16, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.