Ministry of Culture*

Interventions on monuments shall be performed only by specialists, experts and certified technical experts. Their certification is based on skills assessment determined by: a) basic training, b) professional seniority, c) experience gained through direct participation in activities in the field of historical monuments under the guidance and signature certified specialists or experts. The specializations for which certifications are granted are: a) research and inventory of historical monuments, B) verification/technical verification, C) complex project leader, D) specialized project leader: architectural restoration, historic structures, installations engineering , artistic components and/or historical urbanism, E) execution of works, F) supervising of works, G) monitoring the behaviour in time of the historical monuments.

1.0. Purpose

The procedure establishes the method of registration in the Register of Archaeologists, in accordance with the provisions set out in art. 3, para. (3) and art. 16, letter j) of OG43/2000 regarding the protection of the archaeological heritage and the declaration of certain archaeological sites as areas of national interest, republished, with subsequent amendments and completions.

2.0. Scope

The procedure is used by the Directorate for Cultural Heritage and the National Archaeology Commission.

3.0. Reference Documents

(1) OG 43/2000 regarding the protection of the archaeological heritage and the declaration of certain archaeological sites as areas of national interest, republished, with subsequent amendments and completions.

(2) ORDER no. 2494 of August 26, 2010 for the approval of the Methodology on the certification of specialized personnel in the field of archaeological research and their registration in the Register of Archaeologists, published in the Official Gazette with number 631 of September 8, 2010

4.0. Definitions and abbreviations

4.1. Definitions

(1) Certification = the procedure of certifying the specialized personnel in the field of archaeological research and their registration in the Register of Archaeologists

(2) Register = the Register of Archaeologists of Romania.

4.2. Abbreviations

(1) MC = Ministry of Culture.

(2) DPC = Directorate for Cultural Heritage.

(3) CNA = National Archaeology Commission.

(4) File = the file submitted by the applicant for registration or advancement to a higher category in the Register of Archaeologists

5.0. Procedure Description

(1) The certification of specialized persons and their registration in the Register is carried out for the following categories:

a) beginner archaeologist;

b) specialist archaeologist;

c) expert archaeologist.

(2) Assignment to one of the listed categories will be based on the professional evaluation criteria and the practical experience of the applicant

(3) The professional evaluation criteria considered for assignment to one of the listed categories are:

a) completion of postgraduate studies in ancient history, archaeology, medieval history;

b) doctorate in history;

c) published works and scientific communications presented.

(4) The practical experience evaluation criteria considered for assignment to one of the listed categories are:

a) undertaking archaeological practice during studies;

b) being a member of an archaeological research team;

c) being the scientific responsible for a sector within an archaeological site;

d) being the scientific responsible for an archaeological site.

(5) The calculation of the score corresponding to practical experience is established as follows:

a) 0.5 points - for each two-week unit of time on an archaeological site during specialized higher studies, certified by a statement from the site manager;

b) one point - for each two-week unit of time in which the applicant participated on an archaeological site after registration in the Register.

(6) For certification, interested persons will submit to the Commission's secretariat a file which shall include:

a) certification request;

b) copy of the identity document;

c) activity report;

d) list of published works and scientific communications presented;

e) certified copies of bachelor's degree diplomas, as well as documents proving completion of postgraduate education or equivalence documents;

f) proof of enrollment in a doctoral program;

g) copy of the doctoral training program;

h) copy of doctoral diploma.

(7) For certification as a beginner archaeologist, the file provided for in art. 11 shall also include two recommendation letters from persons with whom the applicant has collaborated.

5.2. Verification of completeness and accuracy of the submitted documentation:

After checking the file, the CNA decides, by decision, to grant certification or to reject the application, within a maximum of 30 calendar days from the date of submission of the complete file. The Commission may extend the deadline once, for a period of no more than 15 calendar days.

The deadline for submitting the requested documents to complete the file is 15 days from the date of notification.

Failure to submit the documents within the stipulated time will result in the rejection of the certification request.

The decision of rejection must be justified in writing by the Commission and may be contested within 5 days from the date of notification.

Certification is granted for an indefinite period.

Within 30 days from the date of issuance of the certification decision, the Ministry of Culture will issue a certificate.

The certificate issued by the Ministry of Culture results in the registration of the holder in the Register.
Based on the certificate, the specialized personnel will make their individual stamp, according to the category for which they have been certified, Certificates and stamps are non-transferable.

Registration in the Register of persons certified as archaeologists with the right of free practice in one of the member states of the European Union may be made upon request, accompanied by copies of the relevant certification documents for one of the three categories, issued by the competent authorities/institutions, in accordance with the legal provisions in force in the respective state.

If it is necessary to verify the legality of the documents submitted for registration in the Register by the persons provided above, the Commission's secretariat contacts the competent authorities from the concerned European Union Member State or European Economic Area, through the Internal Market Information System (IMI).

Situations regarding suspension or withdrawal of certification

The Commission may decide to suspend or withdraw the certification, as a result of notifications from the specialists of the decentralized public services of the Ministry of Culture or the specialized directorate within the Ministry, or from Commission members.

The certification is suspended in the following situations:

a) if criminal action is initiated against the certified person in connection with the activity for which they were certified. In this case, the suspension of the certification certificate is ordered until the case is finally settled;

b) when certified persons are found guilty of breaching the Code of Ethics of Romanian archaeologists;

c) if certified persons conduct unauthorized archaeological research, according to the law.

The certification is withdrawn in the following cases:

a) when certified persons are found guilty of breaching the provisions of the Regulation of Archaeological Excavations in Romania;

b) when certified persons have been suspended twice and for the third time commit similar violations for which previous suspensions were decided;

c) when certified persons validate, by signature and stamp, documents for fields of activity for which they have not been certified or continue their activity during the suspension period;

d) upon final conviction for a criminal act connected to the activity for which they were certified.

The notification shall be submitted to the Commission for analysis, which may decide, as appropriate, to close the notification, to suspend, or to withdraw certification.

The Commission is obliged to analyze notifications within 30 days of their submission.

By the decision of suspension, the Commission will establish the period for which the certification is suspended, as well as the conditions necessary for the cancellation of the suspension.

The fulfillment of the conditions provided for in para. (19) is found by the Commission and leads to the termination of the suspension of the certification.

The suspension or, as the case may be, withdrawal of the certification is justified in writing by the Commission.

Loss of the status of certified and registered specialist in the Register may also occur in the following cases:

a) upon written request submitted to the Chairman of the Commission;

b) death.

The Commission organizes monthly certification sessions and announces the date and time of their conduct by posting at the headquarters of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and/or on its own website.

The Commission may also meet outside of the monthly sessions in order to analyze situations of suspension or withdrawal of certification, as well as in other cases.

The deterioration, destruction, or loss of the certificate or stamp, as the case may be, shall be reported in writing to the Commission's secretariat within 48 hours of the finding, and shall also be published in Part III of the Official Gazette of Romania by the person concerned.

After the publication of the notice provided for above, the Commission issues a duplicate of the certification certificate or approves, as the case may be, the making of a new stamp, based on a written request, accompanied by a copy of the notice published in Part III of the Official Gazette of Romania.

Certificates issued so far remain valid.

Certified and registered specialized personnel in the Register may request an update of the certificates from the Commission.

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