How to become
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- working towards this role
- turning a hobby into a job
University
You could study for a degree in art history, fine arts or visual culture, although this is not essential.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
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College
You could take part-time or short residential courses to build up your knowledge.
Courses include:
- antiques
- history of art
- fine art
- decorative arts
Entry requirements
There are no set entry requirements for this route.
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Work
You can work in an antiques shop as an assistant and learn on the job.
You might also start in a saleroom or auction house as a porter, clerk or cataloguer. With experience and further training, you could become a valuer and auctioneer.
Volunteering
Volunteering in museums and art galleries can be a good way to pick up knowledge of collectable items, like paintings, furniture and ceramics. It also demonstrates your enthusiasm for the subject, which may be helpful in job interviews.
Other Routes
You could collect and research antiques as a hobby, then:
- run a regular stall at an antiques market or fair
- buy and sell items on the internet
- open a shop on the high street
Some of the larger auction houses, like Sotheby's Institute of Art and Christie's Education, run short courses in art history and the arts market. They also offer more in-depth postgraduate study aimed at graduates wanting to work in the commercial arts market.
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Career tips
You'll need a good knowledge of antiques and market trends. Sales skills, customer care and the ability to spot items that will sell are likely to be more important than formal qualifications.
Further information
You can discover more about working in antiques through The British Antique Dealers' Association.
You can also find out more about working in creative careers from Discover Creative Careers.