The purpose of standards for training and certification of conservators of art and artifacts on paper is protection; first and foremost, the protection of our heritage of art works and historic materials on paper. Second, they are to protect the client by providing relatively objective standards by which the competence and conscientiousness of the conservator may be assessed. Third, the standards are to protect the competent and conscientious conservator from unethical competition, and from institutions which might use some form of pressure to provide less than adequate training. Fourth, they are to protect the trainee from inadequate professional preparation which could lessen both his competence and his competitive position, particularly from university trained conservators.