Surveys approaches to the teaching of studio skills, connoisseurship, and science based on published literature, a questionnaire received from 24 conservation programmes internationally, and observations made on site at the Winterthur/University of Delaware programme. Some skills can be taught, and other attributes, such as committement, enthusiam, honesty, a sense of respect and responsibility, a compatible temperament, problem-solving skills, intelligence and academic ability, must be inherent. A combination of a one-on-one apprenticeship and study in an academic environment is considered ideal.