High School

Although there is no one educational path that best prepares students to become indexers, a high school diploma and a college degree are necessary. Classes in English and computers are essential, and classes in history and other social sciences will familiarize you with a broad range of subjects that might be indexed.

Postsecondary Training

Since indexers must be well read and knowledgeable about a wide range of academic disciplines, a liberal arts degree is highly recommended. Many indexers have one or more advanced degrees as well. Professional training is not required but can be extremely helpful. Though few educational institutions offer indexing courses, many offer relevant classes that may be useful to indexers, such as Information Storage and Retrieval, Introduction to Information Science, and Cataloging and Classification. Additionally, the Society of Indexers offers a distance-learning course that equips students with the knowledge and skills to enter the career.

Todays indexers must be computer literate to be competitive. Manual preparation of indexes is a dying art due to the widespread availability of software designed to automate the mechanics of indexing. This trend toward computer-assisted indexing will continue as more and more information is created and stored in electronic format. Tomorrows indexers will often create online indexes for large databases rather than the familiar back-of-book variety. With the incredible proliferation of information in the late 20th and early 21st century, information management has become an increasingly complex and competitive field. Those who would be indexers must be prepared to adapt rapidly as methods of storing and disseminating information continue to change and advance in the next decade. With this in mind, aspiring indexers would do well to pursue degrees in library or information science. Some business courses may help the indexer as well because many work as freelancers and must operate their own business. 

Other Education or Training

The American Society for Indexing (ASI) offers the ASI Training In Indexing course, a four-module distance learning course for its members who are interested in improving their indexing skills. The modules in the course include Indexers, Users, and Documents; Choosing the Words: Term Selection and the Formation and Arrangement of Main Headings and Subheadings; Names and Numbers, Sorting Order, Proper Names and Locators; and Finishing Touches and Beyond: Index Presentation, Specialized Forms and Applications. A certificate of completion in indexing training is awarded to those who complete the course. The society also offers continuing education opportunities at its annual conference. The Editorial Freelancers Association also provides educational resources. Contact these organizations for more information.

Certification or Licensing

There are no certification or licensing requirements for indexers. 

Those who have had some editing experience (a year or more) and those who have completed any courses on indexing may be able to get an entry level position as an indexer. Skills needed are accuracy, patience, attention to detail, organization, the ability to meet deadlines, mastery of grammar and spelling, computer savvy, and overall knowledge of how indexes are created. An ability to work independently is essential. 

Indexing can be an extremely solitary profession. Indexers should enjoy intellectual challenges and have a passion for coherent structure.