The Register of Professional Archaeologists is a community of professional archaeologists. Our mission is to establish and adhere to standards and ethics that represent and adapt to the dynamic field of archaeology and to provide a resource for entities who rely on professional archaeology services.

By joining the organization, an archaeologist recognizes their personal responsibility to colleagues, clients, and the public and agrees to be held accountable for their professional behavior. By formally acknowledging this relationship between personal actions and the wider discipline of archaeology, the act of registration holds a professional archaeologist to a set of high ethical standards that sets them apart from others involved with or interested in archaeology.

The Register of Professional Archaeologists provides a mechanism for the easy identification of RPAs and RAs. All Registrants are listed in an online directory, which is updated continuously throughout the year. Registrants may also identify themselves by displaying a registration certificate or choosing to use the abbreviation RPA after their names.