Retail

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 fine arts or art history, although this is not always essential.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

For more information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
• university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/

College

You may be able to start by taking part-time or short residential courses to build up your knowledge.

Courses include:

• antiques
• history of art
• fine art
• decorative arts

Work

You could work in an antiques shop as an assistant to learn on the job.

You could also start in a salesroom or auction house as a porter, clerk, cataloguer, valuer or auctioneer.

Other routes

You could collect and research antiques as a hobby and then:

• get a stall at an antiques market or fair
• buy and sell on the internet
• open a shop

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.

More information

Career tips

You'll need a good knowledge of antiques and the market. Sales skills, the ability to spot items that will sell and having money to start up are likely 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.

You could progress to become a specialist dealer, valuer or auctioneer.