Royal Heraldry Society of Canada Examinations for the Art and Science of Heraldry

Introduction

The RHSC offers examinations for those individuals who wish to learn more about the art and science of heraldry and for those who with to go further in order to achieve a designation of Licentiate of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada -- LRHSC. The program is designed as self-directed learning. The examinations are based on the material found in the bibliography below.

Program Description

The self-directed learning is comprised of three levels, each level leveraging the previous level in terms of increased sophistication of the material covered. Examinations are available from the RHSC in either English or French. Progress to Level 2 requires a passing grade in the examination for Level 1. Additional requirements for those candidates who wish to achieve the designation of LRHSC is described below.

Level 1

This is an introduction to the art and science of heraldry, and is intended to form a foundation of knowledge in the history of heraldry, explore the component parts of an achievement and introduces the individual to the contemporary place of heraldry in Canada today. An important capability at the conclusion of Level 1, is the ability of the candidate to correctly blazon a relatively simple coat of arms and crests. The topics covered by the examination includes but not limited to:

• The origins of heraldry as it developed in Western Europe.
• The Canadian Heraldic Authority, the officers of arms who serve and their titles.
• The component parts of an achievement.
• The tinctures of heraldry.
• Hatching and tricking.
• The ordinaries, sub-ordinaries and the most commonly used charges as well as their attributes and attitudes.
• The furs used in heraldry.
• The most commonly used partition lines including those unique to Canadian heraldry.
• Party fields.
• The most common types of cross.
• The marks of cadency.
• The rules of blazon.

 

Level 2

This level focuses on more advanced material of the same found in Level 1. More intimate knowledge of the component parts of an achievement is required, including familiarity with heraldic beasts, monsters, birds, fish, reptiles, insects, flora, inanimate objects and helmets. Familiarity with other component parts such as crowns, coronets, mantling, supporters, mottoes, etc. The candidate must first successfully achieve a passing grade on the Level 1 examination.
 

Level 3

Those candidates who wish to achieve the designation of Licentiate of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada -- LRHSC, must not only successfully complete Level's 1 & 2 examinations, but must also successfully complete one of the following:

1. Must submit a presentation (in duplicate) of an original scholarly thesis on some aspect of Canadian heraldry on a topic first approved by the board of examiners prior to the candidate undertaking the research.
    
2. Or obtain twelve (12) credits by presentation of evidence of being instrumental in the process of obtaining grants of armorial bearings to:
1. Group 1: - 12 credits
        A grant to one of the following:
1. an incorporated municipality
2. a university, a college of a university, or a community college
3. an official government body (national, provincial or territorial) or equivalent
4. a professional governing body (national or provincial)
5. a nationally recognized private corporation
6. a grant of a badge to a Canadian Forces unit or formation
    
2. Group 2: - 6 credits
        A grant to one of the following:
1. a nationally organized association
2. a nationally organized charitable organization
3. a national ecclesiastical organization
4. a major ecclesiastical body (diocese, cathedral or equivalent)
    
3. Group 3: - 4 credits
        A grant to one of the following:
1. a provincially organized association or charitable body
2. a provincially organized private corporation
3. a church or synagogue
    
4. Group 4: - 3 credits
        A grant to one of the following:
1. other corporate body
2. individual (personal arms), with crest
    
5. Group 5: - 2 credits
        A grant to one of the following:
1. officially recognized cadet unit (as a badge)
2. individual (personal arms), without crest
3. aother
    
6. Equivalency: - Where a question of equivalency arises, it shall be determined by the Society, at its absolute discretion.

Successful completion of Level 3 entitles the candidate to use the post-nominal letters L.R.H.S.C. (Licentiate of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada). The documents submitted for examination for Level 3 remain the property of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada.
 

Fees and Instructions
 

Fees	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3
Member	$40.00	$40.00	$80.00
Non-Member	$48.00	$48.00	$112.00

A cheque for the fees (in Canadian currency) should be made payable to the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada and enclosed together with the name, address and telephone number of some person who will agree to receive the examination and to supervise the writing of it.

In order to request more information regarding the examinations, or to apply for an examination, candidates should write to:
 

English

Graham L. Anderson, FHSC P.O. Box 46 Cowichan Bay, B.C. V0R 1N0 Canada email: gla@sls.bc.ca

Français

M. Auguste Vachon, FHSC 6 Lacasse Gatineau, QC J9A 1J9 Canada email: apv@videotron.ca

Bibliography

Sources upon which the examinations have been most principally based have been set out in bold text. Some are still in print. Others may be obtained second hand. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it may be possible for candidates to obtain help preparing for the examinations through individual instruction from members of the Society or through lectures organized by the individual branches.
 

English Bibliography

• A Canadian Heraldic Primer, Kevin Greaves, The Heraldry Society of Canada, 2000 (available from the Society)
   
• An Heraldic Alphabet, J.P. Brooke-Little, Robson Books, 1985
   
• A New Dictionary of Heraldry, Stephen Friar, ed., Alphabooks A&C Black, London, 1987
   
• Boutell's Heraldry, C. W. Scott-Giles ( rev.) (various editions)
   
• Canadian Heraldry, Alan Beddoe, Mika Publishing Co., Belleville, Ont., 1981
   
• Heraldry: A Canadian Perspective & Context, I.L. Campbell (available from the publisher)
   
• Basic Heraldry, Stephen Friar & John Ferguson, Bramley Books, 1993
   
• Canada: Symbols of Sovereignty, C. Swan, U of T Press
   
• A Complete Guide to Heraldry, A.C. Fox-Davies
   
• Shield and Crest, J. Franklyn, Macgiggon & Kee, 1960
   
• Heraldic Design, Heather Child, Bell & Hyman, London, 1965
   
• Elvin's Dictionary of Heraldry, C.N. Elvin, Heraldry Today
   
• The Art of Heraldry, A.C. Fox-Davies
   
• Scots Heraldry, Sir Thomas Innes of Learney, Johnston & Bacon, Edinburgh, 1978
   
• Heraldry, Customs, Rules and Styles, C.A. von Volborth, Blanford Press, Dorset, 1981
   
• The Art of Heraldry, C.A. von Volborth, Tiger Books International, London, 1991
   
• Heraldry in Canada (various editions with a particular reference to Volume XXIX no. 2 - June 1995)

 

French Bibliography

• CRAMPTON, William, "Drapeaux et pavillons", Paris, Gallimard, 1989
   
• D'HAUCOURT, Geneviève et Georges Durivault, "Le Blason", 5e éd., Paris, Presses universitaires de France, 1970, << Que sais-je >> n0 336, 128 p. Aperçu complet des rudiments de l'héraldique.
   
• GALBREATH, D.L. et Léon Jéquier, "Manuel du Blason", Lausanne, Éditions Spes, 1977, 344 p., ISBN 2-602-00042-6. Études avancées.
   
• HEIM, Bruno Bernard, "Coutumes et Droit héraldiques de l'Église", Paris, Beauchesne, 1949, 200 p. L'un des rares ouvrages en langue française disponible sur le sujet.
   
• JOUBERT, Pierre, Nouveau guide de l'héraldique, Rennes, Éditions Ouest-France, 1984, 92 p., ISBN. 2-85882-704-4. Magnifiquement illustré, bon pour le débutant.
   
• MATHIEU, Rémi, "Le Système héraldique français", Paris, J.B. Janin, 1946, << La roue de fortune >>, 312 p. Études avancées.
   
• MORIN, Victor, "Traité d'art héraldique", Montréal, Librairie Beauchemin Limitée, 1919, 409 p. Un peu vieillot, mais le glossaire donne des précisions qu'on retrouve difficilement ailleurs.
   
• NEUBECKER, Ottfried, "Le grand livre de l'héraldique", Traduction et adaptation française de Roger Harmignies, Bruxelles, Elsevier Séquoia, 1977, 288 p. Contient, entre autres, un chapitre sur les brisures et les augmentations.
   
• PASTOUREAU, Michel, "Traité d'héraldique", 2e éd., Paris, Picard éditeur, 1993, << grands manuels Picard >>, 408 p., ISBN 2-7084-0413-X. Une étude moderne offrant les dernières recherches sur des points controversés.
   
• PASTOUREAU, Michel, "Figures de l'héraldique", Paris, Gallimard, 1996, 144p.
   
• THIÉBAUD, Jean-Marie, "Dictionnaire des termes du Blason", Besançon, Éditions Cêtre, 1994, 215 p., I.S.B.N.2-87823-039-0. Bon petit dictionnaire, a le mérite de préciser le genre des termes.
   
• VEYRIN-FORRER, "Prêcis d'héraldique", Larousse, 2000, 198 p.
   
• VOLBORTH, Carl-Alexander von, "L'Art héraldique", Styles et Formes, Traduction et adaptation française de Roger Harmignies, Bruxelles, Hervé Duchamp, 1982, << Fédération généalogique et héraldique de Belgique, cahier no 1 >>, 132 p. Étude comparative des styles. Nous recommandons au dèbutant de consulter d'abord des encyclopédies comme le Dictionnaire encyclopédique Quillet.

 

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Released: November 20, 2003
Updated: