ABSTRACT
The UK is currently out of line with most other European countries in some key aspects of the organization, qualifications and status of its museum personnel. If anything, current UK trends towards competence-based skills-rather than advanced education and research-as the prerequisite for professional museum work will widen rather than narrow the gap between this country and continental Europe. If this happens it will certainly affect the opportunities for UK museum staff within the planned unified professions across the European Community.
