A US federal historic preservation official once noted: "The coordination of education programs is crucial to the success of historic preservation in every town, city, and state across the country." It was largely for that reason that over twenty years ago a Higher Education Study Group sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation recommended the formation of an association of preservation educators. In response to this call, the National Council for Preservation Education (NCPE) was soon established as a non-profit educational corporation chartered in the District of Columbia and committed to these objectives:

• Encouraging and assisting in the development and improvement of historic preservation education programs and endeavors in the United States and elsewhere;
• Coordinating efforts related to preservation education with public and private organizations and interested individuals;
• Facilitating the collection, exchange and dissemination of information and ideas concerning preservation education;
• Creating public awareness of endeavors in preservation education.

The National Council for Preservation Education has developed guidelines for minimum standards in preservation education degree programs. It also sponsors internships, preservation conferences and publishes on a range of preservation topics and issues.Today, the National Council for Preservation Education has over fifty member institutions scattered across the United States. These academic programs in historic preservation and allied fields have educated thousands of students, many of whom have developed professional careers as preservation leaders working for local, state, federal government agencies, non-governmental organizations and in the private sector in the US and elsewhere in the world.

The annual membership meeting of the National Council for Preservation is held in the fall, typically at the same location as the annual meeting of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The James Martson Fitch Award is presented to recognize outstanding acheivement in the preservation education field annually.

For more information of the National Council for Preservation Education, please contact the chair of the NCPE Executive Committee listed above.

The NCPE Guide to Academic Programs in Historic Preservation and Allied Fields is provided as a reference source to assist prospective students in identifying various historic preservation education degree programs in the United States. Further information may be obtained by contacting the particular institutions directly.