You’ve taken a DNA test. You have a list of matches. Now what?
You’ve probably clicked around a bit—looked a match names, checked for trees, maybe tried a few tools. But figuring out how to actually use your results to build or confirm your family tree can feel overwhelming.
That doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. It just means you’re ready for the next step.
The DNA Skills Workshop is where you learn a clear, practical plan for turning your DNA results into real genealogical progress. We’ll show you how to make confident decisions, identify the right matches to focus on, and use powerful—but often confusing—tools without feeling lost.
Join the waitlist and you’ll be first to know when the next workshop opens. You’ll get early access to details and the chance to secure your spot before we announce more widely.
"The course took me from base-level understanding... to competent and strategic use of shared match cM data in combination with a variety of available research tools at testing sites and the DNA Painter site. I have moved from randomly sifting through matches to effective execution
of a research goal."
- Trudi Becht, DNA Skills Workshop participant
While you wait, here are some simple steps to help you get started now:
1. Develop or refine a research question.
What’s the mystery you want to solve? Think in specifics, like a particular ancestor, line, or unknown connection. A clear question gives your DNA matches direction and purpose.
2. Strengthen your family tree, especially the line connected to your question.
Build up, and build out. Those collateral lines—siblings, cousins, descendants—provide the structure your DNA matches will need to fit into.
3. Join our Better Together series.
If you want a little warm-up before Skills begins, Better Together (an event we are hosting in our free Circle community) invites you to explore your results with motivation and support. You’ll be learning and making progress while you wait.
4. Connect with your fellow learners in our Circle community
Ask questions, share discoveries, and get comfortable with the kind of collaboration that makes DNA work more fun (and more successful!).