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Certification in Technical Writing. Yes, that topic certainly opens a can of
something.
The short answer is, NO, the STC does not offer an certification program, or
programs, in its professional fields. There are programs available through
various schools and demi-accreditation organizations in technical writing or
some forms of it; some who contribute here have identified them
individually.
The larger question, and one I answer in the affirmative, is whether STC
should become a leader in establishing accreditation certification programs
for technical communications. I don't believe that there could be a
one-size-fits-all certification program, but I do believe the organization
should begin the process of building the process, creating the curricula and
tests, administration of the program, and marketing of the program.
There is no certification for MS Word; there's one for MS Office User. Would
I pay Microsoft $1,000 to show that I know how to push buttons or use menus
in all Office products? Not for that amount, and it wouldn't attest to my
ability to write. Similarly, I don't see any Adobe or Macromedia program as
being of benefit to me as a technical communicator.
The whole thing misses the point. These are applications; they're tools, and
nothing more. The may be important, even critical, to my professional work,
but they aren't more than tools. If I don't know how to write, no tool
software tool will help. If I don't know how to interview, take notes, and
analyze a system, no software tool will help.
Anyway, these are just my opinions.
Good luck!
Donald H. White
Senior Technical Writer/Editor
James River Technical Communications LLC
804.795.2914
dwhite -at- jrtcllc -dot- com
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