STC Certification Presentation

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Technical Communication Certification:20 Questions Answered
Steven Jong
STC Certification Committee

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Who is Steve and why is he here?
STC Senior Member (1982–)
Active in publications competitions at chapter and international levels (1992–)
Boston Chapter president, 2004–2005
STC Director at Large, 2007–2010
Chairman, STC Certification Task Force, 2007–2010
Chairman, STC Certification Committee (2010–)

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What is certification?
The process through which an organization grants recognition to an individual ... [who] meets certain established criteria.
“Certificate” versus “certification”
“Certification” versus “licensure”
“Licensure” versus “accreditation”
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Certification Committee
Carolina Chapter, August 2010

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What does this have to do with our profession?
A profession is marked by three attributes:
A unique body of knowledge
A code of ethics
Certification of qualified practitioners

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What took so long?
First discussed in 1964(!)
First sanctioned work: Ad Hoc Committee on Certification in 1975
Membership surveys: 1975, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1995, 1997
Certification RFP issued in 1985; response not pursued
Feasibility study commissioned in 1998
Began work on Body of Knowledge (BoK) in 2007
Benchmarking report on professions in 2008
Value proposition adopted in 2009
Certification program approved by Board on 30 April 2010

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Why did STC finally accept certification?
Legitimize the contributions of, and respect for, our profession
Establish uniform worldwide performance standards
Increase the employability and salary of certified practitioners
Satisfy employers’ expectations
Reduce hiring risk for employers
Bring in non-dues revenue for the Society

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What is STC trying to achieve?
Certification is voluntary
Certification focuses on uniform areas of practice where technical communicators provide unique value
Applicants must meet prerequisites to be eligible for certification
Applicants must demonstrate knowledge, skills, and experience
Assessment involves a variety of methods
A core certification provides the basis for certification growth
Applicants must agree to adhere to the STC Code of Ethics
Opportunities are provided to applicants for remediation
Once granted, certification must be maintained

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What is STC certifying?
User, task, and experience analysis
Information design
Process management
Information development
Information production
Review coordination and reconciliation

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What’s the value of certification?

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What’s in it for me?

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What’s in it for employers?
Employers find that certified professionals are more often competent and successful than uncertified ones
Employers spend less to hire, train, and replace certified employees
Therefore, employers seek out and pay more for certified professionals

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What’s it gonna cost?
TBD, but consider these association fees:
ISPI: $995
The Data Warehousing Institute: $975
ASTD: $799
Human Factors International: $750
IEEE: $645
STC online certificate course $595 (member)
APMP: $450
ASQ: $450
IIBA: $450
PMI: $405
Accreditation in Public Relations: $385
ABC: $320
AMWA (certificate): $275
BELS: $250

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What might be in the application packet?
Résumé or curriculum vitae
Attestation from you and your client (boss)
Signed Code of Ethics
Work samples and artifacts
Accounts (stories) of projects

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How will evaluation work?
Several sessions per year
Application screened by STC office
Packet examined by three trained evaluators (who receive honoraria)
Under non-disclosure
Each evaluator looks at three packets (evaluator-applicant ratio is 1:1)
Evaluate against established criteria
Results:
3–0 vote: certify
2–1 vote: return for clarification
1–2 or 0–3 vote: reject

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What about the BoK?
The STC BoK is being fleshed out
It will become the basis for future examinations
It will become the basis for future specialty certifications

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Certificate
Plaque
Pin
Logo
Designation
Listing on Web site
What are certification marks?
Steven Jong, RTFM

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I have a tech comm degree. Why should I get certified?
Certification assesses both what you know and what you’ve done
However, a technical communication degree (or equivalent) is a solid foundation to becoming certified

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I can’t demonstrate/don’t know an area. How can I get certified?
Use completed projects, not current ones
Use samples from previous jobs
Redact samples
Do the case study instead
Take a class first

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I’m not a writer. What about me?
Specialty certifications (future)
Requires BoK
Opportunity for partnerships

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Will I have to maintain my certification?
Yes—certification is good for three years
To maintain it, continue your education to maintain current skills or learn new skills, and stay active in field
Reapplication packet contains fee and proof of course attendance
Screened by STC office
Results: Recertify or return

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Only STC has the international reach to offer international certification
We can use the same model internationally
Requires the BoK
We must revalidate our work outside the North American market
What about international certification?

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If you want to learn moreor help out
STC Certification Committee
Steven Jong, stevefjong@comcast.net
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STC Certification Presentation

by Carolina Chapter of STC on Aug 21, 2010

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STC Certification Presentation — Presentation Transcript