Building Blocks to a Body of Knowledge for User-Centered Design: To Certify or Not to Certify

For the past nine months the Usability Professionals’ Association (UPA) participated in a project to investigate the feasibility of certifying usability (or user-centered design) professionals. The project was kicked off in Salt Lake City last November when a group of people from many organizations, countries and associations met for three days. That meeting ended with a sense of enthusiasm for creating a certification program based on the international standard for a human-centered design process, ISO 13407. The group planned activities to survey professionals to determine the level of support for certification, and to understand the benefits and drawbacks seen by stakeholders.

Quesenbery, Whitney. Usability Interface (2002). Careers>Certification>Usability>Body of Knowledge

Certification for Technical Communicators: The Time is Now

The Society for Technical Communication (STC) has been debating certification for technical communicators for over 37 years in one form or another. Despite many attempts locally, regionally, and nationally to move toward establishing a certification process for the profession, the issue remains on hold.

Jacobson, Peggy. STC Puget Sound (2004). Careers>Certification

Certification in Technical Communication    

The debate over certification of technical and professional communicators has occurred with periods of relative intensity and quiescence for more than twenty years. This article surveys the historical developments of the debate; describes the arguments for and against certification; surveys technical communication curricula and theoretical arguments for literacies, standards, and competencies; and examines various efforts to study certification, including a description of published documents regarding certification.

Turner, Roy K. and Charles Paine. Technical Communication Quarterly (2004). Careers>Certification>TC>Education

Certifications and Credentials for Scientific Editors  

Most professionals want to further their careers over the course of their working life. Scientific editors as a whole do not have well-defined paths for establishing their careers, unlike professionals such as lawyers and doctors, where the educational and credentialing processes are well established. Where can scientific editors get their training? Where can they get experience? This paper will explore experiences, certifications and credentials, as well as training, and degrees, specific to scientific editing that can help further the careers of scientific editors.

Firestone, Elaine R., Tony Caruso, Barbara Simmons, Earlene Hammock, Michael Ebinger and Sushil K. Oswal. STC Proceedings (2003). Careers>Certification>Editing>Scientific Communication

Certifying Technical Communicators: An Historical Perspective  

STC members have shown interest in being certified as technical communicators for at least 37 years. The Society has made at least four studies of certification. This paper reviews the work of the 1975-80, 1981, 1982-87 and 1994-1998 committees. The three, multi-year studies had essentially the same results; significant numbers want certification, but too few to make a full certification program economically viable. The studies also revealed that creating a certification program might be divisive. The 1982—-87 study revealed an interest by employers in STC having an accreditation program.

Malcolm, Andrew and Lawrence D. Kunz. STC Proceedings (2001). Careers>Certification>TC>History

Professional Certification: Evolution, Revolution, or Status Quo?  

The issue of professional certification for technical communicators has reappeared in recent years and prompted the Society to begin another formal study of the question. Certification is a form of voluntary credentialing developed and administered by private, typically non-profit, organizations. Certification’s value to STC and the profession is the focus of the Society’s current study. Using information compiled from focus groups, surveys, and literature reviews, the Certification Issues Committee has begun an RFP for a comprehensive feasibility study of certification.

Kunz, Lawrence D. and Terrance M. Skelton. STC Proceedings (1996). Careers>Certification>TC

Qualification or Certification for Technical Communicators

Technical communication as a profession should have some mechanism for identifying and validating the work that its professionals do. In many countries in Europe, professional societies have made some progress in this direction.

Rainey, Kenneth T. TC-FORUM (2001). Careers>Certification>Professionalism

Technical Communication in Sweden: Education, Certification and Internationalization

In spite of the limited population, Sweden is a highly industrialised nation with a number of globally well known industries. As the home market for these industries is far too small, they have to rely on the export markets to sell their products. This situation creates a rather special situation for technical communicators in Sweden. We have to translate the manuals into a large number of languages. And, as our own culture really does not have a dominating position in the world, we have to adapt the information to the target cultures on the different markets. Internationalization is a part of our everyday life.

Näsström, Johan. TC-FORUM (1999). Careers>Certification>Localization>Scandinavia

Training: The Path to Certification  

We can avoid much of the controversy surrounding certification when we consider it as part of a qualification process. Certification has two primary results. It provides candidates with the most effective way to achieve the required skills. It also provides us with a way to define the skills and skill levels that make us a profession. The Appraisal Institute and the American Medical Writers Association are examples of groups that offer training as part of their certification process. We can promote certification and standards within the Society and in cooperation with academic programs and industry.

DuBay, William H. STC Proceedings (2001). Careers>Certification>TC

The Value of the Certified Business Analyst Professional (CBAP) Designation

Because the certification has meaning that is fluid and career or personal goals are always changing, I believe it's up to the individual business analyst professional to decide for themselves if certification is right for them based on these factors. If the certification program means upward mobility in their profession or enables an individual to excel at their current job, then it is probably worth the time and cost to undertake a certification program. But I would caution anyone not to cut corners or to cram for the exam to obtain the certification. If they don't see a certification program as a chance to learn, grow and develop their skills and knowledge, then it's probably not worth the investment.

Griffiths, Stephanie. BA Collective (2007). Careers>Certification>Business Communication>Professionalism

Varför Anlita Certifierade Teknikinformatörer?

Varför anlita certifierade teknikinformatörer? En uppdragsgivare som anlitar en certifierad teknikinformatör (eller tecknare, fotograf, översättare eller liknande) vet att han kan få en opartisk granskning av ett arbete som han är missnöjd med. Om granskningen utfaller till beställarens fördel kommer han med största sannolikhet att få en korrigering till stånd så a tt han blir nöjd.

Omer, Bjorn. FTI. (Swedish) Careers>Certification>TC

Why Be Certifiable? What It's Like to Take a Certification Exam  

The mention of the word certification in any room where technical communicators are often leads to a heated debate. As a profession technical communication is still in its infancy; therefore, the technical communicators are still defining their roles in the workplace and the standards of their profession. Some specialists in the profession have already established their own standards and certification programs. At present the avenues for professional certification are limited.

Brewer, Robyn L. STC Proceedings (1996). Careers>Certification