RE: Hostility towards STC

[Kim Roper <kim -dot- roper -at- pixelink -dot- com>]

Connie Giordano wrote:

> I agree that you didn't call technical writers 
> unprofessional, but I do
> disagree with the concept that it's not a profession.

Let's get this one straight:

Technical writing is NOT a profession in the large "P" Profession sense of
the word.  For it to be a profession, there would have to be an accrediting
body and means of enforcing professional conduct in terms of ethics and
competence.  Professional standing can be --removed-- for violating rules of
conduct.

Examples of occupations where this is strictly enforced:
-- Medicine
-- Law
-- Psychology

Examples of occupations where one may be a "Professional" but it is not
required to be able to work in the field:
-- Engineering* 
-- Project Management**

* At least in Ontario, there are restrictions on who may claim to be an
engineer, Professional (P.Eng) or not.  P.Eng accreditation is required for
certain tasks, such as design sign-off, legal deposition, and guaranteeing
of a passport application.
** Yes, there are accredited Professional Project Managers.  Really.

Cheers ... Kim
(Engineer, but not P.Eng.)

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