TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
"The two years"? It isn't exactly two years and PMI's requirements are slightly different than what you state. PMP certification requires 35 contact hours of PM training and for people with a BA, 4,500 hours PM experience within the most recent 6 years, and an exam for ~$500. People with two years of college require 7,500 PM hours over the most recent 8 years. PM experience must be with work that is directly associated with performing a PM role and not in performing the tasks of the project. So, 2000 annual work hours as a technical writer working towards PMP certification will not be 2000 PM experience hours. Those hours are divided between PM and TW, which could be a 50/50 split, so perhaps only 1000 PM hours are earned per year and the total hours are completed in 4.5 years. That 4,500 hours really starts to look like a lot of experience.
Making a TW certificate that reflects a similar methodology should include TW education, overall education, actual hours spent writing, and an exam that tests different elements of tech writing. TW certification could look respectable if there was an organization that wanted to track these elements for tech writers.
What would be the title of the certification? PMI has the PMP that I prounce "pimp." What can TW have? How about a "Technical Writing Technologist Certfication (TWT)"? Or "twit"? I can be a twit and a pimp. I feel so proud.
Lauren
________________________________
From: techwr-l-bounces+lt34=csus -dot- edu -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com on behalf of stevefjong -at- comcast -dot- net
Sent: Tue 9/25/2007 9:36 AM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Re: Technical Writing Certifications
Peter Neilson wrote, "People who write crap can get certifications," which is an interesting argument.
A *certificate* you can perhaps get. You can get a certificate for sitting through, say, a one-day workshop on "writing with punch." However, the requirements for *certification* are usually much more demanding. For example, the Project Management Institute's certification requires a master's degree, passing an examination, and 4,500 hours of work in the field.
If technical writing certification had similar requirements, how would you propose getting through the two years by writing crap?
-- Steve
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more. http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList
True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com <http://www.helpandmanual.com/>
---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as lt34 -at- csus -dot- edu -dot-
Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more. http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList
True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com
---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-
