I noticed that none of the candidates (as far as I can tell from the bios) have the CPTC certification. Since this is a professional certification that STC is hoping to make a coveted industry standard, why are we considering candidates who don't have it?

Although it is a new initiative, perhaps it should be a requirement for the person who wins the election to obtain their certification within a certain amount of time...because otherwise the message seems to be that the CPTC does not have cachet and may even be irrelevant.

Thank you, Vivian, for raising this question. I believe Michael Opsteegh, candidate for Director, has the Certified Professional Technical Communicator (CPTC) credential.

As a business owner, I do consider the CPTC credential when I am looking for candidates to hire or recommend to my clients. It is a new certification, so there are only a few candidates who have it today. I have thought about applying for certification and I continue to weigh its priority in my own career.

For the Technical Communication profession, I believe certification has an important role. The CPTC credential helps elevate job candidates during the resume-reviewing process. It demonstrates an important skill set and the candidate's commitment to technical communication. Over time, I believe you will see more candidates who have the CPTC credential.

Excellent comment. Thanks, Vivian.

This is a new certification for STC, so the momentum is still building for getting the certification. Like Paul, as a small business owner, it's one of the considerations that I will use when making hiring decisions.

I think the certification is particularly valuable for people who have come into the profession from another discipline. And, having the certification option raises the profile of the profession.