A previous questioner wondered why candidates for office to not hold the Technical Communication certificate offered by the STC, and one respondent said that such a holding might be considered in an industry hiring process. Now I understand that officers and representatives have a vested interest in promoting the STC certificate program. Some might even say that it creates a conflict of interest between choosing to support university-level degree programs in the field and the STC certificate program.

A university-level technical communication degree program, especially one that offers advanced degrees, contains a significant amount of rigor and well-defined programs, is taught by professors vetted at a university level, and fully accredited by governing authorities. I don't think that you could fairly say that the STC certificate, while certainly offering value, rises to all of these levels.

So my question is, whether for an STC office or a position at your company, if all other things are (relatively) equal, would you choose a candidate with an STC certificate or with a Bachelors, Masters, or Ph.D. in Technical Communication or related field. and why?

Thank you, Chuck, for raising this question.

I don't feel the CPTC credential is a replacement for a degree. This credential is a way for technical communicators to demonstrate they possess and apply the set of skills represented by the CPTC credential.

For example, I graduated with a Bachelor of Science, Computer Science and a Bachelor of Science, Mathematics. Those degrees gave me a solid base of knowledge that I could quickly build on during my career. However, they did not represent that I could design and develop enterprise software without the direction and input from senior development team members.

I had also taken several technical communication courses, but during my first position as a technical writer, I learned how much I truly did not know. I had an incredible editor and a senior writer who were my mentors and taught me so much about the field. I also advanced my technical communication knowledge by attending many program meetings and conferences, and by discussing ideas and approaches with other technical communicators.

The CPTC credential can help potential employers know that in addition to our education, we have demonstrated the core technical communication skills represented by the credential.

The certification does not replace a degree, but does provide a way for experienced technical communicators to demonstrate that they have the practical applied knowledge and recognition of their peers. This is especially important for people who come into technical communication via work experience rather than a tech com program.

Certification can show a dedication to continued learning in the profession and an interest in one's own professional development. A degree shows similar dedication and interest.

Certification shows practical experience, while the degree shows a foundation in theory, research, and best practices. Both have value.

(I have both a science degree (BS in Biology) and a tech com degree (MS in Technical Communication). Both have served me well in my career.)