First Certified Professional Technical Communicators Introduced at the Summit

The first members of the charter class of Certified Professional Technical Communicators™ were introduced at the recent STC Summit in Rosemont, IL, on 20 May. Below is a press release from the STC Certification Commission highlighting the charter members.

STC Certification Commission Announces the First Certified Professional Technical Communicator™ Certification Recipients

CPTC™ Certification Legitimizes the Profession of Technical Communication and Benefits Practitioners and Employers

Rosemont, IL, 20 May 2012 —The Society for Technical Communication Certification Commission (STCCC) announced the names of the first practitioners to earn the Certified Professional Technical Communicator (CPTC)™ certification at the Society for Technical Communication (STC) Summit in Rosemont today. The first recipients are Beth Agnew, Judy Agraz, Carrie Chambers, Stephen Daugherty, Meredith Kinder, Michael Opsteegh, Cheryl Taylor, and Michele Wallace.

Launched by the STC Certification Commission in April 2010, the CPTC™ certification program is designed to certify qualified practitioners after an assessment of their knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) in technical communication. The CPTC™ certification is the first professional credential available for technical communicators working for the North American market. “This is an important achievement not only for our first certificants, but for the profession as a whole,” said Steven Jong, Chairman of the commission. “The CPTC™ certification elevates the profession by establishing global performance standards and increasing respect and recognition.”

As the immediate beneficiaries, technical communicators can advance their career with the CPTC™ certification. “It will elevate the respect I receive at my company and with my manager and prove to potential future employers that I am a successful professional communicator,” said Carrie Chambers, the director of documentation at Eyefinity in Irvine, CA. Specifically, the CPTC™ credential will help the practitioners:

• Increase their professional credibility, expand their skill sets, and enhance their résumés;
• Distinguish themselves from their peers, giving practitioners the edge they need to stand out to employers skimming dozens of résumés; and
• Show current and prospective employers their value, demonstrating they have the most up-to-date skills and knowledge in the technical communication field as well as their commitment and passion about their profession.

“This CPTC™ certification offers employers greater assurance that their employees have the knowledge and skills to handle complex technical communication projects from the planning stage through completion,” Jong said. “It also helps to reduce hiring risk because the CPTC™ credential holders are dedicated to the field and committed to professional development not only today but for the rest of their careers. And these are the very kind of professionals that employers are looking for in today’s competitive job market.”

In fact, most of the first recipients applied for the CPTC™ credential with their employers’ support. “The company where I work is an advocate for continuing education and building up existing team members, so when I presented the CPTC™ program to them, they were absolutely 100 percent on board. When I learned that I had earned my credential, they made a big announcement,” said Michelle Wallace, who was promoted from senior technical writer to technical writing supervisor at AMN Healthcare in San Diego, CA, after obtaining the CPTC™ certification.

The CPTC™ certification program is open to technical communicators who meet eligibility requirements based on their education and experience. More information about the CPTC™ credential and the STC Certification Commission can be found at stccert.org.

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About The Society for Technical Communication Certification Commission (STCCC):
The Society for Technical Communication Certification Commission (STCCC) is an independent certifying agency that administers the Certified Professional Technical Communicator (CPTC)™ credentialing program. For more information, please visit stccert.org.

About the CPTC™ certification program:
Administered by the STC Certification Commission, the CPTC™ credential assures employers and the public that certified practitioners possess the knowledge, skill and ability needed to meet the demands of complex technical communication projects from the planning stage through completion. CPTC™-certified practitioners have demonstrated that they have the most up-to-date skills in the industry. For more information, please visit stccert.org.

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