Unlike many professions, technical writing doesn’t require a specific university degree. If you’re not a member of a professional technical writing association (it’s not mandatory), you won’t need to get recertified by doing professional development courses that earn you credit points. However, unless you already have a very strong background in tech and writing, a technical writing qualification may be the single barrier to entry that your résumé is missing.
There are several benefits to gaining a technical writing certification:
- To signal to potential employers that you’re serious about a career in technical writing because you’ve invested your own time and money gaining a qualification.
- To formally recognize your technical writing skillset. Even if you know you have the right skills, getting a qualification is an easy way to prove to potential employers that you have what it takes.
- To broaden your skillset so you can hit the ground running when you land your first technical writing gig. This will make your first years as a technical writer much less stressful.
- To prepare yourself for the future when you’re an older tech writer—and the industry matures to the point where formal qualifications become the norm.
- To establish your brand as a qualified professional with credibility in the technical writing community and allow you to build your reputation as an expert, if that’s your path.
How to Choose the Right Technical Writing Course
If you’re considering investing in a technical writing course, there are a variety of options available to suit your budget and time commitments.
- Universities and Colleges: These institutions often offer courses that provide an extensive grounding in both the theory and practice of technical writing. These accredited programs are globally recognized but may require a significant investment of both time and money.
- Professional Associations: Courses offered by associations like the Society for Technical Communication (STC) are less time-intensive and usually more affordably priced. However, they may not offer the depth of content found in university courses.
- Private Education Providers: Private providers, such as Boffin Education, offer highly practical courses to equip you with the practical skills and theoretical knowledge to become an expert. These courses range from affordable, self-paced micro-learning courses to hands-on, instructor-led sessions.
Each type of course has its own pros and cons, so weigh your options carefully.
Do I Need to Join a Professional Organization?
Unlike more mature professions, such as accounting, medicine, and law, it’s not mandatory to be a member of a professional technical writing association to work as a technical writer. Nor do you need to pass an examination set by a professional association before you can practice. This may change one day, but for most technical writing roles, it’s still optional at present.
So why join? Professional organizations provide job and networking opportunities, access to articles and training, and significant discounts on training, lectures, books, and conferences. Perhaps the most valuable part of membership is access to a network of professionals, which provides the opportunity for you to tap into their experience.
Here are some of the larger technical writing associations (check for local branches in your country):
- European Association for Technical Communication
- Society for Technical Communication
- IEEE Professional Communication Society
The world of technical writing has many lively online communities. These provide great opportunities for beginners to ask more experienced members for their advice on everything from technical questions about writing, to career advice. Here are some of the more popular ones:
- Write the Docs
- Reddit Technical Writing Community
- LinkedIn Groups, for example: Technical Writer Forum (45,000+ members), Documentation and Technical Writing Management (30,000+ members), and Technical Writing & Content Management (20,000+ members).
