Re: Hostility towards STC
How the hell can we come up with certifications when we do such differentThe same could be said about physicians, accountants, lawyers, and any other group of professionals. Yet they seem to manage.
stuff?
Assuming that certification is desirable ( a debate I'll leave for another time), two basic approaches seem possible:
- Certify competence in a basic set of skills. Possibly, just as in an undergraduate degree, certification could consist of passing tests in a variety of categories. For example, a candidate might have to demonstrate basic knowledge of one programming language out of a choice of four or five, mastery of two out of three basic pieces of writing software, and design one of several different types of marketing material. Just as an undergrad degree is designed to give at least minimal exposure to different areas of knowledge, tech writing certification would indicate that a person had at least some exposure to different areas in the field.
- Certification in a single, specialized area.
In both cases, credit could be given for demonstrated experience for those still working in the field. In addition, there could be several levels of certification, with the higher grades demonstrating competence in more areas, and accordingly being in a better position to negotiate higher pay scales.
Really, it's not the mechanics that are the problems. To me, the issues are:
- Is certification desirable?
- Can writers be organized to achieve certification?
- What body should be in charge of certification?
My own answers to these questions are
- Yes/No/Maybe; ask me on alternate days and you'll get different answers.
- Probably not. I'd rather try herding parrots (which is exactly 7.85 times harder than herding cats, which is 12.43 times harder than getting drunken Canadians out of a swimming pool)
- Definitely not the STC. It seems incapable of mustering such a large effort.
--
Bruce Byfield bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com 604.421.7177
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