Certification and Its Implications to the Academic Community in Professional and Technical Communication

Interest in certification has grown in recent years with the growth in credentialing options available to professional and technical communicators. This article provides a foundation for considering certification. It first explains the purpose of certification and contrasts it with other types of credentialing, including licensure, accreditation, and certificates. Then this article identifies the certifications and certificates available to professional and technical communica- tors, and explains how third-party certifications differ from degree programs. Next, this article explains why organizations serving professional and technical communicators have increasingly stressed certification and how certifications encompass critical thinking. The article closes by suggesting how certifications affect academic programs in the field and how faculty can become involved with the process.