1. Certified Professional Technical Communicator (CPTC): What You Need to Know Chris Lyons, STC CEO Liz Pohland, STC Director of Communications STC Summit 2016

2. Why Pursue Certification? Technical Communicators benefit from: Validated knowledge, experience, and competency Professional development Leadership recognition Professional status Portable career credential Personal achievement Employers benefit from: Validation of an employee’s skills and knowledge by a third party Differentiation from others in the workforce Engagement and commitment to the field and the business Source: STC Intercom magazine, January 2016

3. CPTC Foundation Body of Knowledge  Technical Communication Today, 5 th Edition by Richard Johnson-Sheehan, primary source  Technical Communication Body of Knowledge (TCBOK), secondary source Listen to the Dr. Johnson-Sheehan’s YouTube webinar for Pearson, "Responding to the STC's Nine Areas of Competency in Technical Communication,” http://bit.ly/1QXEQcu.http://bit.ly/1QXEQcu

4. CPTC Foundation development is based in Bloom’s Taxonomy: a learning theory that classifies education objectives into 6 ascending learning levels, each defining a higher degree of competencies and skills.

5. Three tiers of CPTC certification will be launched Knowledge Competency Expert is analogous to the old CPTC designation. CPTC’s have been re-designated “CPTC Expert.”

6. Purpose:Measures knowledge and comprehension Confirms application and analysis of knowledge Confirms ability to synthesize and evaluate knowledge Audience:Entry-levelMid- to Senior-levelExpert-level Source:Primary textbook1-5 years’ experience and STC BOK 5+ years’ experience and STC BOK Evaluation:ExamExam and work productsSME panel interview and work products Pathway Prerequisite: Candidates must successfully complete the preceding certification tier to qualify for the succeeding certification tier.

7. Certification assesses KSAs in 9 core areas: Core TC Areas: Project Planning Project Analysis Content Development Organizational Design Written Communication Visual Communication Reviewing and Editing Content Management Production and Delivery Knowledge, Skills, Abilities (KSAs) Surveys Conducted Knowledge - familiarity with an organized body of information Skill - the proficient manual, verbal, or mental manipulation of data or things Ability - the power or capacity to perform an activity or task

8. 1. Project Planning Project planning focuses on the work involved in planning and managing technical communication work teams and documents through a lifecycle process. It includes: Process planning Goal setting Progress tracking Strategic planning activities

9. 2. Project Analysis Project analysis involves the work of identifying readers and document contexts, including the development of reader profiles. This includes: Identifying types of audiences, users, or readers Identifying audience needs, values, and attitudes Analyzing document contexts (physical, economic, political, ethical)

10. 3. Content Development Content development focuses of the content created for technical information products. It addresses technical genres, their content, and use, including: Memos Technical descriptions and specifications Instructions Proposals Reports (activity, status, analytical)

11. 4. Organizational Design Organizational design focuses on guidelines and techniques for organizing and drafting technical documents. It covers organizational patterns and rhetorical techniques for: Technical reports Memos Technical descriptions and specifications Instructional content Proposals Activity, status, and analytical reports

12. 5. Written Communication Written communication covers general guidelines for composing content and communicating in written and electronic forms. It covers: Writing style Persuasion Tone General readability Localization and globalization

13. 6. Visual Communication Visual communication focuses on general design principles and practices in the creation of visual information, including: Figures and graphics Data displays and infographics Presentations Multimodality

14. 7. Reviewing & Editing Reviewing and editing addresses processes and guidelines and general usability when reviewing content, including: Levels of Edit (global editing, substantive editing, copyediting, proofreading) Grammar Mechanics

15. 8. Content Management Content management focuses on managing the content of information products and information development teams. It address: Content strategies Web content development Social networks Wikis Blogs and microblogs Videos and podcasts

16. 9. Production & Delivery Production and delivery focuses on final deliverables and project outcomes, including: Final production deliverables Objectives for final deliverables Measuring effectiveness Quality feedback loops Ongoing usability testing

17. The CPTC Foundation Exam The Foundation exam format is: 40 minutes 50 multiple-choice questions 70% pass mark Closed book The cost of the exam is: $250 US for current STC members $495 US for nonmembers We anticipate that most candidates will self study, pay, and register to take the exam through APMG and ProctorU, the online proctoring service that APMG uses. You have one year from payment with APMG to sit the exam with ProctorU. The online test and instructions will require at least a full hour.

18. Foundation Question Format Question TypeExample Standard multiple choice What is an editor on a technical communication team typically responsible for? Missing word Identify the missing word in the following sentence. An effective information graphic should [ ? ] the written text, not replace it. Negative Which approach is NOT applying the visual design principle of grouping? Select (List) Which of the following statements are correct guidelines for writing plain sentences? Select (Evaluate) Which of the following statements about the focus of substantive editing are true? Sequencing When strategically planning the work of a technical documentation team, in what sequence are the following typically undertaken? Distractors Plausible incorrect answers

19. Sample Questions Sample questions available online: http://www.stc.org/certification/sample-questions http://www.stc.org/certification/sample-questions When strategically planning the work of a technical documentation team, in what sequence are the following typically undertaken? 1. Create a list of tasks 2. Develop a timeline 3. Set objectives a) 1, 2, 3 b) 2, 3, 1 c) 2, 1, 3 d) 3, 1, 2 Topic Area: Project Planning and Technical Communication Correct Answer: D Test Objective: How to strategically plan the work of a technical communication team. The proper sequence in strategically planning the work of a technical writing team is to set objectives, create a list of tasks, and set a timeline.

20. Sample Questions Which approach is NOT applying the visual design principle of grouping? a) Use borders to break the page into more manageable sections b) Offset the elements on a page to create a stable feeling in the text c) Use horizontal straight lines (rules) to signal places to pause in the document d) Use the whitespace appropriately to frame items on the page Topic Area: Visual Communication Correct Answer: B Test Objective: Understand the principle of grouping and how it is used to add visual structure to information products. a) Incorrect. Carving pages into smaller groups of information using borders is applying the grouping principle. b) Correct. Offsetting items to create a stable feeling in the text is applying the design principle of balance. c) Incorrect. Rules can be used to carve a page into smaller groups of information. d) Incorrect. Appropriate framing of items using whitespace is applying the design principle of grouping.

21. Foundation Continuing Education Requirements TypePoints STC Annual Membership (any type)2 STC Recorded Webinar (self-study)1 STC Live Educational Webinar (free, sponsored, and community webinars excluded) 2 STC Online Courses6 STC Summit Pre-Conference Courses (full day)6 STC Summit Pre-Conference Courses (half day)3 STC Virtual Summit4 STC Annual Summit8 College accredited course related to the tech comm field8 Published articles that relate to any aspect of Technical Communication (2/article)2 Published books publicly available on topics related to Technical Communication (5/book) 5 Presentations at conferences related to aspects of Technical Communication (2/presentation) 2 Total needed within 2 years post-certification date12

22. What does the Foundation exam cost? $250 members $495 nonmembers (No other fees.) Are there any prerequisites? None for CPTC Foundation. There will be prerequisites for Practitioner and Expert. Does STC offer training or study assistance? Individuals and training organizations are being accredited and will conduct prep classes for an additional fee. STC has released a study guide that is available on the STC website. A prep class was conducted by Alan Houser at the Summit in Anaheim, CA, with time to take the exam. Additional trainers will be posting course availability this year. Is there a waiting period if I don’t pass the exam? Not for CPTC Foundation, but you will be required to register and pay for the exam again. Feedback is provided to all test takers on your knowledge of the 9 areas. Can I simply retake the Foundation exam instead of acquiring CEUs? You could, but you will not be able to qualify for CPTC Practitioner or Expert without proof of ongoing continuing education. CPTC Foundation Common Questions:

23. Why did STC use a third-party vendor (APMG)? APMG brings best practices in the structure and standards of developing certification programs and their accompanying exams. They also accredit a network of trainers and testing centers around the world. Is there a discounted price for developing countries? Not at this time. We are waiting to understand demand. When are CPTC Practitioner and Expert opening? We anticipate Practitioner to open in 2017 and Expert in 2018. We are currently working on the criteria. The program is cumulative, so the pool of potential Practitioners will be those who have passed CPTC Foundation. More CPTC common questions:

24. For more information about the CPTC program, visit: Why Certify? http://www.stc.org/certification/whyhttp://www.stc.org/certification/why General info: http://www.stc.org/certificationhttp://www.stc.org/certification Study Guide: http://www.stc.org/images/certification/cptcstudyguide.pdfhttp://www.stc.org/images/certification/cptcstudyguide.pdf Sample questions: http://www.stc.org/certification/sample-questionshttp://www.stc.org/certification/sample-questions Questions? Contact an STC representative: Liz Pohland, Director of Communications, liz.pohland@stc.orgliz.pohland@stc.org Chris Lyons, CEO, chris.lyons@stc.orgchris.lyons@stc.org Craig Baehr, Chief Examiner, craig.baehr@ttu.educraig.baehr@ttu.edu Alan Houser, Accredited CPTC Trainer, arh@groupwellesley.comarh@groupwellesley.com