The Certified Professional Technical Communicator (CPTC) – Foundation is a professional certification through the Society for Technical Communication. To attain this level, candidates must demonstrate knowledge and understanding of core technical communication skill areas by passing an exam.
CPTC Foundation Skills
The CPTC Foundation-level certification measures whether a candidate has sufficient knowledge and comprehension of the course text, Richard Johnson-Sheehan’s Technical Communication Today: Special Edition for Society for Technical Communication Foundation Certification, 5th edition. The exam is organized around nine core areas:
- Project Planning
- Project Analysis
- Content Development
- Organizational Design
- Written Communication
- Review and Editing
- Visual Communication
- Content Management
- Production and Delivery
We offer CPTC Foundation Exam Prep Classes which review these competencies and cover the terms, concepts, principles, and processes needed to pass the certification exam.
The Exam
The exam fee ($250 for current STC members and $495 for non-members) is not included in the course registration cost. You may take the CPTC Foundation Certification exam for up to one year after registering with APMG to take the exam.
After passing the exam, you receive a certificate and are entered into the STC certification database. Your name will also appear on the STC and APMG websites as a certified practitioner. The STC website provides continuing education requirements to maintain certification.
Helpful Information
Get the scoop on certificates vs. certification.
Read the January 2016 issue of STC’s Intercom to learn more about the certification program.
Take a peek at the STC Study Guide to get an idea of what the CPTC Foundation syllabus looks like.
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