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While I am president of a local STC chapter, I am not speaking for the STC
in a formal way right now. Not enough coffee, for sure.
But my understanding is that STC as it is currently set up cannot certify.
It is a violation of the Federal rules for this flavor of NPO. We are a
non-profit (NPO) with all sorts of restrictions on what we can do, based on
the flavor of NPO we are. As I recall, only trade organization structured
groups can certify.
We could, in theory, restructure as a trade organization. To restructure to
be a trade organization would, and I am probably getting some or many of the
details wrong here, require the STC to essentially disband and then
reorganize, leaving us open to paying taxes on all money over the years as
now income. Which would of course, create, oh several insurmountable
problems.
Or something like that. I have not had much coffee yet so others who are
more able to remember can fill in the details. Please don't hurt me for the
specific details I get wrong here. Just help correct them.
Maybe there could be multiple types of certification - one for those
doing policy & procedures, another for software tech writers, etc.
There's no reason that there should be a one-size-fits-all approach -
this has just led to alienation and disagreement. The STC needs to
rethink certification with a broader view so that it is not an
instrument of exclusion.
I just don't understand why it is taking such a well-established org
such a long and difficult time to deal with this issue. There are other,
younger orgs who have developed, or are in the process of developing,
certifications. For example:
And there are many more examples. Microsoft MCSE and Adobe ACE programs.
In technical communication one gets a form of certification when one
finishes a technical communication certificate or degree program. For
example, the MS in Technical Communication from Rensselaer Polytechnical
Institute in Troy, NY: http://www.rsvp.rpi.edu/academics/degrees/mstechcomm.shtml
My point is, others are doing it, why not STC? Think of the thousands of
dollars they could generate from certification and recertification fees
alone. If they are finding their revenue sources squeezed, certification
would open up a whole new revenue stream for them.
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