Technical Writing Education and Training

Write your ticket for a career in technical writing with proper education and training

If your flair for writing has you turning your sights to a career as a technical writer, it's important to know how you can best get technical writing education and training. Whether you're interested in technical report writing or technical manual writing, or if you want to work for a technical writing company or get into freelance technical writing, you'll benefit from the right education and training.

While a bachelor's degree is not required for a career in technical writing, a college degree provides excellent technical writing training. Seminars and conferences through technical writing organizations also provide invaluable educational information for writers. These are a few paths you can take on your road to becoming a technical writer:

1. Get a formal degree in technical writing.
2. Obtain a technical writing certificate to start your career as a technical writer.
3. Take advantage of educational and training programs offered by technical writing organizations.
   

 

Enroll in a technical writing program at an accredited college or university

While a degree in technical writing is not mandatory to become a technical writer, it is helpful to obtain a bachelor's degree in technical writing. You can choose between online courses and traditional classroom settings in your pursuit of a degree in technical writing.
Try: Carnegie Mellon University offers one of the country's oldest technical writing programs, and one of the few that is still designated as a bachelor's of science degree rather than a bachelor's of arts. Obtain a bachelor's degree in technical writing with Kaplan University's online program. The University of Washington offers a bachelor of arts in technical writing through it's individualized studies program in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Participate in a program that will afford you a technical writing certificate

If you've already earned a degree but have since decided to pursue a career in technical writing, many colleges or universities offer a technical writing certificate program. This is usually an intensive course of study that introduces students to many aspects of business technical writing.
Try: Learn all facets of technical writing through the eight-course certificate program offered by Brooklyn College. The University of California has an online technical writing certificate program that is endorsed by the Inland Empire Society for Technical Communication (IESTC).

Sign up for conferences and seminars in technical writing

Continuing education in the way of seminars and conferences is an important training tool for technical writers. Online, phone and live conferences and seminars are available through organizations for technical writers. You'll also enjoy other benefits as members of a technical writer's organization, including newsletters, networking and job databases.
Try: Join the Society for Technical Communication (STC) and sign up for live and web-based seminars and conferences, as well as academic programs in technical writing. The Inland Empire Society for Technical Communication provides web-based seminars and links to colleges and universities offering continuing education in technical writing.

 

• Take advantage of internship programs run by technical writing companies offering technical writing services. These are usually paying positions that may lead to full-time, permanent employment.

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