Top 10 Technical Editor Certifications

Certifications are an important factor in the job market for technical editors, as they demonstrate a proven level of competence and skill. Having certifications can help technical editors stand out from the competition and show employers that they have achieved a certain level of proficiency in their field. Certifications also provide assurance to employers that the technical editor is knowledgeable about the latest trends and technologies related to editing, which can be essential for success in this profession. Finally, having certifications may give technical editors access to exclusive job opportunities or higher compensation than non-certified counterparts.

The purpose of this article is to review some of the top certifications for Technical Editors and explain how they can help advance a technical editor's career.

What are Technical Editor Certifications?

Technical editor certification is a professional credential that recognizes the expertise and knowledge of individuals who have achieved a high level of proficiency in editing technical documents. This certification is designed to validate the skills and experience of technical editors by assessing their abilities to accurately edit, revise, and proofread complex technical documents. By earning this certification, technical editors demonstrate that they have the necessary skills to effectively communicate complex information in a clear and accurate manner.

The benefits of having technical editor certification include improved job opportunities, higher salaries, better recognition from employers, more responsibility in editorial roles, and increased credibility when working with clients. Technical editors with this certification can also benefit from increased confidence in their editing abilities as well as access to industry resources and networking opportunities. Additionally, having this certification may give them an edge over other applicants for certain positions since it demonstrates a strong commitment to the profession. With this certification, technical editors can also establish themselves as highly-skilled professionals within the field of editing.

Pro tip: Before pursuing a technical editor certification, make sure to research the requirements and prerequisites for the specific program. As different programs may have different criteria, it is important to understand what is needed in order to be successful in the process.

Related: What does a Technical Editor do?

Top 10 Technical Editor Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Technical Editors today.

1. Certified Technical Editor (CTE)

Certified Technical Editor (CTE) is a professional certification that recognizes the advanced knowledge, skills, and abilities of technical editors. It is offered by the Society for Technical Communication (STC).

To become certified, you must pass an exam that tests your knowledge and understanding of editing principles, techniques, and tools. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions and takes about two hours to complete. It is administered at Pearson VUE Testing Centers worldwide.

The cost of the CTE certification exam is $395 USD for STC members or $495 USD for non-members. You can register for the exam online through the STC website or by phone.

Once you have successfully passed the exam, you will receive your official CTE certificate from STC. This certificate shows employers and peers that you have achieved a high level of technical editing expertise.

2. Certified Professional Technical Editor (CPTE)

Certified Professional Technical Editor (CPTE) is a professional certification that recognizes an individual’s expertise in technical editing. It is designed to demonstrate the ability to produce clear, accurate, and consistent documents for any technical audience. To become a CPTE, individuals must pass a comprehensive exam that tests their knowledge of grammar, punctuation, style, usage, and other editorial skills.

It typically takes about three months to prepare for the CPTE exam. During this time, individuals should review relevant material such as books on grammar and style guides. They should also practice editing sample documents and take practice tests to assess their understanding of the material.

To get certified as a CPTE, individuals must first register with the Professional Editors Network (PEN). Once registered, they can purchase the CPTE study guide and take the online exam. The cost of the study guide is $99 USD plus applicable taxes. The cost of taking the online exam is $295 USD plus applicable taxes.

Once an individual has passed the exam and met all requirements for certification, they will receive their official CPTE certificate from PEN. This certificate will serve as proof of their professional credentials and allow them to demonstrate their expertise in technical editing to potential employers or clients.

3. Certified Editing Professional (CEP)

Certified Editing Professional (CEP) is a professional certification program offered by the Board of Editors in the Life Sciences (BELS). The CEP program is designed to recognize editors who have achieved a high level of proficiency in editing life sciences manuscripts. To become certified, an editor must pass a comprehensive exam that covers topics such as grammar and usage, style, formatting, and manuscript structure.

The exam takes approximately four hours to complete and consists of multiple-choice questions as well as essay questions. The cost for the exam is $200 USD.

In order to take the CEP exam, an editor must first apply for certification through BELS. The application process requires an editor to submit proof of their editing experience, such as published works or letters from employers attesting to their editing skills. Once the application is approved, an editor will receive instructions on how to register for the exam and pay the fee.

Once an editor passes the CEP exam, they will receive a certificate from BELS that recognizes them as a Certified Editing Professional. This certificate can be used to demonstrate professional competence and can be added to resumes or displayed on websites or social media profiles.

4. Certified Technical Communications Professional (CTCP)

Certified Technical Communications Professional (CTCP) is a professional certification program offered by the Society for Technical Communication (STC). It is designed to recognize and validate the skills of technical communicators. The CTCP certification demonstrates that an individual has achieved a high level of competence in their field.

It typically takes about two years to complete the requirements for the CTCP certification. The process involves completing a series of courses and passing an exam. The courses cover topics such as project management, writing, editing, design, usability testing, and more.

To get the CTCP certification, you must first become a member of STC. After becoming a member, you can register for the CTCP program and begin taking courses. Once all of the required courses have been completed and passed, you can then take the final exam to become certified.

The cost of obtaining the CTCP certification varies depending on your membership status with STC and whether or not you are taking any additional courses or workshops in addition to those required for certification. Generally speaking, it will cost around $1,000-$2,000 USD to get the CTCP certification.

5. American Copy Editors Society Certification (ACES)

The American Copy Editors Society (ACES) Certification is a professional credential for copy editors and proofreaders. It is designed to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in the field. The certification is offered through ACES, an organization dedicated to promoting excellence in editing and proofreading.

The certification process takes approximately 12 weeks from start to finish. The first step is to complete an online application, which includes a writing sample and references. Once accepted into the program, applicants must take a series of exams covering topics such as grammar, style, usage, editing techniques, and more. After successfully completing the exams, applicants will receive their ACES certification.

To get certified, applicants must pay a fee of $225 USD. This fee covers the cost of the application process as well as the exam fees. Additional fees may apply if applicants need to retake any exams or if they want to renew their certification after it expires.

In addition to passing all required exams, applicants must also adhere to ACES’ Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct in order to receive their certification. This code outlines expectations for ethical behavior in the field of copy editing and proofreading.

6. Microsoft Office Specialist – Word Expert Certification

Microsoft Office Specialist – Word Expert Certification is a certification program offered by Microsoft that validates an individual’s expertise in Microsoft Word. The certification is designed to demonstrate proficiency in creating and managing documents, formatting text and graphics, working with tables and columns, proofing documents, customizing the interface, and automating tasks with macros.

The certification exam typically takes between 60-90 minutes to complete. It consists of multiple-choice questions and performance-based items that test the candidate’s ability to use features of Microsoft Word. Candidates must score at least 700 out of 1000 points on the exam to pass.

To get certified as a Microsoft Office Specialist – Word Expert, you must first register for the exam through the Certiport website or your local testing center. The cost of the exam varies depending on your location but typically ranges from $100-$150 USD. After registering for the exam, you will be given access to study materials such as practice tests and tutorials to help prepare for the exam.

Once you have passed the exam, you will receive an official certificate from Microsoft confirming your status as a certified expert in Microsoft Word. This certificate can be used to demonstrate your knowledge of Microsoft Word to potential employers or clients.

7. Adobe Certified Expert – InDesign

Adobe Certified Expert – InDesign is a certification program that recognizes individuals who have demonstrated advanced proficiency in Adobe InDesign. It is designed to help employers identify and hire qualified professionals with the skills needed to create professional-quality documents, presentations, and other print media.

The certification exam covers topics such as page layout, typography, color management, and document production. It takes approximately three hours to complete the exam and requires a score of 75% or higher to pass.

To get certified, you must first register for the exam through Adobe's website. The cost of the exam varies depending on your geographic location but generally ranges from $180-$250 USD. After registering for the exam, you will receive an email with instructions on how to schedule your test date and time.

Once you have completed the exam, you will receive an email confirming your status as an Adobe Certified Expert – InDesign within two weeks of completing the test. You will also receive a digital badge that can be used to showcase your certification status online.

8. CompTIA Technical Communication Certification

CompTIA Technical Communication Certification is an industry-recognized certification program designed to help technical communicators demonstrate their knowledge and skills in the field. The certification is earned by passing a series of exams that cover topics such as writing, editing, formatting, and publishing technical documents. It also covers topics related to the use of various software programs for producing technical documents.

The CompTIA Technical Communication Certification program consists of two exams: CompTIA Technical Communication+ (CTC+) and CompTIA Advanced Technical Communication+ (CTC+ Advanced). The CTC+ exam covers topics such as document structure, grammar, punctuation, style, formatting, graphics, and visual design. The CTC+ Advanced exam focuses on more advanced topics such as project management, collaboration tools, content strategy, information architecture, usability testing, and user experience design.

It typically takes about three months to complete both exams. To get started with the certification process you will need to register for the exams through CompTIA's website. Once registered you can begin studying for the exams using online resources or study materials provided by CompTIA. You will then need to schedule and take both exams at a Pearson VUE testing center near you.

The cost of taking both exams is $360 USD ($180 per exam). This does not include any additional fees associated with registering or scheduling your tests at a Pearson VUE testing center.

9. DITA Certified Editor

DITA Certified Editor is a certification program developed by the OASIS DITA Technical Committee. It is designed to recognize editors who have demonstrated proficiency in creating and editing content written in the Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA). The certification is valid for two years, after which time an editor must recertify to maintain their status as a certified editor.

To become a DITA Certified Editor, applicants must pass an online exam that tests their knowledge of the DITA standard and its associated tools. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions and takes approximately two hours to complete. Applicants must also demonstrate experience with editing DITA documents by submitting three sample documents for review.

The cost of the certification exam is $200 USD, although discounts may be available for members of certain organizations or groups. Once certified, editors are eligible to use the “DITA Certified Editor” logo on their website or other materials.

10. Society for Technical Communication Certification

The Society for Technical Communication (STC) Certification is an industry-recognized credential that validates the knowledge, skills, and abilities of technical communicators. It is designed to demonstrate a professional’s ability to produce high-quality technical communication products.

To become certified, applicants must pass the STC Certification Exam. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions that assess a candidate’s understanding of the principles and practices of technical communication. The exam takes approximately two hours to complete and covers topics such as document design, writing style, grammar, editing, usability testing, and more.

The cost of the exam varies depending on the applicant's membership status with STC. For non-members, the cost is $375 USD; for members, it is $275 USD. In addition to the exam fee, applicants must also pay a one-time application fee of $50 USD.

Once an applicant passes the exam, they will receive their official certification from STC. This certification is valid for three years and can be renewed by taking continuing education courses or retaking the exam every three years.

Do You Really Need a Technical Editor Certificate?

Whether or not you need a technical editor certificate depends on your personal goals and the type of work that you are seeking. If you are looking for a job in the field of technical editing, then having a certificate may be beneficial to show potential employers that you have the skills and knowledge necessary for the job. A certificate will also demonstrate your commitment to learning more about technical editing, which could make you stand out from other applicants.

On the other hand, if you already have experience in technical editing and want to pursue freelance work, then having a certificate might not be necessary. Most freelance writing projects do not require any additional credentials beyond what is listed in your portfolio or resume. However, if you are new to the field of technical editing and want to gain experience quickly, having a certificate could help you land more jobs since it would show potential clients that you have specialized knowledge in the subject area.

Ultimately, whether or not you need a technical editor certificate depends on your current situation and career goals. If it is something that would benefit your career path, then it may be worth considering getting certified. Otherwise, depending on your level of experience and knowledge, pursuing a certificate may not be necessary at this time.

Related: Technical Editor Resume Examples

FAQs About Technical Editor Certifications

Q1. What types of Technical Editor Certifications are available?

A1. There are multiple certifications available for technical editors, including Certified Professional Editor (CPE), Certified Copyeditor (CCE), and Certified Technical Editor (CTE).

Q2. How do I become certified as a Technical Editor?

A2. To become certified as a technical editor, you must meet the eligibility requirements of the certification program and pass the relevant exam. You may also need to have a certain amount of experience in the field.

Q3. What is the cost of getting certified as a Technical Editor?

A3. The cost of getting certified as a technical editor varies depending on the certification program you choose, but typically ranges from $200 - $1,000 USD.

Q4. How long does it take to get certified as a Technical Editor?

A4. The time frame for becoming certified as a technical editor depends on how quickly you can pass the exam and meet all other requirements for certification, but it usually takes between 1-3 months to complete the process.

Q5. Are there any prerequisites for taking a Technical Editor Certification Exam?

A5. Yes, most certification programs require applicants to have at least 2-3 years of professional experience in editing before taking an exam, although some may have additional prerequisites such as specific educational qualifications or courses completed in order to apply for certification.