Ben Woelk trainer and practitioner of Technical Communication provides ten top tips for passing the CPTC™ Foundation certification exam
I’ve asked students in my Certified Professional Technical Communicator (CPTC) Foundation Exam Prep classes to share their recommendations for studying for and passing the CPTC Foundation Exam. I began offering the class for the Rochester Institute of Technology through Zoom in June 2021. More than 50 students have attended one of the four cohorts, including students from Dubai, Israel, and Malaysia. Attendees have included university students, career changers, and experience technical communication professionals. RIT offers five-six virtual CPTC Foundation Exam Prep courses each year.
Our next cohort begins on Thursday, 10 March from 7-8:30 pm Eastern.
What is CPTC™?
The Certified Professional Technical Communicator (CPTC™) is a three-level certification offered by the Society for Technical Communications and administered by APMG-International. The Foundation and Practitioner level are exam-based. Anyone who holds the certification has demonstrated that they are well versed in the core competencies of technical communication.
Ten Top Tips for taking the Certified Professional Technical Communicator Exam
- Study the book, the materials provided through the Society for Technical Communication, and the sample exams available through APMG International. Do not rely on your experience alone to pass the exam.
- Join one of the free study groups available online, such as Slack and LinkedIn, and find a study partner.
- Talk to people who have passed the exam to see how they prepared.
- Ensure that your computer passes all checks offered through Proctor U, and allow sufficient time to connect successfully and to take the exam.
- Do not speed through the exam. You don’t gain points by finishing it early. Review all of your answers.
- If you’re not sure of a question, flag it and return to it after answering the other questions.
- If you’re taking an exam prep class, study the slides and contact your instructor if you have questions.
- Listen to class recordings.
- The exam weights some of the nine core competencies more heavily than others, with as many as 10 questions and as few as one question in a given competency. Use your study time appropriately.
- Register for the exam and take it within a few weeks of completing your study.
Taking CPTC™ exam preparation through RIT
The RIT CPTC™ exam preparation class is open to ALL. We offer it on Zoom as an 8-week course meeting once a week for 90 minutes each week. Visit the RIT page on APMG International for a schedule of upcoming classes. At the time of this writing, the next cohort is scheduled for March 2022. Sign up today!
More information and contact:
Contact Ben through LinkedIn if you’d like to discuss how to prepare for the exam, either through self-study or through a class.
Our next cohort begins on Thursday, 10 March from 7-8:30 pm Eastern. I’d love to have you attend.
