Overview
The Associate Certificate in Technical Writing provides you with writing and visual communication skills needed for manuals, proposals and grant applications. Anywhere people depend on substantial amounts of information (print or electronically), tech writers ensure that the information is clear, coherent, complete, accurate, and unambiguous.
Technical writers help contribute to the success of an organization by enhancing productivity, reducing errors, improving safety, and increasing customer satisfaction. It’s a value-adding process that carries much responsibility but also presents an exciting opportunity to keep learning, growing, and advancing.
About the program
- 3 intakes: January, April, and September
- Offered through a combination of asynchronous and synchronous online classes
- 11 courses of either 18-hour or 36-hour duration
- 1 project with a real client from industry to provide you with a portfolio piece, real-world experience, industry contacts and references
- Take a single course or work toward a credential
- You can declare this program immediately or enroll course-by-course and commit to the full program later
- Up to 7 years to complete the program, but generally done in 14 or 24 months
- All instructors are industry experts still active in the field
See the Program Details to learn more about what you can expect from Technical Writing and how you can prepare for a career as a tech writer.
Who should complete the Technical Writing Associate Certificate?
This program might be for you if:
- You enjoy writing
- You have a logical mind
- You like to tease order out of complex situations
- You possess a knack for problem-solving
- You can put yourself in the reader’s shoes
Interested? Register for a Technical Writing course today to get started!
What Technical Writing grads can do
By earning your BCIT Associate Certificate, you’ll be honing various skills such as technical writing, document management, graphics, illustrating and formatting.
As more and more business is conducted electronically, clear communication and effective editing are more crucial than ever. Technical writing is a field that will continue to grow in scope and demand in various sectors such as healthcare, education, technology, finance and government.
Technical Writing is an excellent launch pad into an exciting career or second career. It’s a rewarding, well-compensated profession .
Learn more about future opportunities on the Graduating and Jobs page.
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Entrance Requirements
BCIT Flexible Learning
Flexible Learning programs are offered on a course-by-course basis, allowing you to work towards a credential at a pace that’s right for you. If there’s space available, you can register for a course immediately. Courses are offered in each of three terms: Winter (January), Spring/Summer (April), and Fall (September).
Apply to program
Formal application to this program is not required. If you plan to complete a program offered through Flexible Learning, you need to declare your program. Program declaration requests are processed throughout the year.
Recommended for Success
English Studies 12 completed with minimum 67% (C+) or equivalent English proficiency is recommended for success. NOTE: The elective course, COMM 1106, offers additional language support and is strongly recommended for any students scoring below C+ on English 12 to take before entering the program (does not count towards program credits).
Application processing
This program is open to declarations beginning:
- February 1st* for the January intake
- May 1st* for the April intake
- October 1st* for the September intake
Entrance requirements
Declarations submitted for program intakes beginning April 1, 2025 or later will be evaluated using the English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirement below.
- English language proficiency: Category 2 – English Studies 12 (67%) or equivalent
International applicants
This program is available to international applicants who will complete the program from outside Canada or who currently have a valid status in Canada other than study permit. International applicants accepted into this program are not eligible for a study permit.
Program declaration
Declaring your Flexible Learning (Part-time Studies) program ensures that BCIT is aware of your intent to complete a program as it is currently outlined and provides you the opportunity to apply for transfer credit.
To submit your declaration:
- Answer all questions completely.
- If required, convert transcripts and documents to PDF files.
- Have a credit card ready to pay the application fee.
Declare Now
Upon approval, a program plan letter will be sent to you confirming your program of study. Please allow approximately eight weeks for processing.
Scheduled Intakes
Ongoing Flexible Learning (Part-time Studies) intakes: January, April, and September.
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Courses
Learning Activities
Courses follow the BCIT model, which balances theory and practice. Class time is divided between mini lectures and student exercises. The mini lectures will provide you with the theoretical framework. The exercises that follow will provide you with the opportunity to apply the theory you have learned. The exercises emphasize writing and editing, but also cover a wide range of topics including profiling audiences, designing information schema, and using software applications.
As the courses are short and intensive, the reading assignments are often considerable. The assignments are designed to allow you to apply further the theory you have learned.
Industry Project
Once you have completed all required course work you will participate in an industry-sponsored project under faculty supervision. This will allow you to apply your skills in a real-world setting, and provide you with a portfolio piece and industry contacts and references.
Program matrix
Check current availability of courses for this program.
1. Required Introductory Courses: | Credits | ||
---|---|---|---|
COMM 1009 | Technical Writing: Definitions, Instructions and Process Descriptions | 3.0 | |
XCOM 1007 | Technical Writing | 1.5 | |
XCOM 1008 | Technical Editing | 1.5 | |
XCOM 1110 | Writing for the Web | 1.5 | |
XCOM 2040 | Visual Communication and Data Representation | 1.5 | |
2. Required Intermediate Courses*: | Credits | ||
COMM 1013 | Documentation Project Management | 3.0 | |
COMM 1260 | Designing and Writing Online Help | 3.0 | |
COMM 2206 | Writing for the Computer Industry | 3.0 | |
COMM 2207 | Single-Sourcing for Technical Writers | 1.5 | |
COMM 2210 | Industry Project for Technical Writers | 1.5 | |
and | |||
XCOM 1000 | Communication for Team-based Collaboration | 1.5 | |
or | |||
XCOM 1005 | Technical Writing for Service & Repair Professionals | 1.0 | |
or | |||
XCOM 3110 | Using AI for Technical Writing | 1.5 | |
or | |||
XCOM 3840 | Technical Presentations | 1.5 | |
*Although most courses can be taken in any order, students should take introductory courses first. Courses above the introductory level (COMM 1013, COMM 1260, COMM 2206, and COMM 2207) are generally more intensive and may introduce highly technical concepts and software. **Before taking COMM 1013, COMM 1260, COMM 2206, and COMM 2207, students are strongly advised to complete their technical (COMP or MDIA) elective. |
|||
3. Complete one of the following: | Credits | ||
COMP 1850 | Introduction to Web Development | 3.0 | |
COMP 2010 | MS Office Applications | 3.0 | |
COMP 2256 | Introduction to Visual Analytics with Tableau | 3.0 | |
COMP 2369 | Microsoft Word | 3.0 | |
or |
|||
You can choose to take two of the 1.5-credit Media Communications MDIA courses or one of the 3-credit Media Communications MDIA or Graphic Design GDES courses. Courses must have the MDIA or GDES prefix to be eligible (e.g., MDIA 1205 or GDES 1270). |
|||
Total Credits: | 25.0 |
Check current availability of courses for this program.
Transfer credit
Do you have credits from another BC/Yukon post-secondary school? Do you want to know if they transfer to courses here at BCIT? Check out BCIT's Transfer Equivalency Database to find out.
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Program Details
You will learn the skills necessary to succeed as a technical writer. As the curriculum is designed by industry professionals, the skills you learn will be current with industry standards and trends.
Core Writing Skills
Technical writers need to have good language skills and a clear understanding of how to reach their audience. Building on your already firm grasp of English grammar and usage, you will learn how to:
- identify and target discourse communities
- analyze and profile audiences and their needs
- write clearly and concisely
- write with the appropriate style and tone
- edit for content, grammar and syntax
Writing for Technical Subjects
Writing technical documentation requires both discipline and creativity. Discipline means observing rules and conventions that act as guidelines. Creativity means choosing the best way to convey information while staying within the guidelines. You will learn how to:
- write definitions, instructions, and process descriptions
- design and create software manuals
- design information architecture for web sites
- create web content
- design and create online Help systems
- design and create single-sourced content
- recognize translation issues
Document Management Skills
Technical writers need to manage documents efficiently. You will learn how to:
- build document templates and apply formatting
- create and apply style guides
- develop document outlines, budgets, and schedules
- create document plans, proposals, and contracts
- apply document controls
Graphics, Illustrating and Formatting
Technical writers use more than words to communicate — there is also a strong visual component. In fact, some technical writers eventually specialize as technical illustrators. You will learn how to:
- analyze and deploy visual communication techniques to solve communication problems
- learn the basics of visual brainstorming and how to develop and refine visual ideas
- format documents to enhance communication
- select and implement colour, typefaces, images, and layout techniques to effectively convey complex messages using visual media.
Software Applications
Technical writers are application software experts. Before entering the program you should have at least a basic level of competency using MSWord. Applications that you will learn include:
- MSWord
- Intro to Web Development (optional)
- Help authoring tools
Industry-Sponsored Projects
In our Technical Writing Certificate Program, students work on industry-sponsored projects, under faculty supervision. These projects provide students with a portfolio piece, real-world experience, and industry contacts and references, while also providing industry with a valuable service. If you think you may have a suitable project, please contact us.
Program Completion
You can complete the entire program and use it as a platform from which to launch a new career. To obtain the certificate, you must complete the required courses and electives.
Program Length
The maximum time to complete the program is 7 years.
Grading
The passing grade is 50%; however, to receive the Certificate, you must achieve a minimum grade of 70% for each course.
Program delivery
Online: This program is delivered fully online.
Program location
Courses are offered through online learning.- Go back Courses
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Graduating & Jobs
Job Opportunities
With Vancouver being a hi-tech hub, British Columbia continues to be one of the best places in Canada to work as a technical writer. This is especially true because technical writers are also in increasing demand in:
- health care
- electronics
- engineering
- software
- heavy industry and utilities
- education
- resource extraction
- government
- non-profit organizations
- business administration & operations
- entrepreneurial work & consultation
- green economy & sustainability
- marketing/public relations
- technology/high-tech sector
- finance, and other employment sectors.
Anywhere people depend on substantial amounts of information, whether conveyed in print or electronically, technical writers are busy making sure that that information is clear, coherent, complete, accurate, and unambiguous. It’s a value-adding process that carries a lot of responsibility, but also presents an exciting opportunity to keep learning, growing, and advancing.
Graduate employment outcomes
The BCIT student outcomes report presents summary findings from the annual survey of former students administered by BC Stats one to two years after graduation. These reports combine the last three years of available results for the 2021-2023 BCIT Outcomes Surveys of 2020-2022 graduates and for Degree 2019-2021 graduates. The reports are organized into three-page summaries containing information on graduates’ labour market experiences and opinions regarding their education. More detailed information can be accessed at the BC Student Outcomes website.
To view these results, you may need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed in your Web browser.
Apply for graduation
Upon successful completion of all program requirements, complete an Application for BCIT Credential [PDF] and submit it to Student Information and Enrolment Services.
Allow approximately six to eight weeks for processing.
All financial obligations to the Institute must be met prior to issuance of any credential.
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Faculty, Advisors & Staff
Our instructors are industry experts, all of whom are active in various fields of technical writing. They are selected for their professional excellence, for being up-to-date on industry standards and trends, and for having strong teaching ability.
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Contact Us
Information Sessions are a simple way to learn more about a program, related careers, and to get your questions answered by faculty and staff. Please attend an upcoming information session to learn more about this program, as well as the Technical Communication Essentials microcredential.
If you have further questions about this program, please send us an email. You can also use the form below to make contact with our department, or other applicable departments at BCIT.
Questions or comments?
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