High School
Take composition, grammar, literature, creative writing, speech, journalism, social studies, math, statistics, engineering, computer science, and as many science classes as possible. Business courses are also useful as they explain the organizational structure of companies and how they operate.
Postsecondary Training
Most employers prefer to hire technical writers and editors who have a bachelor's or advanced degree. Many technical editors graduate with degrees in the humanities, especially English or journalism. Technical writers typically need to have a strong foundation in engineering, computers, or science. Many technical writers graduate with a degree in engineering or science and take classes in technical writing.
Many different types of college programs are available that prepare people to become technical writers and editors. A growing number of colleges offer degrees in technical writing. Schools without a technical writing program may offer degrees in journalism or English. Programs are offered through English, communications, and journalism departments. Classes vary based on the type of program. In general, classes for technical writers include a core curriculum in writing and classes in algebra, statistics, logic, science, engineering, and computer programming languages. Useful classes for editors include technical writing, project management, grammar, proofreading, copyediting, and print and digital production.
Many technical writers and editors earn a master's degree. In these programs, they study technical writing in depth and may specialize in a certain area, such as scriptwriting, instructional design, or multimedia applications. In addition, many nondegree writing programs are offered to technical writers and editors to hone their skills. Offered as extension courses or continuing education courses, these programs include courses on indexing, editing medical materials, writing for trade journals, and other related subjects.
Technical writers, and occasionally technical editors, are often asked to present samples of their work. College students should build a portfolio during their college years in which they collect their best samples from work that they may have done for a literary magazine, newsletter, or yearbook.
Technical writers and editors should be willing to pursue learning throughout their careers. As technology changes, technical writers and editors may need to take classes to update their knowledge. Changes in printing and computer technology will also change the way technical writers and editors do their jobs, and writers and editors may need to take courses to learn new skills or new technologies.
Other Education or Training
The Society for Technical Communication provides webinars, online courses, and seminars. Past courses included “Project Management and the Technical Communicator,” “Don't Write—THINK!,” and “Technical Editing Fundamentals.” The National Association of Science Writers offers professional development workshops at its annual conference. Contact these organizations for more information.
- 3-D Printing Specialists
- Agile Coaches or Trainers
- Animators
- App Services Workers
- Art Directors
- Artificial Intelligence Specialists
- Augmented Reality Developers
- Automation Engineers
- Autonomous Vehicle Safety and Test Drivers
- Back-End Developers
- Big Data Developers
- Biometrics Systems Specialists
- Blockchain Developers
- Bloggers
- Book Conservators
- Book Editors
- Cartoonists
- Chief Information Officers
- Chief Information Security Officers
- Chief Robotics Officer
- Clinical Data Managers
- Cloud Engineers
- Columnists
- Comic Book Writers
- Computer and Office Machine Service Technicians
- Computer and Video Game Designers
- Computer Network Administrators
- Computer Programmers
- Computer Support Service Owners
- Computer Support Specialists
- Computer Systems Programmer/Analysts
- Computer Trainers
- Computer-Aided Design Drafters and Technicians
- Content Management Specialists
- Copy Editors
- Copywriters
- Cryptocurrency Specialists
- Customer Success Managers
- Cybersecurity Architects
- Data Entry Clerks
- Data Processing Technicians
- Data Scientists
- Data Warehousing Specialists
- Database Specialists
- Deepfake Professionals
- Desktop Publishing Specialists
- Diet and Fitness Writers
- Digital Advertising Workers
- Digital Agents
- Digital Designers
- Digital Marketing Workers
- Digital Workplace Experience Engineers
- Document Management Specialists
- Driverless Car Engineers
- Editorial Assistants
- Editorial Research Assistants
- Editors
- Electrical Engineering Technologists
- Electrical Engineers
- Electronics Engineering Technicians
- Electronics Engineers
- Electronics Service Technicians
- Embedded Systems Engineers
- Enterprise Architects
- Ergonomists
- ETL Developers
- Fashion Writers and Editors
- Fiber Optics Technicians
- Food Photographers
- Food Writers and Editors
- Foreign Correspondents
- Full Stack Developers/Engineers
- Futurists
- Geospatial Analytics Specialists
- Grant Coordinators and Writers
- Graphic Designers
- Graphics Programmers
- Greeting Card Designers and Writers
- Hardware Engineers
- Health Informaticists
- Help Desk Representatives
- Illustrators
- Indexers
- Industrial Designers
- Information Assurance Analysts
- Information Brokers
- Information Security Analysts
- Information Technology Consultants
- Information Technology Infrastructure Engineers
- Information Technology Project Managers
- Information Technology Security Consultants
- Intellectual Property Lawyers
- Internet Consultants
- Internet Content Curators
- Internet Developers
- Internet Executives
- Internet Marketing and Advertising Consultants
- Internet of Things Developers
- Internet Quality Assurance Specialists
- Internet Security Specialists
- Internet Store Managers and Entrepreneurs
- Internet Transaction Specialists
- Interpreters
- JavaScript Developers
- Lexicographers
- Literary Agents
- Live Streamers
- Machine Learning Engineers
- Magazine Editors
- Mathematicians
- Microelectronics Technicians
- Mobile Software Developers
- Model View Controller Developers
- Network Operations Center Engineers
- Network Operations Center Technicians
- Newspaper Editors
- Online Gambling Specialists
- Online Journalists
- Online Producers
- Personal Privacy Advisors
- Photo Editors
- Photographers
- Playwrights
- Podcasters
- Political Columnists and Writers
- Political Speechwriters
- Prepress Workers
- Product Development Directors
- Product Management Directors
- Product Managers
- Product Owners
- Professional Hackers
- Project Managers
- Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists
- Real Estate Writers
- Reporters
- Salesforce Developers
- Science and Medical Writers
- Screenwriters
- Scrum Masters
- Search Engine Optimization Specialists
- Semiconductor Technicians
- Site Reliability Engineers
- Smart Building Systems Designers
- Social Media Influencers
- Social Media Workers
- Software Application Developers
- Software Designers
- Software Engineers
- Software Quality Assurance Testers
- Solutions Architects
- Sportswriters
- Systems Setup Specialists
- Technical Support Specialists
- Technology Ethicists
- Translators
- Typists and Word Processors
- Unity Developers
- User Experience Designers
- Video Game Art Directors
- Video Game Producers
- Visual Interaction Designers
- Webmasters
- Wireless Service Technicians
- Writers