Technical Communication Certificate
- Cost
- $5,569*
Communicate with impact
Develop in-demand job skills
Become a skilled technical communicator in just two semesters with this 32-hour certificate from the College of Lake County. This affordable credential helps you upgrade your writing skills and prepares you for a successful career in a wide variety of industries.
Our unique approach to technical communication merges writing, digital media, and design skills so you are prepared to create clear, engaging, and informative content across a variety of channels—print, web, social media platforms, and more.
What can you do with a certificate in Technical Communication?
The certificate in technical communication prepares you to start work or continue your education in communication, media, business, marketing, healthcare or related fields. Work as an information architect, proposal writer, website writer and more! U.S. News & World Report recently ranked technical writing as one of the Best Creative & Media jobs.
Highlights
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WIOA Program
Eligible for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)-awarded vouchers. -
Financial Aid/Scholarships Available
Based on need and/or achievement. Explore ways to pay for college. -
Career Certificate
Earn a career certificate in 1 year or less to refine your skills into an in-demand career. -
Program Length: 1 Year
Full-time students finish in 1 year.
Career Outlook
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Plan, direct, or coordinate advertising policies and programs or produce collateral materials, such as posters, contests, coupons, or giveaways, to create extra interest in the purchase of a product or service for a department, an entire organization, or on an account basis.
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Salary Levels
Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
- Entry-Level
- $47,643
- Median
- $100,853
- Senior-Level
- $211,624
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Entry-Level
- $22.90
- Median
- $48.48
- Senior-Level
- $101.74
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
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Top entry-level education
Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
- High school diploma or less
- 15.98%
- Some college
- 7.67%
- Associate Degree
- 8.04%
- Bachelor's Degree
- 62.44%
- Master's Degree
- 5.87%
Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
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Represent and promote artists, performers, and athletes in dealings with current or prospective employers. May handle contract negotiation and other business matters for clients.
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Salary Levels
Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
- Entry-Level
- $33,810
- Median
- $65,400
- Senior-Level
- $196,091
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Entry-Level
- $16.25
- Median
- $31.44
- Senior-Level
- $94.27
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
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Top entry-level education
Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
- High school diploma or less
- 39.31%
- Some college
- 2.56%
- Bachelor's Degree
- 41.33%
- Master's Degree
- 16.8%
Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
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Speak or read from scripted materials, such as news reports or commercial messages, on radio, television, or other communications media. May play and queue music, announce artist or title of performance, identify station, or interview guests.
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Salary Levels
Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
- Entry-Level
- $26,228
- Median
- $32,765
- Senior-Level
- $93,374
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Entry-Level
- $12.60
- Median
- $15.75
- Senior-Level
- $44.89
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
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Top entry-level education
Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
- High school diploma or less
- 16.22%
- Certificate
- 0.68%
- Some college
- 10.14%
- Associate Degree
- 10.1%
- Bachelor's Degree
- 55.04%
- Master's Degree
- 7.82%
Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
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Teach courses in communications, such as organizational communications, public relations, radio/television broadcasting, and journalism. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
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Salary Levels
Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
- Entry-Level
- $46,932
- Median
- $75,284
- Senior-Level
- $130,145
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Entry-Level
- $22.56
- Median
- $36.19
- Senior-Level
- $62.57
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
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Top entry-level education
Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
- Master's Degree
- 71.82%
- Doctorate
- 28.17%
Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
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Plan, coordinate, revise, or edit written material. May review proposals and drafts for possible publication.
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Salary Levels
Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
- Entry-Level
- $41,735
- Median
- $68,129
- Senior-Level
- $119,151
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Entry-Level
- $20.06
- Median
- $32.75
- Senior-Level
- $57.28
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
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Top entry-level education
Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
- Bachelor's Degree
- 81.7%
- Master's Degree
- 18.3%
Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
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Plan, direct, or coordinate activities to solicit and maintain funds for special projects or nonprofit organizations.
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Salary Levels
Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
- Entry-Level
- $62,945
- Median
- $104,888
- Senior-Level
- $170,944
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Entry-Level
- $30.26
- Median
- $50.43
- Senior-Level
- $82.18
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
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Top entry-level education
Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
- Some college
- 11.18%
- Bachelor's Degree
- 77.32%
- Master's Degree
- 11.51%
Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
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Research conditions in local, regional, national, or online markets. Gather information to determine potential sales of a product or service, or plan a marketing or advertising campaign. May gather information on competitors, prices, sales, and methods of marketing and distribution. May employ search marketing tactics, analyze web metrics, and develop recommendations to increase search engine ranking and visibility to target markets.
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Salary Levels
Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
- Entry-Level
- $42,509
- Median
- $76,166
- Senior-Level
- $134,880
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Entry-Level
- $20.43
- Median
- $36.61
- Senior-Level
- $64.84
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
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Top entry-level education
Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
- Bachelor's Degree
- 60.87%
- Master's Degree
- 39.13%
Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
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Need help?
Your College & Career Navigator (CCN) is your "go-to person" ready to help you get started at CLC.
Your CCN guides you through the admission process, helps you choose your academic program, enroll in classes and connect you with resources.
Recommended Pathway
Students are strongly encouraged to meet with their College and Career Navigator (CCN) to identify coursework that will meet degree requirements based on individual academic goals. View degree requirements in the college catalog.
Technical Communication at CLC
Get the bigger picture
This certificate is just one possible way to study communication. Get the bigger picture—degrees, credentials and extra options.
Frequently asked questions
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As a technical communication major, you will learn by actively engaging in "real-world" projects used in the workplace today, so when you graduate, you can hit the ground running. Whether you are developing materials to launch a new business, creating clear documentation for a complex process or designing audience-centered materials for the web, you will gain the skills needed to be successful in nearly every industry. (And not to mention — technical writers enjoy a strong job market and high pay!)
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You're ready to work! You have the essential skills needed to succeed as a technical communicator. You can also continue your education at the College of Lake County and earn your A.A.S. in technical communication.
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At the College of Lake County, you benefit from:
- personal interaction with classmates and instructors
- small class sizes (12:1 student-faculty ratio in the Technical Communication program)
- instructors with decades of industry experience
- low-cost tuition
- access to more than 30,000 businesses in Lake County, including 12 Fortune 500 companies, for internship and job opportunities
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Yes—well, most of them. Every course in this program is offered in an online format, except for our field courses which must be taken in person.
Attend class in the way that works best for your goals:
- Virtual Live: Learn remotely in real-time. Take classes taught live via Zoom.
- Online: Have the flexibility to complete coursework without scheduled meetings while staying actively engaged in a fully online environment.
- In-person: Keep your degree on track with classes that meet face-to-face, providing you with opportunities to interact in person with faculty and peers.
*Cost includes tuition and other fees, including books and materials before financial aid is applied, such as grants, loans or scholarships. There are many opportunities for financial assistance at CLC. Learn more about Cost of Attendance.
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