The debate over certification of technical and professional communicators has occurred with periods of relative intensity and quiescence for more than twenty years. This article surveys the historical developments of the debate; describes the arguments for and against certification; surveys technical communication curricula and theoretical arguments for literacies, standards, and competencies; and examines various efforts to study certification, including a description of published documents regarding certification.

Focusing on the crucial role of technical editors and communication managers, the article describes technical editing in environmental and energy research at The Oak Ridge National Laboratory (Oak Ridge, Tennessee). The author examines the kinds of documents prepared, the audiences for whom the documents are intended, and the editing process employed by the Technical Publications Department. The author concludes that communication plays a vital role in complex research and technology and that communicators at The Oak Ridge National Laboratory occupy a central place in the efficient operation of this complex, multipurpose research facility.