If you have a passion for writing or want to improve your skill set, you can investigate the many types of writing certificates available.
There are numerous writing certificate programs online that could help you take your writing to the next level and demonstrate your expertise to employers. After all, well-written and engaging content is the backbone for most businesses, and creative writing is the backbone for our most common forms of entertainment.
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Read on to learn more about the coursework and potential outcomes of various writing certificates.
Online Writing Certificate Programs
Before you take a deep dive into the creative world of writing, it’s necessary to decide on the online writing certificate you want to pursue. Below, we have detailed four types of common online writing certificate programs: business writing, creative writing, professional writing, and technical writing.
Select the program that most interests you to jump to that section of the guide:
- Online Certificate in Business Writing
- Online Certificate in Creative Writing
- Online Certificate in Professional Writing
- Online Certificate in Technical Writing
You can explore these programs to see which ones best match your interests and goals.
Business Writing Certificate
A business writing certificate is designed for individuals who want to further develop their business communication skills. Those who undertake this writing certificate learn the art of persuasion alongside various business writing practices.
A business writing certificate could help you develop the ability to write compelling and persuasive formal and informal business documents. Some of the main course topics you’d likely study with a business writing certificate include public relations, client communication, bargaining and negotiation, and theories in persuasion.
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Those who complete this certificate often go on to pursue journalism, grant writing, business proposal writing, resume writing, and copy editing careers.
Creative Writing Certificate
Most creative writing certificates let students hone a particular writing skill and meet their writing goals with newly developed expertise. Most students specialize in either short stories, poetry, essay writing, novel writing, memoir writing, or a hybrid combination of these.
The coursework you’ll take as part of a creative writing certificate program will depend on the area of writing you want to specialize in. Some of the topics you might study include prose poetry, personal essays, storytelling for social justice, and dialogue and point of view.
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Those who complete this certificate often choose to become authors, poets, copywriters, freelance writers, and creative writers.
Professional Writing Certificate
A professional writing certificate focuses on essential business writing. It involves practical applications and a series of concepts to help students understand the subtle art of communication, grammar, clarity, and concision.
Often, the coursework emphasizes professional writing expertise to teach you how to incorporate corporate brand stories or personal stories into each piece of written communication. This writing certificate also focuses on teaching you how to write and appeal to target audiences.
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Some course topics you could study include the fundamentals of professional writing, advanced academic writing, the power of storytelling, and writing with data. Additionally, those who complete this certificate may become editors, fundraising consultants, speechwriters, and grant writers.
Technical Writing Certificate
A technical writing certificate is for students seeking a modern communication skill set that resonates with employers across various industries.
Through a technical writing certificate, you have the chance to develop your skills in writing for web applications, social media strategy, journalism, and more. A few common course topics found in technical writing certificate programs include internal workplace communication, presentations, business-to-consumer writing, and business-to-business writing.
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Those who complete a technical writing certificate may go on to become computer interface designers, communications officers, social media strategists, technical writers, or web content developers.
Common Types of Writers
As there are many different writing certificates, there are also many kinds of writers. Below we have briefly discussed some common types of writers:
- Ghostwriters. A ghostwriter is an individual who writes articles, blogs, novels, web copy, and other written tasks without seeking name attribution or credit for their work.
- Authors. An author is a person who writes short stories, articles, novels, essays, or columns. Authors write in numerous genres—including horror, fantasy, history, romance, sci-fi, and young adult—across fiction and non-fiction.
- Scriptwriters. Film scripts, play scripts, ad scripts, and other copy that has an element of a visual medium are written by scriptwriters.
- Content writers. A content writer writes content on a specific topic, idea, product, or market. These writers are typically paid on an assignment or salary basis and not on commissions or royalties.
- Copywriters. Generally, copywriters are similar to content writers, but copywriters usually focus on writing ad slogans, publicity material, and marketing campaigns for companies and products.
Determining which type of writer you want to become could help you choose the type of writing certificate that fits your interests.
Writing Careers & Salaries
Those who graduate with a writing certificate take up writing-related positions in various industries. Some work in media and communication, healthcare, governmental organizations, businesses, advertising, publishing, and non-profit organizations.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, here are the median salaries of positions that require or could benefit from skilled writing.
| Careers | Annual Median Salaries |
| Public Relations Managers | $125,780 |
| Fundraising Managers | $100,810 |
| Technical Writers | $78,060 |
| Writers and Authors | $69,510 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $63,920 |
| Editors | $63,350 |
| Public Relations Specialists | $62,800 |
| Fundraisers | $60,660 |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | $48,370 |
| Tutors | $36,470 |
The type of position and salary you can qualify for may depend on your level of education and experience as well as your chosen industry. Employers may require bachelor degrees for many of these positions.
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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of writers and authors is expected to experience a steady growth rate of 4% over the next ten years.
Writing Certificate Curriculum & Courses
Below are a few common courses usually included in different writing certificate programs:
- Introduction to Public Relations: During this course, you’ll learn the elements of an effective public relations strategy alongside how to manage and evaluate outside PR counsel.
- Professional Client Communication: You’ll explore professional-client communications while exploring social and managerial activities and organizational theory.
- Writing for Media: This course teaches fundamental journalistic writing techniques to help you learn clear, crisp, and concise writing.
- Strategic Writing for Fundraising: During this course, you’ll learn about the continuous fundraising cycle and explore how to use strategic communication approaches during real-life situations.
- Bargaining and Negotiation: During this course, you’ll learn the bargaining and negotiation processes in various theoretical approaches, including managerial and social situations.
- Writing with Data: In this course, you can develop practical data literacy skills, and you can learn how to think critically and ethically about data as well as how to use online data visualization tools.
- Novel Writing: Throughout this course, you’ll explore various novel writing methods, including characterization, plot, structure, and voice.
- Writing for Social Media: You’ll learn how to use social media writing to build a reputation, create coherent messaging, and cultivate reader loyalty by exploring social media campaigns.
- Advanced Academic Writing: During this course, you can develop academic writing skills to write effective manuscripts for publications.
- Fundamentals of Professional Writing: This professional writing course helps you learn how to critically analyze different writing situations and how to make writing a purposeful act of professional communication.
Each program and type of writing certificate will have different course offerings available. To learn more about potential coursework, you can investigate various certificate programs in the specialty that interests you.
Admissions Requirements
Much like with programs leading to on-campus or online English degrees, the admission requirements for an online writing certificate program will differ from institution to institution. Even though there are different admission requirements at different schools, here are some common criteria found across multiple colleges:
- SAT or ACT scores (only some schools require them)
- A high school diploma or GED equivalent
- Minimum GPA requirement
- Online application
In addition to these requirements, a university or college could also require an application fee. Depending on the type of certificate program, some schools may also require applicants to hold a bachelors degree.
Accreditation
One of the key factors to consider when choosing a writing certificate to complete is the school’s accreditation status.
Accreditation speaks to a school’s quality of educational services. Regional accreditation is considered the most prestigious type of accreditation, and it is most widely recognized by employers and postsecondary institutions. Attending an accredited school can also be an eligibility requirement for certain forms of financial aid.
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You can visit the Council for Higher Education Accreditation’s website to verify a school’s accreditation status and learn more about the accreditation process.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
There are a variety of financial assistance options available for students who qualify. These can include federal aid, state aid, scholarships, and employer benefits. Scholarship opportunities can be available from a range of sources, including schools, professional organizations, and public institutions.
You can also seek need-based aid from the government. Filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can determine your eligibility for student loans, work-study programs, and grants. Some employers may also offer tuition benefits to workers who want to develop their professional skills.
What Is a Writing Certificate?
A writing certificate is an academic credential offered by postsecondary institutions to help you develop your expertise in a specialized writing area. Most writing certificate programs are specially designed for new or experienced professionals who want to improve their writing knowledge and skills.
An online writing certificate program can help you improve your skills in communication, reading, writing, and editing. Often, these programs also teach you how to apply what you’ve learned in a professional environment. This field of study has different areas of specialization, including social media writing, technical writing, grant writing, content writing, and creative writing.
What Can You Do with a Writing Certificate?
There are various career paths you can pursue with a writing certificate, depending on your chosen writing specialty, any prior experience, and the field you choose to work in.
Many students choose to become authors, freelance writers, content creators, technical writers, business writers, social media specialists, and fundraisers. What you can do with a writing certificate can also depend on whether you have any other educational degrees. For example, a writing certificate can be complementary to a bachelors degree in business, public relations, media, communications, or literature.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Writing Certificate Online?
How long it takes to get a writing certificate online will depend on the institution you attend and your course requirements.
While on-campus or online professional writing degree programs may require the completion of as many as 40 courses, many writing certificate programs consist of between 4 and 7 courses. While some online novel writing certificate programs take 2 years to complete, other writing certificates can be completed in 6 months to 1 year. Many online programs have more flexible formats, allowing you to study at your own pace.
While taking an accelerated track may allow you to finish sooner, enrolling part-time could extend the overall length of your program.
Are Writing Certificates Worth It?
Yes, writing certificates are worth it for many students. An online writing certificate could help high school graduates break into the field of writing. Additionally, degree holders can use an online writing certificate to further develop and fine-tune their writing skills and expertise.
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Working professionals may even pursue a writing certificate to further their skill sets in their chosen careers. The media and communications sector is expected to see 6% job growth over the next ten years (Bureau of Labor Statistics). This steady growth is as fast as the average for all occupations.
Universities Offering Online Certificates in Writing Programs
Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format.
Cornell University offers an online certificate program in Content Writing. Courses are designed to teach how to present information succinctly, share key points in a compelling way, develop website audience personas, and craft web content that engages readers. Courses are typically 2 weeks long and the certificate may be completed in 2 months.
Cornell University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
New York University offers a certificate in Professional Writing program online. Potential courses include Content, Purpose, and Audience, Writing and Leadership, and Corporate Storytelling. The program aims to focus on writing and editing a variety of professional documents across digital and traditional formats. The certificate must be completed within 3 years of taking the first course.
New York University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Stanford University offers an online certificate program in Novel Writing. The program aims to help develop story ideas, creative processes, and daily writing practices to improve comprehensive composition and storytelling skills. The program’s 6 courses tend to focus on writing long works of fiction, and, on average, are completed in 2 years.
Stanford is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission.
The University of California–Berkeley offers an online program for a Creative Writing certificate. Common courses include The Craft of Writing, Advanced Fiction Writing, Short Story Masterpieces, and Story Lab. The curriculum aims to teach fiction, screenwriting, poetry, creative nonfiction, journalism, and science writing. At least 8 courses must be completed.
The University of California – Berkeley is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.
The University of California–Los Angeles offers a certificate in Creative Writing. The program may be tailored to personal interest by choosing from tracks in Novel Writing, Personal Essay, or Poetry. The program spans 21 total credit hours and has 1 required course, Creative Writing Certificate Capstone.
UCLA is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.
The University of Illinois–Springfield offers a Technical Writing certificate program online. Potential courses include Introduction to Technical Communication, The Communication Triangle, Revising and Editing, and Writing as a Process. The curriculum covers topics like the technical writer’s role, conducting research, drafting, and editing and revising.
UIS is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The University of Iowa offers an online program for a certificate in Writing. Potential courses include Business Communication and Protocol, The Art of Revision, Advanced Fiction Writing, and Introduction to Grant Writing. Courses aim to teach knowledge and skills in academic, creative, and professional communication strategies. The program requires the completion of 22 semester hours.
The University of Iowa is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The University of Pennsylvania offers a certificate in Professional Writing program online. The completion of the Fundamentals of Professional Writing course is recommended first, followed by 3 additional professional writing courses. These courses are typically 8 weeks long, and focus on developing skills needed to pursue writing and editing careers in a variety of fields and industries.
The University of Pennsylvania is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
The University of Washington offers an online program for a certificate in Writing. The program was designed to help develop the skills needed in pursuit of new writing opportunities. Courses typically teach writing topics in fiction, nonfiction, memoir, screenwriting, publishing, and children’s literature. The program typically offers new admissions every quarter.
The University of Washington is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
The University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire offers a certificate program in Technical Writing. The program typically offers a basic, intermediate, or advanced certificate with optional emphases in Editing, Proofreading, Technical Documentation, and Workplace Experience. Studies can usually start at any time or a fixed time schedule is also commonly available.
The University of Wisconsin Eau Claire is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Getting Your Certificate in Writing Online
Getting a writing certificate online could help you develop your writing abilities and communication skills. Students may pursue a certificate in writing to expand their career opportunities and gain a versatile skill set to help them meet professional expectations in the workplace.
There are also many types of writing certificate programs, allowing you to specialize in the area that interests you the most, whether it be grant writing, social media writing, creative writing, or business writing.
So, if you’re interested in a writing career or simply want to develop your writing skills, you could explore available writing certificates from accredited schools to find the program that’s right for you.
