How Can I Obtain a Typing Certificate?

What is a Typing Certificate?

A typing certificate is a document that provides details on an individual's typing speed and accuracy. Community colleges, adult education centers, and employment agencies are among the organizations that offer testing and certification in typing. Although you can earn a typing certificate online, employers may not accept one as part of a job application. This is because official tests are usually signed and dated by a witness. Typing certificates are often useful when applying to office-based jobs with significant typing duties. Employers may require typists with a minimum words-per-minute typing speed and a high rate of accuracy.

The Typing Certification Process

Organizations offering typing certificates often require that test-takers complete an application for testing and present a picture ID. Testing then usually involves a series of three- or five-minute typing tests. Participants receive random passages of text and reproduce these as accurately as possible. The testing process may include multiple passages of material to type, with each passage being timed separately. Responses are graded for time and accuracy, and errors may detract from the overall words-per-minute score. Some agencies offer free testing; at other organizations, test-takers may need to pay a fee, often around $15. From start to finish, test-takers can expect to spend between one and two hours at the certification facility.

Certificate Details

In addition to your score on the typing test, a typing certificate may include information on when the test was completed, the organization administering the test, the duration of the test, and the signature of the person who conducted the test. Employers may require that this information be on the certificate when you submit it with a job application. Keep in mind that certificates may have expiration dates; retesting may be necessary to obtain a new certificate.

Training Resources

Classes in typing or keyboarding can help strengthen your typing skills. These courses enhance students' understanding of keyboard layout and the skills required for touch-typing. Once students have mastered keyboard fundamentals and typing without looking at the keyboard, they may wish to pursue advanced keyboarding classes designed to enhance typing speed. Advanced classes often allow students to work independently in pursuit of their own goals. Many community colleges offer keyboarding classes, and some keyboarding courses are available online. Keyboarding is often part of the curriculum in education programs for office assistants and related fields.

Employment Options

Typing certificates are usually required for positions that include a significant amount of keyboarding. Often, these jobs are found in office environments. Office clerks, typists, or word processors may be responsible for clerical tasks including typing reports, letters, and other business documents. Administrative assistants may perform clerical duties including typing for an executive or for staff members throughout an entire organization. In addition, typing skills are important for assistants in specific fields. Legal assistants, for example, prepare legal documents like subpoenas and motions under the direction of attorneys or paralegals. Medical secretaries often transcribe dictated notes into typed documents and prepare medical reports.

Salary and Job Outlook Information

The BLS reported that general office clerks, who perform duties such as typing and word processing, earned a median salary of $31,500 in May of 2018. A four percent decline in the employment of general office clerks was expected between 2018 and 2028, according to the BLS. This decrease may be due to organizations' increasing use of technology and automation for clerical tasks.