Certified Specification Writing Specialist (CSWS) Certification Program by Tonex
The Certified Specification Writing Specialist (CSWS) course by Tonex equips professionals with the skills needed to write clear, complete, and accurate technical specifications. This course blends best practices in technical writing with deep knowledge of specification structure, language, formatting, standards compliance, and stakeholder requirements. Participants gain hands-on experience crafting specifications used in engineering, software, systems, procurement, and regulatory documentation.
Target Audience
- Engineers and systems engineers
- Technical writers and documentation specialists
- Procurement and contracting professionals
- QA/QC and compliance officers
- Project and program managers
- Product managers and developers
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Understand the purpose and types of specifications (technical, performance, functional, etc.)
- Structure and format specifications using industry standards
- Apply clear, unambiguous, and requirement-driven language
- Avoid common errors and ambiguities in specification writing
- Use checklists and templates to streamline specification development
- Ensure traceability, compliance, and integration with procurement and development processes
Program Modules:
Day 1 Agenda
Module 1: Introduction to Specifications
- What are specifications?
- Types and levels: Functional, Performance, Detailed, Interface
- Regulatory, compliance, and standards alignment (e.g., IEEE, ISO, MIL-STD)
Module 2: Specification Writing Fundamentals
- The language of specifications: precision, clarity, consistency
- Do’s and don’ts: Avoiding ambiguity and vagueness
- The Five C’s of Effective Specification Writing
- Templates and structure: Title, scope, definitions, requirements
Module 3: Requirements-Driven Specifications
- Writing measurable and testable requirements
- Linking requirements to specifications
- Use of SHALL, SHOULD, MAY – implications and misuses
Workshop 1:
- Rewrite poorly written specification examples
- Group review and critique session
Day 2 Agenda
Module 4: Advanced Specification Techniques
- Specification traceability matrices
- Managing changes and updates (versioning and control)
- Aligning specifications with systems engineering lifecycle
Module 5: Tools, Formats, and Integration
- Word processors, XML, and requirements management tools
- Integration with systems models, diagrams, and technical drawings
- Document control, validation, and approval workflows
Module 6: Specification Quality and Review
- Common pitfalls and how to identify them
- Peer review and stakeholder validation techniques
- Checklists and quality gates
Workshop 2:
- Draft a mini-specification for a product/system
- Peer-review using a standardized checklist
Exam Review Session
- Practice questions
- Key concepts recap
Certification Exam: Certified Specification Writing Specialist (CSWS)
Exam Structure
- 40 multiple-choice questions
- Duration: 60 minutes
- Passing score: 75%
Exam Domains
Domain 1: Specification Fundamentals (20%)
- Purpose, scope, types of specifications
- Specification lifecycle
- Industry standards and compliance
Domain 2: Language and Clarity in Specifications (25%)
- Grammar, vocabulary, and tone
- Avoiding ambiguity and vague terminology
Domain 3: Requirements and Traceability (20%)
- Linking specifications with requirements
- Testability and measurability
- Specification traceability matrices
Domain 4: Structure, Tools, and Templates (15%)
- Standard sections of a specification
- Using templates and writing tools
- Integration with engineering documentation
Domain 5: Quality Assurance and Review (20%)
- Specification review processes
- Checklists and peer reviews
- Version control and change management