TTPs who are reading this track of the Guidebook are likely to have been in the profession for a couple of years and likely enjoy it. They may be planning to stay in the field and make it a significant part of their career trajectory. Those TTPs should start to think about building their resume by obtaining an internationally recognized qualification. There are two credentials relevant to Tech Transfer:
- Registered Technology Transfer Professional (RTTP); and
- Certified Licensing Professional (CLP).
2.18.1 Registered Technology Transfer Professional
An RTTP is awarded by an organization called the Alliance of Technology Transfer Professionals (ATTP). ATTP was set up in 2010 by five Tech Transfer professional associations from different parts of the world:
- Association of European Science and Technology Professionals (ASTP) – Europe
- Association of Technology Managers of Taiwan (ATMT) – Taiwan, now defunct
- Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) – United States
- Knowledge Commercialization Australasia (KCA) – Australia and New Zealand
- PraxisUnico – United Kingdom (now PraxisAuril)
ATTP has grown to 14 member associations, of which four (ITMA in Malaysia, SARIMA in South Africa, STEM in India, and USIMP in Turkey) are from emerging economies.
There are three requirements to become an RTTP:
- The TTP must have had a relevant role in Tech Transfer for three years;
- The TTP must accumulate 60 continuing education (CE) credits by attending courses and meetings which have been authorized by ATTP to award CE credits. Typically, these courses are either organized by or sponsored by one of the 14 member associations. The number of credits depends on the duration and number of faculty teaching / speaking at the course / meeting.
- The TTP must submit a 1,000-word case study showing they have applied their knowledge and skills to lead a complex knowledge exchange or Tech Transfer project. This must be signed by the TTP’s manager and is subject to peer review.
There is a one-time fee of $300 (as ofMay 2023) to apply to become an RTTP. There are four submission deadlines each year.
2.18.2 Certified Licensing Professional
CLPs are awarded by Certified Licensing Professionals, Inc., an organization established by the Licensing Executives Society (USA and Canada), Inc. in the early 2000s.
Becoming a CLP is a serious undertaking in time, effort and money. Applicants must take a three hour, 150-question multiple choice exam covering eight separate domains to become a CLP. The exam is proctored and can be taken at one of 400 testing sites worldwide. The passing grade is 75% or higher. From 2016 to 2020, 356 people took the exam; 228 passed and 128 (36%) failed.
The application fee as of May 2023 is $995, which includes two separate testing opportunities within a 13-month window. A candidate handbook with sample questions is available online and a practice exam is also available at no charge. Both LES and AUTM offer CLP Exam prep courses, which are expensive.
CLPs must recertify every three years, by demonstrating a certain number of CEs which may be earned by publishing books or articles, serving as an expert witness, or attending meetings and courses. The recertification fee is $425 as of May 2023.