# Obsolete vocational certifications/licenses/credentials that you can still get (non-academic) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 15, 2015, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsolete-vocational-certifications-licenses-credentials-that-you-can-still-get-non-academic/720125 "2015-05-15T17:57:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2015, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsolete-vocational-certifications-licenses-credentials-that-you-can-still-get-non-academic/720125/21 "2015-05-19T17:33:03Z")
> [@Marion\_Wormer](#): > > I recommend starting w/ Gregg Notehand. It’s easier to learn, and once you learn it, you can pick up a book of short forms online for free, or hardback for a buck or so. > > Why yes, I can take shorthand, and darned useful it is too. Is there a certification in it? Like, can I go to some office, take a test, and get a Level 1 Yeah He Knows ’ Some’ Gregg Certification or a Level 3 Wow This Guy Is Some Gregg Wizard Let Us Sacrifice Fountain Pens Unto His Holy Name Certification? The question was more about obtaining formal credentials than just learning arguably obsolete skills. Thanks for the info though! ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2015, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsolete-vocational-certifications-licenses-credentials-that-you-can-still-get-non-academic/720125/22 "2015-05-19T17:45:03Z")
Technically, it is still possible to be granted a [Letter of Marque and Reprisal.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter_of_marque#21st-century_American_reconsideration_of_letters_of_marque) ---
**Author:** ![BeeGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@BeeGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeeGee)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2015, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsolete-vocational-certifications-licenses-credentials-that-you-can-still-get-non-academic/720125/23 "2015-05-19T17:47:02Z")
> [@Marion\_Wormer](#): > > Why yes, I can take shorthand, and darned useful it is too. Isn’t it? I sat in a meeting last Friday making the notation “will someone please shut this boot-licking toady up so we can get out of here” right under said toady’s nose. Though I am occasionally asked where I learned to write Arabic. But, no, to answer the previous question, there is no certification. I won third place area shorthand in high school, though. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2015, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsolete-vocational-certifications-licenses-credentials-that-you-can-still-get-non-academic/720125/24 "2015-05-19T18:19:14Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > [Shorthand](https://www.universalclass.com/i/course/learn-shorthand.htm). Heck, people don’t even do longhand anymore. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2015, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsolete-vocational-certifications-licenses-credentials-that-you-can-still-get-non-academic/720125/25 "2015-05-19T20:29:36Z")
Is there a “shorthand” font? ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2015, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsolete-vocational-certifications-licenses-credentials-that-you-can-still-get-non-academic/720125/26 "2015-06-08T20:01:04Z")
I’ll post on my own thread and say that the clerical title of [Reader](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reader_(liturgy)), used in some older Christian traditions, could count. The original point of identifying and setting apart “readers” from the rest of the congregation was, of course, because until relatively recently in history, literacy was uncommon and being able to have a few extra people available who could be called up to read out of the Bible was very useful. Nowadays, universal (or near universal) literacy is presumed in much of the world and there’s very little need to have a separate class or registry of “readers” in the congregation, since most churches can basically just point at a random person and ask them if they would be willing to read Acts 3 verses 1-10 out loud please because the pastor’s voice is getting a bit hoarse. It looks like several churches still retain the office of Reader to some extent, at least nominally. I would assume, however, that someone who passed a quickie literacy test just so they could get a fancy ceremony, a pretentious title to add to their name, and the right to strut around in clerical robes would be given a “talking to” about proper humility before God and whatnot. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsolete-vocational-certifications-licenses-credentials-that-you-can-still-get-non-academic/720125.md?page=1)