Education and Certification

Which is more important for editors, formal training or experience? Copyeditor Helen Schinske says both are valuable:

I think training did give me a leg up in a lot of ways. I had done a good deal of desultory proofreading and editing before going in for a formal certificate program, but the class work really consolidated and clarified a lot of ideas I'd been a bit vague on before. I'd never really had proper feedback on what I was doing—either there wasn't time or the customer didn't know any better than I did. In fact, I'd been doing a lot of things right, but it was a great relief to know they were right and to get official credit for what I knew. I also made a bunch of local connections in the business that have been quite important to me.

Probably nine-tenths of the benefit was psychological; if I'd had more chutzpah, I could have done just as well on my own. All the same, I really liked being part of a community of editors, and I liked getting pats on the back from my teachers. I came out of the training much more confident in my own ability to adapt and find my feet in the freelance world.

UK proofreader Louise Harnby believes that both training and experience are necessary.

American Medical Writers Association
The American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) offers one of the most extensive continuing education programs available to professionals in the medical and allied scientific communication fields. AMWA courses are tailored for the profession, are continually expanded to broaden the options for both novice and experienced medical communicators, and meet the needs of both medical writers and medical editors. [at chapter and national conferences | self-study programs available]
Australasian Medical Writers Association
The association's Professional Development Program offers a wide selection of high-quality workshops in the areas of medical writing, editing, public relations, and web design. Workshops are each 3 hours long. [at national conferences and other meetings throughout the year]
The Author–Editor Clinic
The clinic provides instruction and mentoring for freelance editors seeking to expand their skills. The clinic's focus is on the developmental editing of long manuscripts of fiction and creative nonfiction. It offers online classes in developmental editing and about the business of editing, a mentoring program, and occasional Pacific Northwest–area seminars. [online]
Board of Editors in the Life Sciences
Editors in the life sciences can obtain certification of their proficiency by taking the rigorous 3-hour examination offered by the Board of Editors in the Life Sciences (BELS), entitling them to use the “ELS” designation after their name. This certification assures clients that they are dealing with highly skilled editors. [online | examination sites around the world]
Bookjobs.com
If you're still working on your degree, an internship may be the perfect way to experience the inner workings of the publishing industry. Some are paid, many offer college credit, and all provide invaluable knowledge that may help you get your foot in the door when it comes time to look for a full-time job. Bookjobs.com, sponsored by the Association of American Publishers, offers a listing of links to publishers who offer internships. [online]
Boston Center for Adult Education
Choose from a variety of online courses on writing, editing, and publishing taught by experienced professionals. Click on the “Writing and Publishing” category to see a current course list. [online]
Boston University
The university offers a master of arts degree and a doctoral degree in editorial studies. Its Editorial Institute was formed with the conviction that the textually sound, contextually annotated edition is central to the intellectual life of many disciplines. [Boston, MA]
Boston University Online
The university offers a master of science degree in health communication. From significant contributions in disease prevention to groundbreaking campaigns in health awareness, and through efforts to improve physician–patient relations, health communicators are in demand and critical to the facilitation of public awareness and understanding of health-care issues. This online program is designed to shape progressive health communicators, equipping them with the tools needed to effectively shape public and personal health literacy. [online]
California State University, Chico
The university's certificate in Literary Editing and Publishing, when offered, provides training in editing, copyediting, selection standards, publishing procedures, graphics, printing technologies, and marketing and distribution of literature. [Chico, CA | online]
Communication Central
Training programs offered by freelance writer, editor, and presenter Ruth E. Thaler-Carter and tech writer and editor Katherine "Kat" Nagel for aspiring and current freelance writers, editors, and others in the communications field who seek advice and assistance in launching and enhancing their businesses. [Rochester, NY]
Copyediting
The leading newsletter in its field since 1991, Copyediting is for communications officers of major corporations, editors of trade newsletters, freelancers for book and journal publishers, newspaper copy chiefs, managing editors at book publishers, writers for major magazines, and more. The newsletter (formerly Copy Editor) is the preferred source of language news, style advice, and usage tips. It also offers audio conferences and on-demand distance learning. [online]
Coursera
Coursera, a social entrepreneurship company, partners with top universities to offer courses online for anyone to take, for free. The courses are designed to help students master the material through online lectures by world-class professors, learning at their own pace and reinforcing concepts through interactive exercises. Courses cover topics in many areas, including the humanities, medicine, biology, social sciences, mathematics, business, and computer science. [online]
Courses, certificate programs, and degree programs in medical editing and writing
This page from the web site of the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) carries links to information on courses, certificate programs, and degree programs that teach the skills needed by medical editors and medical writers. [online]
Directory of Science Communication Courses and Programs
This database from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication of the University of Wisconsin–Madison carries information about and links to courses and programs, offered by American universities, in communicating science to the public. [online]
Drug Information Association
Diahome.org (DIA) offers training courses that serve the needs of both beginners and those seeking to further develop advanced skills in a variety of disciplines. A medical writing certificate is among them. [Horsham, PA | online]
Editcetera
Editcetera offers courses by mail and workshops on general and specialized editing, proofreading, grammar, the business of freelancing, and other topics. Workshops are held in Berkeley, California. Private mentoring is also available. [Berkeley, California | online]
Editorial Bootcamp and Fiction Editing Bootcamp
Veteran editors Laura Poole and Carolyn Hassett created Editorial Bootcamp as a workshop for those interesting in copyediting and proofreading. In the age of corporate downsizing, most publishers are turning exclusively to freelancers (instead of staff members) for manuscript editing. There is a notable lack of training—especially at an academic publishing level—and many of those starting out in this field have a lot of questions on how to do the work and how to survive as a freelancer. This full-day workshop gives a serious leg up to editors at nearly any level. Poole and Hassett have recently added Fiction-Editing Bootcamp, led by their associate Alice Osborn. The group plans to eventually offer its courses as webinars. [Raleigh, NC; Minneapolis, MN; and other locations]
Editorial Freelancers Association
EFA hosts one-day workshops, seminars, and classroom and online courses designed especially for editorial freelancers. Past courses have covered such topics as getting started as a freelancer, self-marketing, writing, writing book proposals, grammar, electronic editing, developmental editing, copyediting, substantive editing, medical editing, proofreading, indexing, client relationships, creating a business web site, blogging, public-relations work, writing a résumé, basics of copyright and permissions, desktop publishing, pricing strategies, newsletter production [online]
Editorial Inspirations
Editorial Inspirations hosts Editing 101 and Editing 102, one-day workshops for editorial freelancers. Editing 101 is a hands-on, interactive course providing detailed discussions about the field, editing skills, and the business and information-technology requirements necessary to succeed as a self-employed editorial professional. Editing 102 provides advanced discussions about the editing field, query processes, and running a successful business. For distance learners, both Editing 101 and Editing 102 are available as correspondence courses. [Richmond, VA]
Editors' Association of Canada
The EAC program is based on four rigorous examinations covering four core areas of skills and knowledge set out in its Professional Editorial Standards. The examinations are designed for editors with at least 5 years of full-time experience. An editor who passes all four examinations is accredited as a Certified Professional Editor. EAC membership is not required of those who wish to take the examinations. For independent study, the EAC offers a series of workbooks: Meeting Professional Editorial Standards is a hands-on resource that covers the core skills that editors need. [testing at various sites across Canada]
EEI Communications
EEI workshops are taught by professionals who have practiced their skills for many years as communications support providers for corporations, associations, and government agencies. Workshops in subjects such as writing and editing; Macintosh and PC software; design, desktop production, and project management; Web site development, multimedia, and the Internet are available in Alexandria, Virginia, and in Columbia, Silver Spring, and Hunt Valley, Maryland. [various locations]
“The Fastlane to Becoming a Medical Writer”
A blog post explaining how to get started as a medical writer or medical copyeditor. [online]
George Washington University's Master of Professional Studies in Publishing
The master of professional studies (MPS) degree in publishing gives students a solid background in all areas of publishing. The program integrates traditional print with electronic publishing topics, including editorial acquisitions, production and design, copyright law in print and cyberspace, marketing, distribution, management, and business. Designed for current and aspiring professionals, including post-bachelor and post-graduate students who have earned their degrees in other disciplines but desire careers in publishing, the program offers courses in the evenings at George Washington University's convenient Alexandria Graduate Education Center. Students can complete the degree in two years while working. [Alexandria, VA]
Graduate School
The Graduate School, formerly known as the USDA Graduate School, offers a certificate program in editing and publishing that includes theoretical practices, hands-on editing, proofreading, and indexing. [online]
Institute for American Thought: graduate editing certificate program
This program from the School of Liberal Arts of Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis provides an interdisciplinary range of core and elective courses designed for graduate students who want to study the techniques and consequences of traditional editing procedures, learn how corrupted texts of the past can be recovered and disseminated for readers today, and explore how these procedures are evolving in reaction to the rapidly changing technical communications environment of the information age. [Indianapolis, IN]
Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University offers a master of arts degree in science writing. The one-year program includes workshops in which student writing is exhaustively edited by faculty and by other students. In all writing, students focus on developing story ideas and on presenting the science clearly, accurately, and seamlessly. Students benefit from the world-class science at Hopkins-affiliated institutions, going to scientific meetings and talks and interviewing researchers and visiting scientists. [Baltimore, MD]
Journalism programs across Canada
This information section from the web site of Carleton University (Ottawa, ON, Canada) provides links to information on graduate and undergraduate degree programs in journalism at Canadian universities. [online]
Langara College
Langara College's Publishing diploma program teaches students to use the latest publishing tools and techniques in a collaborative environment that cultivates the professional attitudes and creativity needed to excel in a publishing career. Students develop the comprehensive knowledge of print and digital publishing needed to excel in a publishing career. They produce high-quality, tangible, and marketable products, such as Pacific Rim Magazine. This 64-page, glossy, color publication is distributed each May in The Globe and Mail. [Vancouver, BC, Canada]
Mediabistro.com
Mediabistro.com offers courses, both online and classroom, for editors, writers, television producers, graphic designers, book publishers, people in production, and circulation departments—in industries including magazines, television, radio, newspapers, book publishing, online media, advertising, public relations, and graphic design. There's a certificate program in copyediting available too. [New York, NY | online]
Michigan State University
MSU Law offers masters’ programs on intellectual property specifically designed to meet the demand for attorneys and professionals working in the intellectual property and communications areas. [East Lansing, MI | online]
National Association of Independent Writers and Editors
The National Association of Independent Writers and Editors is a professional association that embraces both literary and commercial writers and editors. The association links independent professionals with information, support, and resources they need to build a thriving business. The organization believes that entrepreneurship provides the best job security and benefits available, and it offers support to each member on the path to success. [Ashland, VA | online]
National Association of Science Writers
The association offers a number of workshops and conferences throughout the year, as well as web space for individual pages for freelance science writers and articles for science writers and about science writing. [New York | online]
New Jersey Institute of Technology
This master of science degree in professional and technical communications includes digital layout and graphics, information development, usability testing, advanced research methods, and technical editing. [Newark, NJ | online]
New York University
NYU's School of Continuing and Professional Studies offers a wide variety of classes in the publishing field, including a master of science degree in publishing. The program provides students with the fundamentals of book and magazine publishing, while preparing them to succeed in an era of digital publishing and media convergence. Students learn to explore multiple approaches to creating, managing, distributing, and marketing content across multiple platforms, including books, e-books, periodicals, web sites, blogs, podcasts, mobile extensions, and other formats. [New York | online]
Northeastern University College of Professional Studies
The university offers an online master's degree designed to improve students' technical communication skills and provide a foundation for applying those skills across a variety of contexts. With two concentrations from which to choose—biomedical writing or computer industry writing—this graduate degree in technical communication prepares students for a career as a technical writer or editor. [online]
Pace University
The Pace University graduate publishing program, which grants a master of science degree, is offered through the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences and is designed for publishing professionals who would like to extend their knowledge of the field. The program provides comprehensive hands-on training in every important area of publishing, including marketing strategies, book and magazine production, financial applications, and information systems. The Dyson College also offers a graduate certificate program in publishing and a program that combines a bachelor of arts degree in English and a master of science degree in publishing [New York, NY]
Poynter's News University
This organization offers online journalism and media training programs, as self-directed courses, group seminars, and webinars, for journalists, bloggers, freelance writers, and journalism students. Courses cover such topics as multimedia techniques, writing, reporting, editing, software for design and publishing, and basic HTML. [St. Petersburg, FL | online]
The Publishing Training Centre at Book House
This organization offers online and classroom-based training programs in publishing. Courses cover such topics as editing, copyright and permissions, picture research, editorial project management, editorial freelancing, book production, journal production, digital publishing, marketing and publicity [London, UK | online]
Ryerson University
The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education at Ryerson offers an extensive array of online and distance learning programs. Among these are the business of book publishing, copyediting, journal production and writing, and more. [Toronto, ON | online]
Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University offers both an undergraduate degree and a master's degree in publishing. The undergraduate degree provides the foundation for students to take jobs in publishing or allied cultural industries, to pursue advanced professional education, or to pursue further publishing and cultural industries inquiry. The Master of Publishing (MPub) program is the only program in Canada to offer a postgraduate degree in publishing. In the full-time 16-month program a cohort of 21 MPub candidates learn practical skills from faculty and guest industry professionals, within a rigorous academic environment. Students build a portfolio of work of a professional caliber in publication design, marketing, technology, cultural policy, management, and editorial. [Vancouver, BC, Canada]
Simon Fraser University Summer Publishing Workshops
The SFU workshops offer a chance to learn from and work with more than 100 of Canada's top editors, writers, marketers, designers, publishers, and new-media moguls. They will challenge and guide students through an intense educational experience. [Vancouver, BC]
Society for Editors and Proofreaders
The SfEP offers training courses to help editorial freelancers and in-house staff members improve and develop their skills. SfEP courses cater to the whole range of experience, from beginners to established editors who need to update and extend their existing skills. [London, Bristol, Edinburgh, and York, UK]
Stanford University
Stanford University offered the renowned Stanford Professional Publishing Course from 1978 until 2009. Although the program is closed, Stanford continues to make freely available both an archive of podcasts and a collection of videos (see individual links to each video) from the program. [online]
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences offers a master of science degree program in science and technology journalism to prepare students for careers as reporters, writers, and editors specializing in the coverage of science, technology, and medicine. Each student's choice of courses is geared to his or her interests and goals. Students choose between an internship track and a thesis track. [College Station, TX]
Thieme
Thieme, an STM (scientific, technical, medical) publisher for more than 100 years with offices in New York, Stuttgart, and Singapore, offers internships (year-round, full time or part time, from 10 weeks to 6 months, with a stipend to cover transportation expenses and lunch, flexible office hours, and possibly academic credit) with hands-on publishing experience in the areas of editorial, production, marketing, sales, accounting, and Internet and information technology. An interview is required for acceptance into the program. [New York, NY]
“Toolkit for New Medical Writers”
An in-depth article explaining how to get started as a medical writer; quite useful also for those who want to get started as medical editors. [online]
Towson University
Towson's College of Liberal Arts offers a master of science degree in professional writing for several tracks, including biomedical writing. Courses cover technical and scientific writing, biomedical writing, biostatistics, data analysis, mathematic statistics, ethics, health promotion, professional research, and more. [online]
University of Alberta Extension
The University of Alberta Extension offers multiple courses in the areas of writing and editing, with topics including grammar, substantive editing, writing for various audiences, technical writing, and social media. [Edmonton, AB Canada | online]
University of California Berkeley
The Berkeley Extension offers a four-course editing sequence for those currently working as editors who need a concentrated program to acquire additional skills, those who want to make a transition into editing, and those who want to enter the publishing field as editors. Each course is roughly 3 months long; therefore, the certificate takes a year to obtain. There are also courses available in editing, publishing, indexing, writing, and technical communication. The Marjorie Baer Scholarship for Editorial Excellence is available to cover tuition for the professional sequence in editing. [Berkeley, CA | online]
University of California San Diego Extension
UCSD Extension is an innovator in providing lifelong learning solutions to the San Diego community and abroad. Its online courses are ideal for students and professionals with busy schedules. It offers a copyediting certificate program that provides a solid grounding in the tools and techniques of copyediting and prepares students for an entry-level copyediting position. Topics covered include performing a light, medium, or heavy edit on nonfiction copy and using style guides. Besides the required courses, there are recommended courses on editing as a business, marketing editing services, web skills for editors, an introduction to scientific and medical editing, and social media for editors. The program is designed to be completed online in 12 to 15 months of part-time study. [San Diego, CA | online]
University of Chicago Graham School of Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies
The Graham School offers certificate programs providing professional credentials in editing and in medical writing and editing. It also offers online courses in medical editing. The University of Chicago is the home of the renowned Chicago Manual of Style, produced by the University of Chicago Press. [Chicago, IL]
University of Chicago Graham School of Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies
The Graham School offers Freelance Forum, a series of one-day seminars for freelance editors and writers focusing on running a successful business. Topics include “Freelance Summit: Resources for Freelance Writers and Editors,” “Writing for the Health Care Industry,” “Building a Successful Freelance Business,” “Utilizing Social Media Sites,” “Strategic Marketing and Communication for freelancers,” “Writing for the Web,” and “The Effective Website.” The University of Chicago is the home of the renowned Chicago Manual of Style, produced by the University of Chicago Press. [Chicago, IL]
University of Denver Publishing Institute
The Publishing Institute is an intensive, full-time, four-week, graduate-level course that devotes itself to all aspects of book publishing. It offers workshops and teaching sessions in editing, marketing, and production, conducted by leading experts from all areas of publishing. During the final week, the Institute provides career-counseling sessions to assist students in finding positions in publishing. The Institute combines the practicality of New York publishing connections with the informality and beauty of the Colorado Rockies. [Denver, CO]
University of New Hampshire Online Instruction Center
Among the courses offered by the center is "The Keys to Effective Editing," which teaches the fundamentals of editing both fiction and nonfiction. From the language of editing to grammar, punctuation, and syntax and the all-important relationships between editor, author, and publisher, every facet of editing is explored in the course. The complexities, advantages, and pitfalls of on-screen editing are also addressed. In addition, tips and resources for finding work as an editor are discussed at length. [online]
University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
The school's master of biomedical writing was the first master of science degree offered in the field in the United States. Elective courses cover specialized topics in continuing medical education, entrepreneurship, regulatory writing, and Western traditions in biomedical communication. Because the program is taught online, it is especially convenient for working professionals. [online]
University of Washington Professional & Continuing Education certificate programs
The University of Washington Professional & Continuing Education Certificate in Editing offers students a chance to advance their understanding of the editorial process and apply their knowledge to editing a wide variety of print and online publications. They explore the relationship between editors and writers, as well as the art of proposing editorial changes. They enhance their own writing skills while learning to collaborate in developing the best copy for the target audience and target type of publication. University of Washington Professional & Continuing Education also offers the Certificate in Technical Writing and Editing, which teaches practical applications and fundamental concepts in technical communication. Students study information design, software user assistance, editing practices, layout and production, and software applications. They also review the principles and practices of writing about scientific and technical topics for a variety of audiences. [Seattle, WA]
Yale University
The Yale Publishing Course is an intensive, week-long program of international scope dedicated to equipping mid- and upper-level professionals in the book, magazine, and online publishing industry with the skills they need to lead their organizations during an accelerating transition to a global, digital environment. The program combines lectures with small discussion groups led by Yale faculty and executives who are proven innovators within their own publishing companies and taps the resources of the prestigious Yale University Press. The curriculum focuses on the business of publishing as a global enterprise and includes sessions on strategic planning, financial management and entrepreneurship, best practices in new technology and content delivery, legal issues involving open access and intellectual property, and the future of digital dissemination. The course fills the gap as the only advanced-level program for senior managers left by the closure of the renowned Stanford Professional Publishing Course, which was offered from 1978 until 2009. Enrollment is limited to 80 participants. [New Haven, CT]