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.

Finally, it's important to understand the difference between a certificate program and certification. They are not the same thing.

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 and certificate programs 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. The newest program is the AMWA Certificate in Medical Editing, which is designed for beginning to mid-level medical communicators who want to enhance and fine-tune their medical editing skills. It comprises 11 activities that have been reviewed and selected by a special task force of AMWA Education Committee volunteers. AMWA also offers a credentialing certification process for medical writers. Writers who pass the certification exam are entitled to add the MWC designation (meaning "medical writer certified") after their name, and they are required to go through recertification every 5 years. Take a look too at the AMWA Essential Skills Certificate program. [at chapter and national conferences | self-study programs available]
The Art of Copyediting
Veteran editor Venkataraman Anantharaman offers multiple courses and webinars on editing, for individuals and for businesses and organizations. Topics include reference lists and citations, technical style, display elements, tables and figures, academic English, Microsoft Word (including Word's styles) and Microsoft Excel, book design, pre-edit analysis, editorial style sheets, grammar and syntax, and medical editing. [Chennai, India | online]
Australasian Medical Writers Association
The association's Professional Development Program offers a wide selection of high-quality workshops in the areas of evaluating clinical papers; health resources on the web; writing and designing web content; proofreading for medical writers; information, knowledge, and evidence in medicine; public relations techniques for medical communicators; technical writing skills; tables, figures, and references; evidence-based medicine: the basics; biotechnology for medical writers; law of defamation for medical writers; writing about medicines; writing for magazines; statistics for medical writers; and social media for medical writers. [at national conferences and other meetings throughout the year]
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 and that such editors follow a code of ethics. Certification renewal is required every 5 years. [online | examination sites around the world]
Book editor and writing coach Tanya Gold
Tanya Gold teaches interactive online courses for editors about the business and craft of editing. Courses include "Working with Indie Authors," "Editing Memoir," "Pitch Yourself," "Exploring 'Passive' Income," "Coaching Writers," and more. They also provide business coaching for editors. If you sign up for their courses newsletter, you'll get info about course release dates, exclusive discounts, and sneak previews. [online]
Boston University's Editorial Institute
The institute 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 Virtual
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]
Brigham Young University
The university offers a bachelor's degree program in editing and publishing. [Provo, UT]
Cālamo & Cran
Cālamo & Cran has been offering Spanish-language courses in proofreading, copyediting, and other levels of editing since 1997. Courses are taught by editorial professionals. Topics include editing, proofreading, digital publishing, brand communication, editing mathematical formulas, translation (English to Spanish, Spanish to English, French to Spanish, legal documents, economics, literary works), video editing, economic and financial translation, inclusive language, using Adobe Photoshop, XML layout, using plain language, editorial project management, intellectual property, and advance Microsoft Word tricks. [various locations]
California State University, Chico
The university's certificate in literary editing and publishing provides training in editing, copyediting, selection standards, publishing procedures, graphics, printing technologies, and marketing and distribution of literature. [Chico, CA | online]
Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading
The Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) offers training courses to help editorial freelancers and in-house staff members improve and develop their skills. CIEP courses cater to the whole range of experience, from beginners to established editors who need to update and extend their existing skills. The course about medical editing is a self-paced, self-assessed e-learning process, and it is open to both CIEP members and nonmembers around the world. [Online]
Council of Science Editors
The Council of Science Editors (CSE) offers the Publication Certificate Program in scholarly publication management. Program participants attend CSE annual conferences, CSE webinars, and CSE short courses (offered during annual meetings) and then conduct and submit a research project for evaluation by the CSE Education Committee. Partipants must be CSE members. [at chapter and national conferences]
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, tutorials, and webinars about medical editing and writing
This page from the website of the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) carries links to information on courses, certificate programs, tutorials, and webinars that teach the skills needed by medical editors and medical writers. [online]
Curtin University
Curtin offers a bachelor's degree in professional writing and publishing and a major that counts toward a master's degree in professional writing and publishing. Students learn to produce and edit materials useful in the news media, corporate communicates, publishing, and local government and public service. They learn about evaluating information resources, to communicate effectively, about the diversity of cultural knowledge and practices, and about editing, proofreading, marketing, and interior book design. Also, they undertake major projects and may have the opportunity for professional work placement with an industry employer. [Bentley, Australia]
Drug Information Association
The Drug Information Association (DIA) offers training courses that serve the needs of both beginners and those seeking to further develop advanced skills in a variety of disciplines. Courses about working with medical publications are among them. [global office: Washington, DC; other offices: around the world | online]
Editcetera
Editcetera offers workshops and online training on editor–author collaboration, rates and estimates for freelancers; copyediting; developmental editing; proofreading; book design for editors; copyright, fair use, and artificial intelligence; and other topics. Custom training is also available. [Berkeley, California | online]
Editor Training Database
The Editor Training database is a compilation of editor training offerings offered by experienced editors. There are courses in using specific editing software and tools, in running an editing business, in manuscript markup and formatting, in how to find clients, in doing specific types of editing, and more.
Editor’s Essentials
The organization offers a 13-week course for beginners: "Essentials of Language Editing". The course focuses on grammar, punctuation, style, and using Microsoft Word in academic publishing, and it provides students with opportunities to practice editing. In addition, the organization offers several shorter courses: "Essentials of Language Editing" (focuses on the fundamentals of grammar, usage, style, punctuation, and Microsoft Word), "English Spelling & Its Variants" (focuses on the differences between American English and British English), "Subject–Verb Agreement" (focuses on the nuances that govern subject–verb agreement), and "Pronoun Agreement" (focuses on agreement between a pronoun and its antecedent). [India | online]
Editorial Arts Academy
The Editorial Arts Academy teaches courses for freelance book editors. Course topics include developmental and line editing, copyediting and proofreading, marketing your editing business, and running your editorial business. [Vermont | online]
Editorial Freelancers Association
The EFA hosts one-day workshops, webinars, classroom courses, self-paced courses, and online courses designed especially for editorial freelancers. Past courses have covered such topics as basics of copyright and permissions, being a beta reader, blogging, client relationships, coaching writers, compiling an editing portfolio, copyediting, creating a business website, desktop publishing, developmental editing, editing children's picture books, editing memoir, ethics in editing, editing romance, getting started as a freelancer, grammar, indexing, line editing, marketing your editorial business, medical editing, medicolegal editing, PDF markup, pricing strategies, proofreading, providing editorial feedback, sensitivity reading, substantive editing, using macros, writing book proposals, and editing for diversity, equity, and inclusion. [online]
Editors Canada
The Editors Canada certification program is based on four rigorous examinations covering four core areas of skills and knowledge set out in its four-volume publication Meeting 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 four certification test preparation guides. [remote]
Emerson College
Emerson's master of arts degree in publishing and writing provides an overview of the publishing industry, from acquisition to writing and editing, design, production, promotion, and distribution. Participants may also take courses in literature, writing workshops, and teach college composition, or they may intern at a literary agency, magazine publisher, or book publisher. [Boston, MA]
George Washington University
The university's 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 participants two choices: learn fully online or take evening courses in person at the university's Graduate Education Center. Students can complete the degree in two years while working at a job. [Alexandria, VA]
Grammar Lion
Grammar Lion offers an online grammar refresher course taught by Ellen Feld, who has taught college courses online and in the traditional classroom. She has experience as a newspaper reporter and copy chief, personal essayist, website reviewer, and writing coach. Students complete the course at their own pace, taking a total of 4 to 12 weeks. The course covers parts of speech; contractions and possessives; subjects and predicates; sentence fragments and run-ons; shifts in person, tense, and structure; capitalization and punctuation; and much more. The instructor answers individual questions by email and within an online discussion board. [online]
Humber Polytechnic
Humber's Professional Book Publishing program allows students to turn their love of books into a career in publishing with an intensive, fully online program, which combines creativity and entrepreneurship. Upon graduation, students will be ready for a range of publishing and publishing-related opportunities, including contracts; design; editorial; entertainment/copyright/intellectual property; literary agenting; sales, marketing, and publicity; and self-publishing and publishing technology. The full-time program is offered in an accelerated online format to allow students to complete two semesters of work from home in just 4 months. Classes are 5 days a week and are a mix of live online classes and offline learning activities. [Toronto, Ontario, Canada]
Ideas on Fire
Ideas on Fire offers virtual and in-person workshops on various topics, including those you request. Current workshops include "Writing a Successful Book Proposal," "Writing and Publishing an Interdisciplinary Book," "Finding the Right Publisher for Your Interdisciplinary Book," and "Book Marketing for Academics." The agency's transnational team of developmental editors, copyeditors, indexers, proofreaders, and book marketers work at the cutting edge of knowledge production, fostering the ideas and texts that foreground citational justice, conscious language, and intersectional queer feminist ethics. [online]
Institute of Professional Editors Limited
The Institute of Professional Editors Limited (IPEd) is the professional association for Australian and New Zealand editors. It exists to advance the profession of editing and to support and promote Australian and New Zealand editors. The IPEd offers an accrediation examination about every 2 years. Its primary purpose is for editors to gain accreditation. However, past candidates have reported that preparing for the exam is beneficial in itself, as it improves their editorial skills and knowledge. The IPEd also offers opportunities for continuing professional development through events and through its biennial conferences. [at chapter and national conferences | self-study programs available]
Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts & Sciences
Johns Hopkins University offers a master of arts degree in science writing. The program involves 9 courses. A required on-site residency and additional coursework offer deeper, more sophisticated lessons. Students hone reporting techniques such as interviewing scientists and identifying credible sources, and they receive extensive feedback on their writing. [Baltimore, MD]
Langara College
Langara College's "Publishing Explorations" course teaches the basics of publishing in various formats and media. Through hands-on projects, students work with existing content and create new content, learn about publication planning and various forms of publishing media, and are introduced to common software used to create publications. The college also offers the "Modern Digital Publishing" microcourse, in which students learn both the creative and technical aspects of digital publishing. They begin by exploring what a digital publication is and then develop the knowledge and skills to make one of their own using type, photos, video, and sound. Students create a multimedia digital publication for their final project. [Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada]
Macquarie University
The university offers a graduate certificate in editing and electronic publishing. It's designed for practicing editors who are looking to consolidate and expand their skill set into new areas of publishing, or for students entering the award with more limited editing experience wanting to gain a qualification that will aid their employment prospects in the industry. It provides the academic tools to make informed decisions about preparing a text for publication, using linguistic knowledge including grammar, cohesion and regional variation. [Sydney, Australia]
Mediabistro.com
Mediabistro.com offers online courses for editors, writers, producers, graphic designers, book publishers, people in production, marketing specialists, and social media managers—in industries including magazines, journalism, television, radio, newspapers, book publishing, online media, advertising, public relations, and graphic design. [New York, NY | online]
Michigan State University College of Law
The College of Law offers the Intellectual Property, Information & Communications Law program to provide students with a solid foundation in cutting-edge patent law, copyright law, trademark law, internet law, international intellectual property law, and legal informatics. [East Lansing, MI]
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. [Berkeley, CA | online]
"New Medical Writers Toolkit"
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]
The New School
The New School offers a master of arts degree in creative publishing and critical journalism. It trains students in the traditions of criticism, theory, and critical writing. It offers a variety of studio courses and working experiences. Students learn about the many forms of contemporary print and online publishing in New York City, including books, magazines, journals, alternative media, print-on-demand, and small-batch publications. In addition, they learn about the process of designing, editing, and distributing journals and books containing intellectually serious work across print and online platforms. [New York, NY]
New York University
The New York University School of Professional Studies offers a master of science degree in publishing, which readies students for careers in book publishing and digital/magazine media with a uniquely effective blend of real-world experiences and industry-focused, practical courses. Industry leaders teach the courses, equipping students with skills in content creation, editing, design, video, and podcasting, along with essential business principles in marketing, branding, sales, and finance. In addition, the university's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute offers the Science, Health, & Environmental Reporting program. The sequence consists of 11 classes (including one elective) over 16 months. There is also the Certificate in Professional Copyediting, Proofreading, and Fact-Checking. It is offered fully online and must be completed within 3 years of declaring candidacy for the certificate. [New York, NY, and online]
Northeastern University
The university offers a master of science degree in media innovation and data communication. The program focuses on the current revolution in data storytelling and computational methods in media work; the rapid evolution in video, animation, and augmented/virtual reality technologies; and social networks and digital analytics. Graduates are trained to become leaders in media firms and outlets engaged with cutting-edge technologies and innovative digital startups, as well as a broad range of media and communications organizations across the rapidly evolving digital economy. [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 combines industry connections with comprehensive training in editorial, digital, and marketing practices to help students develop skills in content creation, editing, digital media, and strategic communication, which will prepare them for roles such as editor, literary agent, marketer, or publicist. The Dyson College also offers a graduate certificate program in publishing and an accelerated program that results in first a bachelor of arts degree in English and then a master of science degree in publishing [New York, NY]
Poynter Institute
The institute 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 editing, tools for editing, editorial integrity, grammar, legal issues in journalism, social media strategies, reporting, and accuracy and verification. Take a look at the Poynter ACES certificates in editing. [St. Petersburg, FL | online]
The Publishing Training Centre
This organization offers online training programs in publishing. Courses cover such topics as editing, copyright and permissions, picture research, editorial project management, editorial freelancing, project management, book production, journal production, digital publishing, marketing, publicity, and artificial intelligence. [London, England | online]
Queen's University
Queen's University offers the online course Editing in Academic & Professional Contexts. The course introduces the levels of editing—substantive, stylistic, and copyediting—and how to apply these skills to academic and professional documents such as reports, essays, articles, and newsletters. [online]
RMIT University
The university offers an associate degree in professional writing and editing. During the program, students work alongside fellow students passionate about reading and writing. They also learn from teachers and mentors who are leading practitioners in their fields. It also offers a master's degree in writing and publishing. [Melbourne, Australia]
The Seagull School of Publishing
The Seagull School of Publishing offers a certficate course in editing and book design. Participants complete assignments, receive hands-on training, converse with publishing professionals from India and elsewhere in the world, and go on field trips. The course is supported by the Seagull Foundation for the Arts. [Calcutta, India | 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. MPub candidates learn practical skills from faculty and guest industry professionals, within a rigorous academic environment. [Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada]
Simon Fraser University Editing Certificate
SFU's part-time, online editing certificate program will take students' skills to the next level and prepare them to join the world of publishing and freelance editing. [online]
Swinburne University of Technology
The university offers several courses, degree programs, and certificate programs in professional writing and editing. [Melbourne, Australia]
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M offers a master of science degree program in science and technology journalism to prepare students for careers as writers and editors in science, technology, and medicine. [College Station, TX]
Thieme
Thieme, an STM (scientific, technical, medical) publisher for more than 100 years with offices in New York, Beijing, Delhi, Stuttgart, Rio de Janeiro, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Kassel, Erlangen, and Lübeck, offers internships with hands-on publishing experience in the areas of journals, marketing, e-product development, and sales. An interview is required for acceptance into the program. [New York, NY]
Toronto Metropolitan University
The Chang School of Continuing Education at Toronto Metropolitan University offers an extensive array of online and distance learning programs. Among these are the business of book publishing, editing, scholarly and reference publishing, literary rights management, and production. In addition, the Chang School offers a fully online certificate in publishing. [Toronto, Ontario, Canada | online]
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta offers multiple courses in the areas of writing, publishing, and editing. [Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | online]
University of Calcutta
The University of Calcutta's Centre for Studies in Book Publishing offers a 1-year postgraduate diploma in book publishing studies. In addition to the academic program, faculty members provide consulting in business development. There are also short-term courses available in editorial techniques, copyright, rights management, book production and design, warehousing and inventory, book promotion and publicity, book distribution, sales and marketing, electronic publishing, and translation techniques. [Calcutta, India | online]
University of California Berkeley Extension
The UC Berkeley Extension offers a four-course certificate in editing for those who want to begin a rewarding editing career, rise to a management position in publishing, or apply editing expertise in a related profession. There are also certificates available in writing and in technical communication. [Berkeley, CA | online]
UC San Diego Extended Studies offers a copyediting certificate program that provides a solid grounding in the tools and techniques of copyediting and introduces several advanced topics required for a successful career. Also offered is a grammar lab. In addition, there is a certificate program in medical writing to equip scientists and others with a strong biomedical and/or life sciences background to write for scientific audiences in the commercial sector, government agencies, and academia. [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. 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. Top industry leaders run workshops, lectures and special sessions, including an off-site field trip. Professionals guide participants through the fast-paced world of editing, marketing and production in both independent publishing houses and global media companies. [Denver, CO]
University of Houston–Downtown
The university offers a master of science degree in technical communication. The program is designed for medical writers and editors, science writers and editors, grant writers, technical editors, communication managers, public relations specialists, and instructional design professionals. [Houston, TX]
University of Melbourne
The university offers a master's degree in creative writing, publishing, and editing. The program has a practical focus aimed at building knowledge and skill sets across a broad spectrum of writing, publishing, and editing, including digital writing and publishing, fiction and nonfiction writing, print production, advanced editing for books and magazines, and writing for young adults. It is designed for those who work in the creative writing, editing, and publishing industry or have recently completed an undergraduate degree.[Parkville, Australia]
University of New England
The university offers a dual-degree program called Bachelor of Media and Communications/Bachelor of Laws, combining law studies with media and communications to foster the interdisciplinary and critical thinking skills that employers are seeking now more than ever. As the role of media in our lives continues to grow and become more complex, our legal frameworks are rapidly adapting to emerging issues in privacy law, copyright law, media regulation, social media and more. [Armidale, Australia | online]
University of New Hampshire
Several courses are offered editing and publishing. [New Hampshire]
University of South Australia
The university offers an undergraduate course called Advanced Editing and Publishing. Students consolidate their skills in the close editing of a wide range of texts, preparing manuscripts for publication, and current issues in copyright. They apply these skills by working with an industry partner on a practical editing project and networking with professional organizations such as the Society of Editors, the Australian Society for Technical Communication, the Macquarie Style Council, and the SA Writers Centre. [Adelaide, South Australia]
University of Technology Sydney
The university offers a graduate certificate in writing, editing, and publishing, available only to students who live in Australia. It teaches everything students need to be equipped to launch an exciting, creative future in the writing and publishing industries. [Sydney, Australia]
University of Washington Professional & Continuing Education certificate programs
The University of Washington Professional & Continuing Education Certificate in Editing offers students a chance to explore key techniques for developmental editing, copyediting, line editing, structural editing, content editing, and collaborating with writers. They will apply human insight and editorial judgment to transform a rough draft—be it website copy, a book-length manuscript, or short-form media—into polished, purposeful content that resonates with readers. They will also consider the evolving role of technology in editorial work, including the ethical and transparent use of artificial intelligence tools. The university also offers the Certificate in Professional Technical Writing, which covers the fundamental concepts and practical applications of technical writing. Students learn about the styles, formats, and requirements for different kinds of technical communication. [Seattle, WA]
Whitireia and WelTec, part of Te Pūkenga New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology
This organization offers a graduate diploma in publishing (applied). Students learn the publishing process by working on real books with real publishing clients. They work as a publishing team to gain skills in editing, project management, typesetting, and publicity for print and digital media. They benefit from regular industry speakers and complete two work placements in publishing companies. [New Zealand | online]