“How do I get certified as a proofreader?” You may have asked these questions several times if you’re new to proofreading. This question is one of the most common among newbies.

As a proofreader, it’s essential to note that you’re getting into one of the most competitive industries in the creative niche. Anyone that knows how to read and write can label themselves, as a proofreader, writer, and editor.

In this review, I’ve highlighted some courses that will move you from your current level of expertise to the next. 

One unique feature that’s common to all the courses below is that they’re beginner friendly and a perfect fit for anyone with a writing, editing, or proofreading background.

Summary

I recommend the Proofreading Academy’s course on “Becoming a Proofreader”

Company	Course	Price
Proofreading Academy (Knowadays)	Become a proofreader	$399
Proofread Anywhere	General Proofreading: Theory and Practice (GPTP)	$397/$497
The Publishing Training Centre	Essential Proofreading: Editorial Skills One	$405
The Chattered Institute of Editing and Proofreading	CIEP course	$120 – $527

Top Proofreading Courses for Writers and Editors 

Here are four top proofreading courses for writers and editors to take, if you are looking to improve your skills.

1. Proofreading Academy 

About the course:  The new name of the platform is Knowadays. The name change is due to the addition of new courses, which include Copywriting and Editing courses. The course Offered under the Proofreading Academy is now named Become a proofreader. 

Knowadays it is not just a training academy. The platform also offers job opportunities to outstanding students taking the Proofreading course. 

Students who pass the course with a cumulative score of 80% and above are guaranteed to work with Nowadays partner, Proofed.

Become a proofreader course features detailed training covering every aspect of proofreading. The aim is to help writers and editors successfully transition into a successful proofreading career. 

It has a 4.5 star from over 300 reviews, which attests to its quality and effectiveness.  

Course Duration: There’s no time limit to Become a proofreader course. You can take the course for as long as you want. It comes with lifetime access.

Instructors/Trainers: Knowadays.

Curriculum: Become a proofreader course broken into 15 modules. The modules include An Introduction. Proofreading And Editing training, The Basics of Microsoft Word. 

Common Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation Mistakes. Practical exposure to proofreading. Formatting with Microsoft word. Referencing and citation for academic proofreading. Landing a job as a freelance proofreader and many more.

Course Prerequisite: Becoming a proofreader course does not have any requirements. You can start at any level of experience, exposure, or expertise. However, you’ll need a computer and document-viewing software (ms word). 

Price:  $399

Money-Back Guarantee:  Knowadays do not offer refunds. Students get a free trial offer to help them decide whether or not the course is best for them.

Pros Of Become a Proofreader

• Digital certificate via email
• Lifetime access to the course including a future update
• Guaranteed work opportunity for distinction student
• One-on-one support

Cons Of Become a Proofreader

• Becoming a proofreader course is mostly text-based. This format could result in slow-paced learning. However, proofreading is about reading. A text-based course fits into the context of the industry.
• Account may be deactivated after 90 days of inactivity.
• Only the first attempt of the final assessment is covered in the fee. Resit attracts additional payment.

Our Opinion: Becoming a proofreader course is one of the best you can find especially if you’re starting from scratch or transitioning from a writing and editing career to proofreading. 

The advantage we find with this course is that it offers you hands-on experience with real-life tasks to solidify your experience. This opportunity helps you quickly build your career, portfolio, and CV. Another plus with the course is the opportunity to start working immediately. It gives you a fast track to gaining all the experience you need to land high-ticket clients.

2. Proofread Anywhere  

About the course:  Proofread anywhere offers the General Proofreading: Theory and Practice (GPTP) course. The aim is to give you a headstart in your proofreading career. 

The course focuses more on equipping students with the ability to get started as a proofreader no matter their level of experience or exposure. 

One interesting thing about proofreading anywhere is that it’s a beginner-friendly platform. The course is designed to subtly integrate newbie proofreaders into the industry.

Course Duration:  The course features a total of 80 lessons. Students have lifetime access to the course. Therefore, there’s no time frame for the period you can take to complete the course.

Instructors/Trainers: Caitlin is the course instructor. She has over a decade of experience in the industry and she’s been sharing her knowledge with students since 2014 through her blog and other digital resources. 

Her passion is to help others communicate better by providing professional writing help and support. She’s taken her passion by creating this course to equip others who are equally interested in helping improve the writing of their clients.

Curriculum: General Proofreading: Theory and Practice (GPTP) course is divided into 10 modules. Each module covers an aspect of proofreading and the business of freelancing. Topics include finding clients, running your proofreading business, Proofreading practice, punctuation, proofreading methods, etc.

Course Prerequisite: General Proofreading: Theory and Practice (GPTP) course does not require any prior knowledge, expertise, or experience.

It’s a beginner-friendly course that gives you everything you need to go from scratch to pro in 80 lessons. 

You’ll, however, need a computer and document views to practice the 50+ exercises featured within the course.

Price:  Students have two payment options. First is a $397 which grants you lifetime access to the course and course resources. The second option is $497, which provides lifetime access to the course. 

You’ll also have access to the Proofread Anywhere membership platform. The $497 payment also covers your certificate of completion and listing in the self-publishing school (SPS) Rolodex.

Money-Back Guarantee: Proofreading Anywhere does not offer a refund. You have access to several free workshops on the platform that provides you with all the information you may need. Once you decide to move forward with the course, you’re not eligible for a refund. 

Pros Of PTC

• A lifetime of over 80+ lessons
• Access to several proofreading resources
• Access to a Facebook community for proofreaders
• Access to real-life examples
• Certificate of completion

Cons Of PTC

• The certificate is not backed by any recognized body or institute

Our Opinion: This course offers beginners the best insight into proofreading. One of the best parts of this course is that it offers learners the opportunity to join a Facebook community. This benefit allows you to learn from like-minded students and experts in the industry. 

3. The Publishing Training Centre 

About the course: PTC courses target passionate individuals who want to have a hands-on learning experience in the publishing industry. Over 50 professionals worked together to create the courses featured on the platform to deliver publishing skills for students. 

There are over 50 professionals in the PTC network each contributing to the knowledge shared with students. Each instructor works in roles related to the course they take. 

It helps them bring their experience to you, making it easier for you to relate to what they share in the course. Essential Proofreading: Editorial Skills One course is one of the courses featured on the platform. 

Course Duration: Essential Proofreading: Editorial Skills One course takes a total of 50 hours. Students taking the course have access to the program for a total of 12 months (1 year). Access to the course can be extended with a $75 fee.

Instructors/Trainers: the Essential Proofreading: Editorial Skills One course features two industry experts Gillian Clarke, a professional freelance proofreader and editor with over three decades of experience in the industry. 

Margaret Aherne is also a course instructor, with over three decades of experience as a project manager, tutor, and mentor. She’s also one of the founding members of the Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP).

Course Content: The course is broken into 6 units. 

The first section shows you how to work with ms word and relates the differences between Publishing standards of proofreading and other types of proofreading. The section teaches you how to work with markup tools. 

The third and fourth section exposes you to industry-standard proofreading symbols. Final units teach you important punctuation marks and how to apply them in your proofreading.

Course Prerequisite: None. However, you’ll need access to adobe reader and Document viewer for the assignments and course materials. A basic understanding of the English language is also a plus. Also, the courses are delivered in the English language.

Price: 

£405.00  and can be paid in installments. The platform provides you the opportunity to pay in five installments.

The first installment is £99.00. Second-fourth installment is £77 and the fifth installment is £75.

The arrangement allows you to pay the first installment upon enrolment. And subsequent installments would be paid over the next four months.

Money-Back Guarantee: PTC offers a money-back guarantee to dissatisfied students who want a refund within 30 days of enrolment. However, once a student participates in any assignments before requesting a refund, the refund would be nullified.

Pros Of The Essential Proofreading: Editorial Skills One

• Ideal for a total beginner
• Covers everything there is to know from beginner to pro-level (PQB qualified proofreader)
• Course delivered by industry-recognized instructors
• The course is hosted by a reputable foundation (PTC)
• The course is self-paced and you can take it any time you want.
• 30-days money-back guaranteed
• Gives you Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) points.

Cons Of The Essential Proofreading: Editorial Skills One

• The target audience would ideally be UK participants. However, you can still take the course from anywhere in the world since the fundamentals of publishing, editing and proofreading is universal.

Our Opinion: The publishing training center (PTC) (Essential Proofreading: Editorial Skills One course) is a great option for anyone who wants to work in a corporate environment, publishing precisely. If you’re a beginner and you want to build your CV, this also helps you achieve that. Interestingly, you’ll be learning from one of the most credible institutions in the industry.

4. Essential Proofreading: Editorial Skills One  

About the course: The Chattered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) courses offer four levels of proofreading training, ranging from introduction to theses and dissertation proofreading.

Each course is designed to expose students to an aspect of proofreading. The course subdivision helps each section of the course dive deep into every detail of proofreading. The four subdivisions cover a total of 40 to 180 hours.

Course Duration:  The Chattered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) courses take anywhere from 10 hours to 45 hours. Students are allowed access to the platform total of 6 months period. The physical workshop takes place over 1 day.

Instructors/Trainers: Industry experts with a range of proofreading expertise teach the Chattered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) courses. Information about instructors is not readily available because CIEP instructors change regularly.

Course Content: CIEP Proofreading Course has subdivided into four different categories:

CIEP Proofreading 1: Introduction

CIEP Proofreading 2: Headway

CIEP Proofreading 3: Progress

CIEP Proofreading Theses and Dissertations

Each category has 6 units, except Proofreading 3: Progress, which has 8 units.

Course Prerequisite: CIEP Proofreading 1 and Proofreading two require you to have a basic understanding of the English language and proficiency with some document viewing and editing tools. Also, you may need to understand how to use basic markup tools for pdfs.

CIEP Proofreading 3 requires you to have gone through courses 1 and 2 on the platform.

 finally, CIEP proofreading Theses and Dissertations don’t come with any rigid requirements. However, to maximize the fourth course on the platform, You may need to have an in-depth understanding of proofreading concepts shared on CIEP proofreading courses 1 – 3.

Price: Prices of the CIEP course range from £120 to £527, depending on the course.

Proofreading 1: Introduction online course is priced at £120 for members and £200 for non-members. Physical workshops cost £317 for members and £527.

Proofreading 2: Headway is priced at £216 for members and £360 for non-members. The course is only available online.

Proofreading 3: Progress is priced at £216 for members and £360 for non-members. The course is only available online.

Proofreading Theses and Dissertations are priced at £120 for members and £200 for non-members. The course is only available online.

Money-Back Guarantee: CIEP does not offer refunds because students are granted access to course materials immediately after payment. Therefore, it’s best to decide ahead of this is the best course for you.

 Pros Of  CIEP

• Comes with certification
• Self-paced and readily available
• In-depth study and well-rounded
• Courses offered by reputable institutions

Cons Of CIEP

• The subdivision is slightly too much. It makes the course quite expensive overall. Taking all the courses could cost anywhere from 800 – 1000.

Our Opinion: If you are looking towards proofreading certification, The Chattered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) courses may be the only course you’ll need. It covers everything there is to learn about proofreading. 

It’s ideal for an absolute beginner who is starting from scratch.

It also works for intermediate proofreaders who want to step things up. Finally, advanced proofreaders can gain a lot from the Proofreading Theses and Dissertations course. It offers an edge in the academic writing niche. 

Are Proofreading Courses Worth It?

Yes. One way to set yourself apart in any industry is by equipping yourself with rare knowledge and certification that others can’t easily acquire. 

There are thousands of self-proclaimed experts online who may want you to believe that you can scale your proofreading career without adequate training.

One thing you must know is that starting and growing your freelance proofreading career may not be easy.

You’ll always need the help and experience of those who built successful freelance proofreading businesses. 

You’re going to face some tough times down the road and what would help you in those dark times is the kind of skills and education you’ve acquired along the way. 

To the question of whether a proofreading course is worth it or not, the answer is yes. You’ll gain much more value for your investment in these courses than the amount you pay. 

Joining the membership community is also a plus because it offers you the opportunity to be among like-minded proofreaders where you’ll gain motivation, inspiration, networking, and find answers to all your questions. 

And, if you’re a beginner without experience in the creative industry, you can start your journey with the Nowadays’ becoming a proofreader course. I found the course to be all-encompassing and highly detailed.

You’ll find all you need to succeed as a proofreader in the course. 

FAQs

What qualifications do I need to proofread?

As a corporate proofreader, you may need a bachelor’s degree in English, broadcasting, or journalism. However, freelance proofreaders don’t often need any qualifications. Most of your clients would only ask for your portfolio. 

Online courses help you build this portfolio within a short time since most of the tasks you’ll be working on are real-life proofreading projects. Again, it’s best to build a functional system of referral into your work. 

It would help you remove the need to always validate your expertise before clients decide to work with you. Referrals already prove you know how to get the job done.

How do I become an expert proofreader?

Creative work requires mastery three levels of mastery: Talent, training, and tools. While most creatives already have the talent, there is still a need to acquire adequate training and master the tools of the trade, before you can reach a pro-status. 

Using the courses recommended in this article provides you access to the training you need to step up your proofreading career. And also exposes you to the tools that make the work easy.

Another way to build expertise is by getting consistent feedback on your work. 

Some of the courses above offer access to communities of proofreaders which is an avenue to get feedback.

There are options where you have a one-on-one relationship with instructors who can help you develop your skills and take your expertise to the next level. 

Is proofreading a stable career?

Yes. Proofreading has applications in all walks of life. Everywhere writing activities takes palace, there’s always an opportunity for proofreaders. With the increase in online publications, the demand for the service of proofreaders has taken a new turn. 

Even in adjunct niches like movies and show production, there is a need for the service of a proofreader. The script is used in the production of the show and movies need to go through multiple levels of editing and proofreading to get the best results. 

Once a proofreader provides value and results to clients, there’s no limit to the opportunity available in the industry. 

What is the best proofreading service?

When it comes to proofreading, humans are far more reliable than any robot or artificial intelligence system. While robots can do a great job spotting and correcting errors, only humans can understand the context of the content. 

If a word is improperly spelled to portray some form of humor, a robot may single it out as an error but a human proofreader would understand that humor is intended. 

For the best proofreading service, you can use platforms like Papertrue, Scribendi, Get Proofed, Proofers, Cambridge proofreading, proofreading pal, Your perfect English, etc.

Conclusion

 Every top proofreader in the world today started from scratch. They developed their uniqueness after years of incessant training. 

A proven proofreading course is What you need as a beginner or intermediate proofreader looking to take your skills to the next level. 

It doesn’t just sharpen your proofreading skills, it also helps you build a formidable portfolio from the very beginning of your career. 

After several years in this field, I can easily tell you that I have an idea of what the best courses for a proofreader should look like. The courses reviewed in this article are some of the best I’ve found for all levels of proofreading expertise.