Online proofreading and editing course (level 4)

An accredited proofreading course for individuals and businesses

Proofreading course: Practical assignments | Unlimited tutor support  | Recognised qualification

This proofreading course is used and trusted by:

Course summary

Learn the editorial skills you need to proofread and edit documents on paper and on screen

Proofreading and editing course overview

See course subjects | See course reviews | News and student success stories

Our proofreading and editing course will equip you with the editorial skills you need to become a qualified proofreader and copy editor. This online proofreading course will show you how to correct printed documents and webpages, and make them readable and legally compliant.

Many leading corporations including British Gas, Lloyds Bank, Virgin Holidays, Royal Mail and American Association for Cancer Research use this practical proofreading course to train their writers. And many individuals testify that it is effective and great value for money.

Successful proofreading course graduate Tom Pritchard, who secured regular proofreading work whilst studying the course, told us he thought his tutors were “clear and supportive”. Read his review

This comprehensive online course is ideal for:

• Beginners.
• Proofreaders and copy editors who want a recognised qualification.
• People who want to start a freelance business.
• Staff training and development.
• Website and blog owners who need to check their own content.
• Writers who need to produce error-free copy.

We have a proven track record in helping our proofreading and editing learners find work, set up as successful freelancers and learn new skills to use in the workplace. See some examples below, and you can read lots more success stories, on our proofreading and editing news feed

• Proofreading course graduate works for international news site
• Ben starts business after finishing proofreading course
• CMP Proofreading and editing course attracts high profile clients

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Save 45% on this course in our Easter Sale

You can save £222.52 on this course until 22/04/19 – 11pm.

This course is completely flexible, which means you can take advantage of the sale price and begin learning when you choose – even if it’s not until later in the year.

Discount code: EASTER19 | Offer ends: 22/04/19 – 11pm (Easter Monday)

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There is an unprecedented demand for skilled proofreaders and copy editors.

Each year, companies and organisations produce millions of documents and webpages that contain errors and inaccuracies. This affects their reputations.

They need qualified proofreaders and copy editors to work on:

• Reports, letters, and business documents.
• Webpages.
• Books.
• Commercial copy and brochures.
• Newspapers and magazines.

Our proofreading course covers all these areas and others. See course subjects

You will study in our Online Learning Area, which is accessible from a computer or a mobile app. This means the course is flexible, and gives you the chance to tackle practical, real-world proofreading and editing tasks at home, at work or on the go.

You will also benefit from unlimited tutor support every step of the way, including personalised feedback on every assignment.

Successful proofreading course graduate Peter Fullagar told us “The tutor support makes the course outstanding. Excellent feedback given in a timely manner. The course content went beyond what I was expecting.” Read his review

As a proofreader and copy editor, you could be:

• Raising the quality of your organisation’s content.
• Working in a specialised area, such as legal or academic publishing.
• Running a freelance business.

If you have a keen eye for detail, becoming a proofreader and copy editor is a great way to earn good money.

 

Proofreading course subjects

This vocational course covers every aspect of proofreading and editing. Each lesson includes a practical assignment, based on real-world proofreading and editing.

Every assignment is personally marked and graded by your tutor, so you’ll receive expert feedback on your progress.

Our comprehensive proofreading and editing course will teach you how to:

• Proofread and copy edit documents, either in print or onscreen.
• Apply style guides and BSI proofreading symbols.
• Make written content easier to read.
• Set up a freelance business and find paid work.

You can join the Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP) as an entry level member.

Proofreading course accreditation and quality

We comply with the very highest external standards. We are:

• Registered by the UK government.
• Accredited by four recognised organisations
• Quality-checked by ABC Awards.

Each organisation has its own standards, code of practice and complaints procedure, so you can enrol with complete confidence.

Proofreading course qualifications

Our proofreading and editing course has been independently endorsed under the ABC Awards and Certa Awards Quality Licence Scheme, which is regulated by Ofqual. So, when you finish, you will receive the ABC Awards and Certa Awards level 4 diploma in proofreading and editing course, and a learner unit summary. This lists the subjects you have studied.

The ABC Awards and Certa Awards diploma guarantees that you have been assessed at level 4 standards, and are competent to practise. ABC Awards and Certa Awards are leading national awarding bodies that are both regulated by Ofqual.

In addition, you will receive the fully accredited CMP diploma in proofreading and editing, which is recognised in the UK and beyond. It proves you are a qualified proofreader and copy editor.

These awards will equip you to apply for proofreading and editing jobs, learn new skills to use at work or find freelance work.

 

Proofreading course tutors

We have two tutors on our proofreading and editing course. Rachel Finnegan and Julian Brouwer are both professional proofreaders and copy editors.

They will provide you with personal feedback on every assignment, answer your questions and give you expert careers guidance, so you get the very best out of the course.

Proofreading course tutor 1: Rachel Finnegan

Freelance editor | proofreader

Rachel is a member of the Association of Freelance Editors, Proofreaders and Indexers of Ireland (AFEPI). She is often praised by our proofreading course learners, for her friendly, approachable and encouraging manner.

She runs her own proofreading and editing business, Irish Academic Editing. Her skills include proofreading, copy editing, substantive editing, editorial training, and academic writing.

She was an academic administrator for three years and a lecturer in arts and humanities for 20 years; and is the author of six academic books (five published and one currently with a publisher) and numerous journal articles in the area of classics and the history of 18th-century travel and collecting.

Find out more

Proofreading course tutor 2: Julian Brouwer

Proofreader | freelance journalist

Julian Brouwer worked as a proofreader for a group of newspapers and a host of other London-based organisations. So, he is used to finding errors that even eagle-eyed subeditors miss.

He still works as a proofreader, and runs a successful news agency Manhattan News, which supplies US-based news and features to national papers in the UK. He used to have his own column in the Daily Express.

He is often praised by our proofreading course learners, for his good-humoured and encouraging manner.

Find out more

Proofreading course payment options

This proofreading course costs £494.50 including VAT. This is all you pay. There are no hidden charges, and we have a range of payment methods, so you can purchase your course wherever you live.

You can either pay the fee in full, or with four monthly instalments of £123.62 including VAT.

What happens when I enrol on the proofreading course?

There are no set enrolment dates. You can begin studying this proofreading course when you want to.

Once you have completed your enrolment form and paid your fee, you will receive a login to our Online Learning Area.

There, you will find your learning materials and other resources. You can start studying when you want to.

Proofreading course subjects

This comprehensive proofreading course covers every aspect of proofreading and copy editing. Each lesson includes a practical assignment which is based on the real world of proofreading. All proofreading course assignments are personally marked and graded by your tutor, so you’ll be receiving expert feedback at each stage of the course.

Lesson 01: The basics

• What the proofreader does.
• The proofreader’s personal qualities.
• Proofreading terminology.
• The publishing process.

Lesson 02: Applying style

• What a style guide is used for.
• How to use a style guide.
• Apply style to a range of copy.

Lesson 03: Spelling and grammar

• Where to find reliable spelling and grammar facilities.
• Spotting and correcting spelling and grammar errors.

Lesson 04: Proofreading on paper

• Proofreading on paper symbols.
• Proofreading methods and techniques.
• Marking up copy clearly and accurately.

Lesson 05: Proofreading onscreen

• Onscreen proofreading symbols.
• Methods and techniques for onscreen proofreading.
• Marking up copy clearly and accurately.

Lesson 06: Copy-editing basics

• What a copy editor does.
• Levels of editing.
• The client’s brief.
• Editing with the reader in mind.

Lesson 07: Copy editing – use of language

• Learn summarising techniques.
• Edit for fluent, plain and simple copy.
• Edit to remove inappropriate material.
• Edit copy for multicultural audiences.

Lesson 08: Checking accuracy and facts

• Analyse words and phrases for accurate meaning.
• Identify and correct factual errors.

Lesson 09: An introduction to academic editing

• Edit front and back matter such as footnotes, title pages, contents pages, appendices, references and indexes.

Lesson 10: Legal checks

• Explain the basics of key publishing laws: copyright, defamation, data protection, privacy and contempt of court.
• Apply publishing laws to a range of exercises.

Lesson 11: Finding work

• How to find proofreading and editing work.
• How to build your own business.

On successful completion of this proofreading course, you’ll be sent your qualification. Scroll to the ‘qualifications’ section to find out more.

Proofreading course FAQs

Questions	Answers
Is this proofreading course accredited?	Yes. The course is externally accredited by 4 recognised organisations. It is also quality endorsed by ABC and Certa Awards.
How long will the course take?	This proofreading and editing course is flexible which means you can fit it around your lifestyle. On average, our learners who commit 4 hours per week to their studies, will usually complete it within 4 months.
Can I take time out?	Yes, many of our learners take breaks from their studies, and continue from where they left off.
What qualification will I receive?	You'll receive the Level 4 diploma in Proofreading and editing. This qualification is sent by ABC awards and Certa Awards, who are both nationally recognised, Ofqual regulated awarding bodies.
Can I study this proofreading course if I don't live in the UK?	Yes, this course isn't just restricted to people in the UK. We have learners from all over Europe, and in America, Australia, Canada, India, South Africa, New Zealand and many others. This course is internationally accredited, which means you can enrol with confidence no matter which country you live in.
Do you send the qualifications overseas?	Yes. There are no additional charges for this.
Can I apply for a job with the qualification?	Yes, many of our learners use the qualification on their CV to apply for jobs.
Will this course show me how to get started as a freelancer?	Yes. We offer full support after the course, and give each learner expert advice on starting as a freelance proofreader. This includes advice on which rates to charge, which agencies to join and how to market yourself in the correct way in order to attract clients. We have lots of free resources in the Online Learning Area which are geared to helping you establish yourself as a freelance.
Can this course be used for staff training?	Yes. Many organisations, including British Gas, Lloyds Bank, BT, the NHS, TNT Magazine and Virgin Media, use this accredited proofreading course to train their staff. Because the course is flexible, you can fit it around your work commitments and apply your new proofreading and editing skills to your job as you learn them. You will also have lifetime access to the materials, so you can refer back to them later if you need to.
How many tutor marked assignments are there?	There are 11 lessons on this course, and 10 of them come with tutor marked assignments. Our tutors are often praised for the level of detail they go into when marking our learner's assignments.
Can I resubmit assignments if I fail?	Yes. If you fail an assignment, your tutor will point out where you went wrong, and will give you constructive feedback which should help you achieve a pass grade when you resubmit.
How much tutor time do I get?	This is one of the only online proofreading courses that offers unlimited tutor support. This means you can contact your tutor with questions at any point during the course, and they will usually reply the same working day. This support also includes expert careers advice, help looking for work, help with CV's and covering letters, and much more!
Can my employer pay for this course for me?	Yes, on the second page of the enrolment form, please select 'invoice to employer'. When your form reaches us, our finance team will send the invoice - usually the same working day.
Will I have to start straight away?	No. Because the course is flexible, you can purchase it and begin studying whenever you are ready. Lots of our learner's take advantage of offers and discounts, but begin studying the course weeks or even months later.
Can I pay for this course monthly?	Yes. The payment plan for this course is 4 monthly instalments of £123.62. Unfortunately monthly instalments cannot be used with a discount or promotional offer.
When can I enrol?	You can enrol on our proofreading course 365 days a year. Upon enrolment, you'll receive your login details and enrolment pack, which means you can get started immediately... if you want to.

Why you’ll benefit from studying with us