Essential Proofreading: Editorial Skills One

Student feedback

“My objective was to gain a recognised qualification in proofreading to pursue a career change. The course was excellent and has given me the confidence to make this feasible.” Audrey, Morpeth, Northumberland, UK

"An excellent course. I have a better understanding of professional-level proofreading, a stronger grasp of punctuation/grammar and improved judgement with regard to editorial decision-making. I also know how to use a range of tools to mark up proofs and feel far more confident with the BSI symbols." Darren, Gravesend, UK

"The course was packed with the information needed to be a freelancer, including practise exercises to help develop my editing skills, and my tutor was generous with feedback. Since completing the course, I’ve proofread several books for publishers." Taliha Quadri, Freelance Proofreader, Luton, UK

“The course was excellent! I can now interpret and work to a brief, am more knowledgeable on working with PDFs, can fully understand the BSI symbols (both on paper and onscreen), and recognize the distinction between 'proofreading' and 'proof-editing'. I feel confident in approaching educational publishers and that I can fulfill their expectations of a proofreader.” Sheila, Happy Valley, Hong Kong

“I acquired a vast amount of knowledge about proofreading, working techniques and the publishing process. The exercises and model answers were really useful, the assignments clear and the assessed skills were covered in each module. My tutor responded quickly and helpfully to questions. I now have a thorough understanding of how to proofread and mark up a variety of texts in MS word and Adobe PDF formats, and a good working knowledge of the BSI symbols.” Lucy Ann Pope, Bournemouth, UK

“I learned a lot and the course was exactly what I was looking for – an update of my skills, having been absent from the publishing industry for a long time. Thank you for your courtesy and expertise throughout the course.” Anne, County Cork, Republic of Ireland

What's included?

Personal tutor

Each student is assigned their own tutor, an experienced proofreader, who provides support throughout the course and for up to three months after completion.

Course materials and access to online learning platform

There are six learning modules, all of which contain self-check exercises. Four modules also contain a longer assignment that you will submit to your personal tutor for marking and commentary.

You’ll have full access to the PTC's online learning platform, through which all course materials are accessed. Downloadable materials mean you can practise your new skills as many times as you need, to feel confident that you have mastered them.

Please note, you will need Adobe Reader DC (free version) and Microsoft Word (2010 or later) in order to complete the coursework.

Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) points

Passing this course is worth between 10 and 20 points towards upgrading your CIEP membership.

How to enrol and pay

Payment options

Essential Proofreading is on special offer at £395. You can pay for the course in three instalments:

• Instalment 1: £135
• Instalment 2: £130
• Instalment 3: £130

The first instalment is payable at the point of enrolment. 

The next two instalments will be collected between the 20th and the last day of the month, for the next two months.

To enrol, you need to click on the ‘Add to Cart’ button on this page. You will be asked to register (if you have not already done so) and, at that point, will be able to pay immediately by credit/debit card. 

Money-back guarantee

If, within 30 days of buying the course (and before any assignments have been sent to your tutor for marking), you decide that the course is not for you, simply let us know and we will issue a full refund. Note that access to the learning platform will cease once your refund is confirmed.

Course completion

You must complete the course within 12 months of enrolment. If you wish to continue the course beyond this period, you can study for a further 12 months following payment of a £75 re-registration fee. Any further extensions are at the discretion of The Publishing Training Centre.

For more information please see our Self-Study FAQs.

Please read our Terms & Conditions.

To purchase this course, please add it to your cart via the link at the top of the page.

About the authors

Gillian Clarke has been a freelance proofreader and editor since 1975. She is a founder member and honorary member of the Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP), now the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), and was responsible for setting up its training programme. 

Margaret Aherne has worked since 1986 as a proofreader, copy-editor, project manager and tutor/mentor for a wide range of publishing clients, as well as for bodies such as the Audit Commission. She is a founder member of the Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP), now the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), and is a mentor in proofreading and copy-editing on the SfEP’s mentoring scheme.

Related courses

The PTC offers virtual classroom courses, self-study distance-learning courses, and a range of e-learning modules. See below for those that complement or build on this course.  

Virtual classroom courses

• Copyright - the basics
• Grammar and punctuation - the basics
• Introduction to Editorial Skills
• Line-editing workshop
• Progress in Editorial Skills
• Proofreading PDFs

Distance-learning courses

• Essential Copy-editing  
• Essential Grammar
• Successful Editorial Freelancing

e-Learning modules

• A comprehensive guide to copy-editing
• Proofreading PDFs: A complete guide for editors