Top 3 Proofreading Courses Online (2022): An In-Depth Comparison – Om Proofreading

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After I decided that I wanted to become a proofreader, I began to do extensive research to find the best proofreading courses online. I wanted to take a reputable and comprehensive class that would teach me everything I needed to know to become a professional proofreader.

I was also looking for a course that gave me the chance to earn a certificate if I passed the final exam. Having something to show for my newly acquired skills was important to me since I figured it would help me find clients when I started to work.

All the proofreading courses in this post are well respected and offer training that will adequately prepare you to be a proofreader. If you have any doubts about taking a proofreading class, I wrote a post about whether proofreading courses are worth it.

The top three proofreading courses online are the General Proofreading: Theory and Practice™ course by Proofread Anywhere, Essential Proofreading: Editorial Skills One by The Publishing Training Centre, and a series of three courses by The Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading.

UPDATE: Since writing this article, I’ve continued researching the best proofreading courses available to ensure this post stays up to date.

I now consider the Becoming a Proofreader class, offered by Proofreading Academy (now called Knowadays), one of the top online proofreading courses.

Initially, I didn’t consider it among the best because it wasn’t as well known, and I was skeptical that such an inexpensive program could provide adequate training for aspiring proofreaders. (It used to cost $295 and now costs $399.)

However, students continue to post positive reviews for this course on Trustpilot, many praising the training for being so comprehensive. Also, Proofreading Academy is steadily gaining more recognition as it continues to enjoy an excellent reputation.

I’m glad that I now feel comfortable recommending this course. I’ve updated this article to include the Becoming a Proofreader course as “The Best Budget Option.”

A Word of Caution about Low-Cost Proofreading Classes

Speaking of “budget options,” if you want to receive all the training you need from just one course, I would caution you against taking a class that costs considerably less than the courses mentioned in this post.

As someone who works as a proofreader and has completed the Proofread Anywhere course (my certificate is on this page), I do not think that a class costing around $100 could possibly provide you with enough training to compete with well-trained proofreaders.

I would encourage you to find successful proofreaders in the industry and ask them for their opinion about this! I think you will find that adequate training is necessary to succeed in this field.

I would recommend low-cost proofreading classes from places like Udemy for proofreaders who want to brush up on their skills or those who are unsure if proofreading is the right fit for them. If you take one of those courses and don’t enjoy it, proofreading is probably not for you.

Considering the rates that qualified proofreaders charge, it’s illogical to think you’d be able to command those rates after taking a relatively inexpensive course that takes far less time to complete than a course that provides you with sufficient training.

Also, having a strong command of the English language isn’t the only thing you need to be successful in the field.

You’ll need to know how to navigate at least one major style guide (e.g., The Chicago Manual of Style) and how to mark up your client’s texts.

Finally, you’ll want to be able to practice what you’ve learned by proofreading lots of real-life example texts and getting some kind of feedback on your work.

The courses I suggest below cover all of this info and provide sufficient proofreading practice, which is why they’re more expensive than other classes.

However, they will adequately prepare you to become a proofreader.

As we know, we get what we pay for.

The Top Three Proofreading Courses Online

Both professional editorial organizations and independent companies offer proofreading courses, but their approach to giving out certificates varies.

As we know, in the publishing industry (just like any industry), there are some well-respected institutions and some that are relatively unknown. Of course, a certificate from a reputable institution will be far more valuable in terms of lending credibility to your skills.

The top three organizations I’ve listed in this post are big names in the publishing industry.

Proofread Anywhere is the newest of the three, but it’s seen impressive growth over the past several years. It’s also the company I chose for my proofreading training, and I couldn’t be happier with my decision!

I landed my first client just three weeks after completing the course. I was then able to build up a strong base of clients.

Proofreading Courses Offered by Editorial Organizations

In researching this post, I was surprised by how difficult it was to find a professional editorial organization that offered an in-depth online training course for proofreading only.

I found a few editing courses that teach proofreading as one of the editorial steps. I also found numerous stand-alone copyediting courses. However, finding a stand-alone proofreading course was quite a challenge. I felt like it was my turn to seek in a game of hide-and-go-seek with a baby ant.

In researching seventeen editorial organizations across four countries—Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US—I found several conferences, lectures, seminars, webinars, workshops, and day courses dedicated solely to proofreading.

Although by themselves, they don’t provide sufficient training.

I’ve included the best option I found from an editorial organization in this post. It’s a series of three proofreading courses offered by The Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading.

Proofreading Courses Offered by Independent Companies

On the other hand, finding courses offered by independent companies for proofreading only was relatively easy.

This felt like I was playing hide-and-go-seek with a toddler who hides one half of their body but leaves the other half hanging out. How adorable!

However, these courses vary widely in the depth of training provided and the reputation of the companies offering them. I’ve included two classes that provide comprehensive training and are offered by well-known and well-respected businesses in the proofreading world: Proofread Anywhere and The Publishing Training Centre.

A Note about US vs. UK English

Please keep in mind that you’ll learn to proofread primarily in American or British English, depending on where each course is based. Variations in spelling, punctuation, grammar, and vocabulary exist between US and UK English.

However, I know from experience that the Proofread Anywhere course (based on US English) includes a couple of excellent resources for learning about the main differences between US and UK English.

I don’t think you’ll find it difficult to learn these differences. After all, you don’t need to memorize them; you just need to be aware they exist and know where to find the info you need. 

Therefore, when considering a course, I wouldn’t place too much emphasis on whether it’s taught in US or UK English. 

Now that we’ve discussed a few details about the organizations listed in this post, I’m going to provide you with two tables so you can quickly compare the courses side by side. Then, I’ll give you a thorough outline of each course. I hope you find this to be a helpful resource! ? 

Cost Comparison of Proofreading Courses

Name of Company
Name of Course
Price

Proofread Anywhere

General Proofreading: Theory and Practice™ *
$497 for Ignite version / $597 for Ignite Plus version

The Publishing Training Centre (PTC)

Essential Proofreading: Editorial Skills One
£405 (roughly $480)

The Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP)

It’s a series of three classes:

Proofreading 1

: Introduction

Proofreading 2

: Headway

Proofreading 3

: Progress
£920 (roughly $1,085)

Proofreading Academy

Becoming a Proofreader
$399

* Proofread Anywhere offers a $100 scholarship for either version of the course to anyone who watches the free webinar (more on this below).

Summary of Main Differences between Proofreading Courses

Company
Price
Certificate
Given
Special Course Features

Proofread Anywhere

$$
see*
training in building a business and marketing

PTC

$$
yes
training in building a business and marketing

CIEP

$$$
yes
—

Proofreading Academy

$
yes
work guarantee if you make the grade

*You earn a certificate from Proofread Anywhere if you purchase the Ignite Plus version of the course and score 90% or above on the final exam.

The Three Best Online Proofreading Courses

1) Proofread Anywhere

As I mentioned before, this is the course I took for proofreading training, and I would choose it again without hesitation. I believe this program offers the best value for the money.

• Course Offered: General Proofreading: Theory and Practice™ (you choose the Ignite or Ignite Plus version)

• Where Course Is Based

  : USA (course taught in American English)

Note: The Ignite Plus course includes everything in the Ignite course, including a final exam (graded by hand). If you pass the exam with a score of 90% or higher, you will receive the following:

• Cost: General Proofreading: Theory and Practice™ (Ignite): $497 OR General Proofreading: Theory and Practice™ (Ignite Plus): $597

• a certificate of completion
• listing in the Self-Publishing School Preferred Outsourcer Rolodex
• membership in a Facebook marketing mastermind group designed for general proofreading students with verified skills   

• Required Texts: 17th Edition of The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) and Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (11th Edition) are the recommended texts. 

• Prerequisite

  s

  : None. However, they recommend you have a good eye for detail.

• Grade Given: Yes, if you purchase the Ignite Plus version of the course

• Certificate of Completion: Yes, if you buy the Ignite Plus version of the program and pass the final exam with a score of 90% or higher, you will receive a certificate of completion.

The certificate does acknowledge that you passed the final exam with a grade of 90% or above. 

• Duration: Self-paced; course takes roughly one month to complete

• Access

  : Lifetime (includes any updates). You also have lifetime access to a Facebook support group.

• Who it is for: Those who wish to create their own freelance business doing general proofreading

• Course Creator: Caitlin Pyle; she has extensive experience in general proofreading and transcript proofreading

• Instructor Feedback: Yes. Currently, the course has a team member who is quite active in the private Facebook support group. Also, since this group has been around for a long time, you can search the discussions to find answers to almost any questions you would have while taking the course.

If you have a query that hasn’t been answered, one of your peers, a Proofread Anywhere graduate, or a staff member will offer prompt support. It’s a highly active group!

If you need more individualized attention, you can purchase tutoring sessions. They cost $50 per 30-minute session. I bought one and found it helpful. 

• Course Content

  : 11 modules (all lessons within each module contain a summary), worksheets, quizzes, and 40 real-life example jobs

• Additional Notes: This course comes with the following resource guides, designed to assist you with your new freelance proofreading business:

• The Work-at-Home Survival Guide
• Look Better in Writing™ Handbook of Commonly Misused (and Abused!) Words
• The Ultimate Freelancer Tax Guide
• The Mindset Mastery Guide

A Money Mindset Transformation workshop (and workbook) is also included. One of the modules in this course teaches you how to create a proofreading business, and another teaches you how to find clients. I found those two modules quite valuable!

Finally, after you finish the General Proofreading course, you’ll receive access to the first level of Caitlin’s original online course, Transcript Proofreading: Theory and Practice™.

If you’d like more info about this course and creating a profitable freelance proofreading business, you can sign up for this free 76-minute workshop.

Caitlin will tell you about five signs proofreading could be a good fit for you, how proofreading can help you attain financial security, and how to attract your ideal proofreading clients.

At the end of the webinar, Caitlin will gift you a copy of her book, The Work-at-Home Survival Guide.

You’ll also receive a $100 scholarship for either version of the course. But you’ll have to use the scholarship within one hour of completing the workshop.

Here’s a short video from a student who completed the Proofread Anywhere course and now proofreads full time:

If you’d like to learn more about this class, I wrote an in-depth article about why Proofread Anywhere is well worth the money.

The Pros and Cons of the Proofread Anywhere Course

Pros of Proofread Anywhere

• only course that teaches you how to use a specific style guide (CMOS)
• lifetime access to course materials and a supportive Facebook group where you can get answers to any questions you have throughout the course
• training to build an online business and market yourself
• lots of valuable bonus materials provided

Cons of Proofread Anywhere

• company not as well-established in the publishing industry (compared to the CIEP & PTC)
• only some training in grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc.
• no refund once you’ve signed up for the course

Key Takeaway for “The Most Well-Rounded Program”

Take this class if you want to learn how to build an online business and market yourself, know how to navigate a specific style guide, and want lifetime access to a peer support group.

2) The Publishing Training Centre

• Course Offered: Essential Proofreading: Editorial Skills One

• Where Course Is Based

  : UK (course taught in British English)

• Cost: £405

• Required Text: None listed. But you need to have Microsoft Word (2010 or later) and Adobe Reader XI or DC (free version) to work through the course.

• Prerequisite

  s

  : None. However, they strongly recommend taking their Essential Grammar class (available for £35 with your purchase of the Essential Proofreading course). They also recommend that you are a detail-oriented person who can concentrate at length. You should have a firm grasp of conversational English and grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Finally, they suggest that you have broad general knowledge and are eager to learn.

• Grade Given: Yes, please see the next bullet point.

• Certificate of Completion: Yes, you receive a certificate of completion from The Publications Qualification Board. The certificate indicates a grade of “pass,” “merit,” or “distinction.”

• Duration: Self-paced; course takes at least 50 hours to finish

• Access

  : 12 months; you can study for another 12 months if you pay a re-registration fee of £75

• Who it is for: Anyone who wants to become a freelance proofreader

• Course Creators: Gillian Clarke—a founder member and honorary member of The Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP), now The Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP);

  Margaret

  Aherne

  —a founder member of the SfEP

   

• Instructor Feedback: Each student is assigned a tutor who offers support throughout the course and up to three months after completing the course. The tutor will grade and provide feedback on five assignments. 

• Course Content

  : 6 units; study notes, exercises, and assignments provided (including real-life example jobs)

• Additional Notes: Upon enrollment in Essential Proofreading, you can take

  two

  of the following e-Learning modules for free:

  • A Copy-Editor’s Guide to Working with Authors
  • Adobe Tools for Editors
  • Introduction to Marketing
  • Introduction to Publishing 

After completing the Essential Proofreading course, they’ll send you a free training manual (Successful Editorial Freelancing) to help you plan and progress in your new career.

Finally, you’ll be listed in The Publishing Training Centre’s Freelance Finder, where publishers can go to find a highly qualified proofreader.

The Pros and Cons of the Publishing Training Centre Course

Pros of the Publishing Training Centre

• training from a very well-established and reputable company
• both course creators have worked in the industry for 35+ years
• a personal tutor to support you throughout the course
• free training manual to help you start a successful career

Cons of the Publishing Training Centre

• no training in grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc.
• course teaches how to mark up on paper with British Standards Institution symbols (a skill you may never use)
• basic user interface

Key Takeaway for “The Program with the Personal Tutor”

Take this class if you aspire to work at a publishing company, want the guidance of a personal tutor throughout the course, and want training from a well-known name in the publishing industry.

3) The Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading

Note: The Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) was formerly known as The Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP). The SfEP became the CIEP on March 1, 2020.

• Course Offered: They recommend a series of three classes. 

            1) Proofreading 1: Introduction (I’ll call it P1.)

*This course is not enough training to start working as a proofreader.

            2) Proofreading 2: Headway (I’ll call it P2.)

*This course provides enough training to start working on short, uncomplicated documents.

            3) Proofreading 3: Progress (I’ll call it P3.)

*This course gives you the skills to work on a full range of documents.  

• Where Course Is Based

  : UK (course taught in British English)

• Cost:

P1: £200 / CIEP Members: £120

P2: £360 / CIEP Members: £216

P3: £360 / CIEP Members: £216

• Required Text: None listed

• Prerequisite

  s

  :

P1: Good grasp of English grammar, wide range of general knowledge, familiarity with MS Word and Adobe Acrobat Reader DC                            

P2: Prerequisites for P1 and an understanding of proofreading basics as taught in P1

P3: Prerequisites for P1 and an understanding of proofreading basics as taught in P1 and P2

• Grade Given:

P1: No

P2: Yes, please see the next bullet point.

P3: Yes, please see the next bullet point.

• Certificate of Completion Given:

P1: Yes

P2: Yes, you’ll receive a certificate of completion if you complete (but do not pass) the course. If you pass the course, you’ll receive a certificate showing you have passed either with “merit” or “distinction.” Your performance on the final assignment determines the degree to which you pass.

P3: Yes, in the same manner as in the P2 course.

• Duration: Self-paced; the three courses combined take at least 50 hours to complete

• Access

  : six months per course

• Who it is for:

P1: Beginners who are thinking about becoming proofreaders

P2: Those with some proofreading knowledge and experience who want to know more (they strongly recommend taking P1 before taking this course)

P3: Those who have a solid foundation in proofreading and are ready to advance to the next level (they highly recommend taking P1 and P2 before taking this course); also for proofreaders coming back to the profession after a break

• Course Creator: The CIEP 

• Instructor Feedback: A tutor is available for one hour of support per course. The tutor will answer questions you have throughout the course. You can purchase additional tutoring for £35 per hour.

P1: Tutor does not grade any of your work

P2: Tutor grades and provides feedback on three assignments (the third assignment is the final assignment)

P3: Tutor grades and provides feedback on three assignments as well as the final assignment

• Course Content

  :

P1: 6 units; study notes, exercises, and assignments provided

P2: 6 units; study notes, exercises, and assignments provided (including real-life example jobs)

P3: 8 units; study notes, exercises, and assignments provided (including real-life example jobs)

Here’s a brief, informative video about proofreading training with the CIEP:

The Pros and Cons of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading Courses

Pros of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading

• training from a highly prestigious editorial organization
• courses created by a recognized authority in English proofreading and editing
• an incredibly comprehensive training program (if you take all three courses in the series)
• P1 course can be taken alone to see if proofreading is a good fit for you; P2 and P3 classes are suitable for proofreaders who already have experience and meet the prerequisites

Cons of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading

• quite expensive and no training in grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc.
• courses teach you how to mark up on paper with British Standards Institution symbols (a skill you may never use)
• no training on how to set up a business and market yourself

Key Takeaway for “The Most Prestigious Program”

Take these classes if you aspire to work at a publishing company, want training from a prestigious name in the publishing industry, and have a big bank account.

The Best Budget Option

Knowadays (Proofreading Academy)

Note: As of February 2022, Proofreading Academy is now called Knowadays. It’s the same excellent program as before.

• Course Offered: Becoming a Proofreader

• Where Course Is Based

  : UK (course taught in British English)

• Cost: $399

• Required Text: None listed. But you need to have Microsoft Word (2016 or later) to work through the course. 

• Prerequisite

  s

  : None

• Grade Given: Yes, you’ll receive an overall grade for the two proofreading tests and one formatting test that you take at the end of the course.

• Certificate of Completion: Yes, all students receive a certificate at the end of the course.

• Duration: Self-paced; course takes at least 50 hours to finish

• Access

  : Lifetime (includes any updates)

• Who it is for: Anyone who wants to become a freelance proofreader

• Course Creators: A team of proofreading and editing experts from Proofed—a reputable online proofreading and editing company

• Instructor Feedback: You can email tutors with questions throughout the course and schedule a tutor support call for free if something is still unclear. Tutors also provide comprehensive feedback on the final assignment.

• Course Content

  : 13 modules; reading material, brief tutorial videos, quizzes, assignments (including real-life example jobs)

• Additional Notes: Guaranteed work at Proofreading Academy’s partner company, Proofed, is provided to those who pass the final assessment with a grade of 80% or above.

If you qualify to freelance with Proofed, you’ll have access to their internal job board, where they post the proofreading work available each day. You’ll also receive an invite to Proofreading Academy’s LinkedIn group of professional proofreaders.

If you’d like to get a feel for how the course is designed, you can try the course for free here. I had fun with the free trial. At the end, you’re given a self-checking quiz and a short text to practice proofreading.

I wrote a comprehensive post about Knowadays if you’d like more info.

The Pros and Cons of the Proofreading Academy Course

Pros of Proofreading Academy

• only course that offers guaranteed work to those who qualify
• most inexpensive course available that teaches you everything you need to know to work as a professional proofreader
• training in grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc.
• supportive staff to answer questions you have throughout the course

Cons of Proofreading Academy

• company not as well-established in the publishing industry (compared to the CIEP & PTC)
• no training on how to set up a business and market yourself
• competition for jobs at Proofed will eventually increase as more people qualify for the guaranteed work offer (this is still a long way off)

Key Takeaway for “The Program with the Work Guarantee”

Take this class if you want more guidance with grammar, punctuation, and spelling, the chance to qualify for a work guarantee appeals to you, and you want ample support from staff.

Note: Knowadays and Proofread Anywhere have quickly become the two most popular courses for aspiring proofreaders. If you’d like to know which one makes the most sense for you, head over to my detailed article about the pros and cons of these two proofreading classes.

The post compares these classes on a number of criteria so you can determine which one best meets your needs as a learner.

An Honorable Mention

I’d like to make you aware of one other well-known editorial organization in the United States that deserves mention: The Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA).

The EFA offers online stand-alone proofreading courses throughout the year. Past proofreading courses they’ve provided include Proofreading: The Basics, Proofreading 101, and Proofreading 201.

These courses require advance registration and only have a limited number of “seats.” Furthermore, they only offer specific courses at certain times during the year.

If you want comprehensive training, you’ll probably need to take more than one of these classes; however, getting them to line up with each other will likely be challenging.

You can go to the EFA website to see which classes they’re currently offering.

Students who take these courses do not receive a certificate. However, the EFA states that the student can contact an individual instructor who can verify the student’s participation in a class by writing a letter.

I hope this post helped shed some light on excellent options for online proofreading courses.

In case you’re curious, I wrote a post about whether it’s possible to become a certified proofreader.

I wish you good luck pursuing your goals, whatever those may be!

Best wishes to you! 

“What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.”

– Henry David Thoreau