Background/Foundational Concepts

• Why does EAC's certification program include credential maintenance?
• Who designed the credential maintenance program and why was this format chosen?
• Why are editors who were certified before 2012 not required to maintain their certification? What if they want to participate in credential maintenance?
• Why is there an annual fee? I've already paid to write the certification tests.
• Editing doesn't change that much; why do I have to prove my skills are "up to date"?
• I don't have time to do credential maintenance—my schedule is overfull as it is. Does this mean I shouldn't bother pursuing certification?

How It Works

• Why do I have to earn points in at least three different categories to maintain my credential(s)?
• I don't live near a city—how can I maintain my credential if I can't attend seminars?
• I've taken just about all the courses there are at my level. How can I stay certified?
• What happens if I don't get 100 points in the five-year period?
• Do I have to send in proof of all my professional development activities?
• At the end of the five-year period, will I receive something as confirmation of credential maintenance?
• I was ill for a long period and was unable to work or study to earn maintenance points. Will I lose my certification?
• Can I submit my credential maintenance reporting form before the end of my five-year reporting period if I have earned 100 points?

What's Included

• What kind of activities qualify?
• What constitutes an "editing-related" activity?
• What kind of activities don't qualify?
• Why don't all EAC volunteer activities qualify?
• Why does working as an editor qualify as professional development?

Background/Foundational Concepts

Why does EAC's certification program include credential maintenance?

Credential maintenance is part of professional certification programs offered by many professional associations, such as American Translators Association, the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, and the Project Management Institute.

In Setting the Standard: Accepted Principles and Recommended Practices for National Occupational Standards, Certification Programs, and Accreditation Programs, the Alliance of Sector Councils (TASC) recommends that "the certification body should develop procedures and requirements for periodic recertification of certified individuals…." TASC says, "recertification may require evidence of continued employment in the certified occupation, evidence of continued education/training hours, and/or administration of an assessment instrument specifically designed for recertification." (p. 22).

Credential maintenance adds value to your credentials and to the EAC certification program by

• assuring employers and clients that EAC-certified editors are keeping their skills and knowledge up-to-date editing skills and knowledge supporting your skills and knowledge through your professional development
• encouraging certified editors to contribute to the editing community by sharing knowledge and skills

Who designed the credential maintenance program and why was this format chosen?

EAC's certification program was developed over many years, and always included provisions for credential maintenance.  A number of certification committees and subcommittees have contributed to building a framework for the credential maintenance program. The current format was approved by EAC's National Executive Council in 2011.

The format of the credential maintenance program was chosen because it includes activities that most conscientious editors would agree are essential to doing their best work and that many are already doing—learning, teaching, working, volunteering. We wanted a program that acknowledged the contribution of these activities to the maintenance and building of editing skills and that did not put an extra burden on already-busy professionals.

EAC's credential maintenance program is similar to those of other organizations, such as the American Translators Association, the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, and the Project Management Institute.

Why are editors who were certified before 2012 not required to maintain their certification? What if they want to participate in credential maintenance?

Because editors who were certified before 2012 participated in a certification program that did not at that time include credential maintenance, it is not fair to now require them to fulfil these requirements—it's not what they agreed to when they chose to pursue certification. Since credential maintenance adds value to EAC's certifications, editors certified before 2012 are encouraged to participate in credential maintenance, and many have already indicated that they will.

Why is there an annual fee? I've already paid to write the certification tests.

The annual administration fee covers the costs of tracking, auditing and notifying certified editors about credential maintenance requirements. The annual fee is $25 for EAC members ($100 for non-members) and remains the same regardless of the number of credentials you earn. It is collected annually so that EAC can maintain contact with certified editors and support them in their pursuit of professional development opportunities.

Editing doesn't change that much; why do I have to prove my skills are "up to date"?

Editing may not undergo drastic changes, but things do change. If an editor hasn't worked in editing in many years, they may not be aware of the latest features of commonly used editing software or of the current state of the gradual but constant shift in language usage or of trends in publishing, and therefore will not be as able to advise a client as a more current editor would. EAC certification is based on Professional Editorial Standards, which were revised in 2010 to reflect the current state of editing.  Credential maintenance offers prospective clients assurance that an editor is up to date with the latest standards.

I don't have time to do credential maintenance—my schedule is overfull as it is. Does this mean I shouldn't bother pursuing certification?

Many of the activities you are probably already doing will qualify for credential maintenance points—working, teaching or giving presentations, taking courses, volunteering for EAC's editing-related activities, attending EAC's conference, mentoring or training other editors, reading books and online content about editing, writing about editing, etc.

The credential maintenance program was field tested with an EAC-member freelance editor, an EAC-member in-house editor, and a non-EAC-member editor. All of them were able to earn 100 points in less than the five years required, doing activities they were largely already doing—no special effort to pursue points was required.

How It Works

Why do I have to earn points in at least three different categories to maintain my credential(s)?

We believe editors need well-rounded skills and that a broad range of experiences go into making good editors. If only one category were required, it would be possible for an editor to retain credentials by doing, for example, the same editorial task for years, without ever taking a course or reading an article about changes in language usage, or by attending many seminars but never actually working as an editor.

I don't live near a city—how can I maintain my credential if I can't attend seminars?

A wide variety of activities qualify for certification maintenance—online courses, listening to editing-related podcasts, reading and writing about editing and mentoring (which can be done remotely). You could earn up to 10 points by attending just one EAC conference in each five-year reporting period. A number of EAC volunteer opportunities are suited to remote work. And of course, working qualifies too.

I've taken just about all the courses there are at my level. How can I stay certified?

Many activities other than taking courses qualify—teaching courses, giving talks or seminars, mentoring, EAC volunteer work, writing and reading about editing, and attending conference sessions. And of course, working qualifies too. You can earn the points you need without taking courses.

What happens if I don't get 100 points in the five-year period?

If you are having difficulty meeting the requirements of the credential maintenance program, please contact the Credential Maintenance Subcommittee through the EAC National Office. A committee member will help you develop a plan and a manageable schedule for earning your points.

Do I have to send in proof of all my professional development activities?

You don't have to send in proof of activities, such as documents or receipts, but you should keep these records in the event that you are audited. On the online credential maintenance reporting form, briefly describe each activity and note dates. Keep paper or electronic copies of confirmation of your activities. We will occasionally perform random checks to ensure that all is in order.

At the end of the five-year period, will I receive something as confirmation of credential maintenance?

EAC will send you new seals for your credential certificates.

I was ill for a long period and was unable to work or study to earn maintenance points. Will I lose my certification?

If you let us know that you will not be able to earn your maintenance points by the end of your reporting period, EAC will take your circumstances into consideration and help you establish a new schedule. Please contact the Professional Development Coordinator.

Can I submit my credential maintenance reporting form before the end of my five-year reporting period if I have earned 100 points?

Yes, you can submit the form as soon as you have earned 100 points. Your next reporting period will begin as originally scheduled; that is, five years after your current one began. You will still need to pay the annual administration fee for the intervening years.

What's Included

What kind of activities qualify?

A wide range of activities qualify—almost any activity that relates directly to maintaining your editing skills and knowledge. We have established five broad categories:

• Delivering education and training: developing or delivering courses, workshops, presentations, webinars; leading study groups; mentoring or training other editors; publishing printed or online material related to editing
• Receiving education and training: taking courses or workshops, in person or online; attending presentations, webinars, podcasts or study groups; completing exercises; reading printed or online material about language, grammar, style, etc.; being mentored or trained by other editors
• Volunteering (EAC members only): performing volunteer work related directly to editing skills and knowledge, such as serving on committees and sub-committees for certification, professional standards, publications, training and development, etc.; marking certification tests, writing pilot tests
• Working: working in any capacity as a proofreader, copy editor, stylistic editor, or structural editor as defined by Professional Editorial Standards
• Other: any other editing-related professional development activities that don't fit other categories

What constitutes an "editing-related" activity?

Editing-related activities are those that will help make you a better editor, that will improve your skills as an editor, or that will help you maintain your skills as a certified editor. For example, participating in a workshop on effective business communication will benefit your editing skills, so it qualifies.

What kind of activities don't qualify?

Some work, volunteer or training activities that you do may relate to your work but don't qualify because they don't pertain specifically to the skills and knowledge of editing. Here are some examples:

• Working as a technical writer (because writing is not an editorial skill as defined by PES)
• Attending a branch or national business meeting (although these activities are central to EAC's operation, they are not directly related to editing skills)
• Attending or listening to a branch presentation about income taxes for freelancers (again, although this is essential knowledge, it doesn't relate to editing skills)
• Invigilating certification exams (although this is connected with certification, invigilators do not see the exams or have any involvement with their creation, writing, or marking, and so are not developing their skills during this activity)
• Reading an article on how to prepare a resume to help you find more work will not improve your editing skills, so it does not qualify.

Why don't all EAC volunteer activities qualify?

To qualify, EAC volunteer activities must relate directly to editorial skills and knowledge. Although essential to the operation of the organization, activities such as serving on a branch or national executive, doing administrative work and organizational or social tasks don't contribute to keeping your editing skills sharp and up to date. To qualify, the activity must actively involve work on editorial skills and knowledge, such as setting or marking certification exams or revising Professional Editorial Standards or Meeting Professional Editorial Standards.

Why does working as an editor qualify as professional development?

EAC believes that one of the best ways to stay up to date with changes in language usage, editing practice, and the publishing industry is to work regularly. When you're working, you are actively practising what you've learned. You may look up a grammar rule you've never needed to look up before; you may learn to use new editing software; a colleague may pass on a productivity tip. If you stop working for an extended period, it's likely that your skills will get rusty and you may not be aware of the latest trends in self-publishing, for example.