Certification

Benefits of Certification

Whether you're an editor or someone who hires editors, you can benefit from the landmark certification program offered by the Editors' Association of Canada (Editors Canada).

Editors Canada certification sets objective standards for recognizing high levels of knowledge and skill. It's the gold standard of editing.

If you're an editor, Editors Canada certification:

• Helps you identify strengths and fill in gaps in your knowledge and skill sets
• Provides professional recognition of your high level of knowledge and skill
• Provides a powerful marketing advantage
• Allows you to command a higher salary or charge higher fees
• In some cases, allows you to skip time-consuming steps in the process of bidding for contracts
• Earns the respect of your peers
• Helps raise the profile of editing as a highly skilled profession

If you hire in-house or contract editors, Editors Canada certification:

• Allows you to identify potential employees and/or contractors who meet industry standards for high quality of work
• Eliminates the need to test prospective employees or contractors
• Offers a marketing advantage ("We use Editors Canada-certified editors, who are masters of their craft")

If you supervise in-house editors, Editors Canada certification:

• Ensures that your employees meet industry standards for high quality of work
• Provides meaningful professional development opportunities

Recognizing Excellence

Editors Canada certification identifies editors who are masters of their craft.

It's therefore not surprising that certified editors are finding new opportunities and making more money than ever before. They're able to demonstrate to employers and clients that they provide immense value.

The Government of Nova Scotia, the Government of Ontario, several national non-governmental organizations and the Certified General Accountants' Association of Canada are just some of the organizations that recognize the value of Editors Canada certification when they hire editors.

Read what certified editors are saying about the benefits of certification.

Credentials

Editors Canada certification is for editors of written material who work in English. It's available to both Editors Canada members and non-members.

There are five credentials. To earn an editing credential, you must pass the required test(s), as indicated in the table below.

Because Editors Canada certification tests for excellence (rather than proficiency), we recommend that you have at least five years of full-time experience as a working editor before taking a certification test.

Your credential year is the one after the administration of your successful test. If you successfully write a test in 2013, for example, you will be awarded the credential in 2014.

Test Fees for the 2016 and 2017 tests

Test Locations

Demand and resources permitting, tests are offered each November in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax.

Upcoming Tests

Two of the certification tests will be offered November 2018:

• Proofreading
• Structural editing

The other two tests will be offered in November 2019:

• Copy editing
• Stylistic editing

The tests are offered every November, in two-year rotations.

Registration

Registration for the 2018 Certification exams opens in the Summer of 2018.

The buzz about certification

One Person's Experience

"Being certified," Donna Dawson recalls, "would show potential clients—and myself—that I am a good editor."

Read her story in "Are You Certifiable?" published in the Winter 2008 edition of Active Voice. (31.86 KB)