What courses do you offer?
We offer a range of proofreading courses to suit experienced proofreaders looking to continue their professional development, those looking to get the required skills to
become a professional proofreader, and those who want to improve their proofreading in particular subject areas. Please see the full list of courses
here.
What kind of proofreading will this course cover?
We offer a range of proofreading courses, so please have a look at our course summaries
here. Our flagship course, Becoming A Proofreader, includes a whole module on proofreading academic documents as this is one of the biggest markets for proofreaders. We also cover proofreading documents written by people who are not native speakers of English as, worldwide, there are more non-fluent than fluent English speakers writing in English, so this is an obvious area to include! We recommend gaining experience in all areas of proofreading before you decide to focus on a particular type of writing.
Why are there different prices for your courses?
Our courses range from short summary courses that may take just a few hours to
in-depth courses with 30+ hours of content. The prices reflect the different levels of content and tutor interaction. If you have any questions about our courses, please see the
course summary page, where you can click to read detailed information about each course, or
contact us.
How can I pay for the course?
Paying for your course is easy. Just click on the buy now button then you will be asked for your card details. Once payment is confirmed, the course will automatically be added to your profile. Please do not press the back button or refresh the page after you have entered your card details. If you experience any issues when paying for the course, or if your card is declined, please
contact us so that we can help you.
How are your courses delivered?
The course platform features readable content, short tutorial videos, quizzes, and assignments. There is also the opportunity to join a group tutorial for some of the modules. You will need to be online to view the content.
Do I need to log in at particular times to do the course?
The course is self-paced, and you can progress through the material at any time of day or night. You can learn at your own pace, in your own time.
Will my course expire?
Our courses are valid for twelve months. Extensions are available and are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Please
contact us if you have any questions about this.
Are there any additional payments or resources required?
The price of each course includes access to all of our materials and any applicable tests. To complete your course, you will need a laptop or desktop computer, access to an internet connection, and Microsoft Word. (Please see the FAQ ‘What materials and computer tools do I need?’ for more detailed information about the version of Microsoft Word required.) We provide the rest, including real-world sample documents for you to download and practice proofreading.
I’m not sure which course is best for me. Can you help me to decide?
Please take a look at our
course summary page, which outlines the benefits of the different courses we offer. Please note that two of the short courses are taken from our Becoming A Proofreader course. If you’d like to have a chat about our courses in more detail, please
contact us.
How is your course, Becoming A Proofreader, different from other courses?
Proofreading Academy teaches a broad range of skills in our
Becoming a Proofreader course to prepare you to work as a professional proofreader after completing the course. Instead of having to take numerous courses to learn about proofreading for business, creative, and academic purposes, you’ll find everything you need in one place. We also teach how to proofread and edit different English dialects and how to work with various academic referencing styles. However, if you want to learn specific skills, we also have short courses available, drawn from our full course, that focus on these. Please take a look at our
course summary page, which outlines the benefits of the different courses we offer.
Why does the Becoming A Proofreader course teach how to proofread documents written by people who are not native English speakers?
There is a significant need for proofreading and editing documents written by people who are not native English speakers. Globally, there are more non-fluent than fluent English speakers writing in English, which is why we include this in our course. Our Becoming A Proofreader course sets you up to proofread for any writer in any market and do well. Research writing makes up a huge amount of the global market for proofreading and editing, and a significant proportion of this research is written in English by people who are non-native speakers.
Is the course a recognized qualification?
We do not offer a recognized qualification as yet. However, graduation from the course qualifies you to work with
Proofed, a respected international network of freelance proofreading businesses with branches in the UK, the US, and Australia. Once you have passed the course with a distinction grade (80% or above), you can join the team of freelance proofreaders at
Proofed and have access to their internal jobs board, where you can see all the proofreading work available each day.
Is the course up to date?
Yes – we teach the digital methods that proofreaders, businesses, and publishers really use.
Do you teach the proofreading symbols?
At Proofreading Academy, we recognize that most proofreading clients work on a computer with internet access and require documents to be proofread immediately. Our courses have always been based on the need for editing and proofreading in a digital world. We do not teach the proofreading symbols as most proofreaders today are unlikely to use these in their day-to-day work. There may be some customers who prefer the traditional methods of proofreading (for instance, those who do not get on well with or have access to technology), but most of your work will be done in Microsoft Word.
Can I do this course on my smartphone, tablet or Chromebook?
You can read the course content on a smartphone, tablet (such as Apple iPad/iPad Air, Amazon Fire, Microsoft Surface, or Samsung Galaxy), or Chromebook, but we do not recommend it as the functionality would be limited.
You will still need access to the full version of Microsoft Word to successfully complete the course. Although much of the capability may appear to be the same as the computer version, Microsoft Office lacks full functionality on a smartphone, tablet, or Chromebook. You would be at a significant disadvantage for the full spectrum of proofreading work. This would not only restrict your ability during the course, but also limit your future earning potential. Therefore, we do not recommend using a tablet for the course.
For further information, please see the FAQ ‘What materials and computer tools do I need?’
What materials and computer tools do I need?
To complete any of our courses, you need to have a laptop or desktop computer, and access to an internet connection. We also recommend that you have a full version of Microsoft Office 2016 (no longer available for purchase), Microsoft Office 2019 (a one-time purchase that includes Microsoft Word) or Microsoft 365 (a subscription-based service that includes Microsoft Word).
We provide the rest, including real-world sample documents for you to download and practice proofreading. The course is not optimised for completion on smartphones, tablets (such as Apple iPad/iPad Air, Amazon Fire, Microsoft Surface, or Samsung Galaxy), or Chromebooks as these use a limited version of Word. Also, the free version of Microsoft Word that comes with Microsoft Office Online is not suitable for the course.
You might be considering taking our course for your own development and not to seek work as a professional proofreader. In that case, you may be able to complete the course without the full version of Word, or an older version, although you may not be able to fully complete all the exercises. However, you may be hoping to pass the final assignment with a distinction grade of 80% or more and either seek to join our partner company, Proofed, as a freelance proofreader or market your skills elsewhere. If so, you will be expected to be working with one of the recent versions of Microsoft Word (i.e. Microsoft Office 2016, Microsoft Office 2019 or the subscription-based Microsoft Office 365). Although much of the functionality of the web-based versions of Word appears to be the same as the full version, many of the tools we use in the course are not available on the web-based or mobile versions. The full list of differences between Word on different platforms is here.
Are the courses assessed?
Our
Becoming a Proofreader course includes assignments and quizzes as part of the course material. Only the final assignment, which you have three attempts at, counts towards your final grade. We give detailed feedback with your grade. If you need support earlier in the course then please
contact us.
Where can I read reviews of Proofreading Academy?
Check out some of our great
reviews on Trustpilot! We also have some
success stories of students who have taken the course.
Do I need to be based in any specific country to be eligible to participate in the course?
No, you can participate in the course from any country in the world. All you need is an internet connection and the latest version of Microsoft Word!
Do I get a certificate?
At the end of each course, all participants will receive a digital certificate.
Can I get academic credit for completing a Proofreading Academy course?
Currently it is not possible to earn credit for completing a Proofreading Academy course.
Can I connect with you on LinkedIn?
Everyone who has passed the course with distinction will be invited to join our LinkedIn group of professional proofreaders.
If I fail, can I appeal?
The
Becoming A Proofreader course gives you three attempts at the final assignments, with fresh tests each time. Our tutors grade your assignments against specific criteria, which you will either meet or not meet, and award marks accordingly. In each attempt we will provide you with detailed feedback and point you to areas of the course to review. We are happy to discuss our marking with you. Additionally, it’s important to know that when working as a freelance proofreader with
Proofed you will have to be able to take on board constructive feedback about your work.
How do I sign up for a course?
That’s great to hear! Please click here to go to our
course summary page and click on the course you’d like to purchase. If you’d rather do this over the telephone then
contact us and we can set this up.
Can I speak to someone about the course?
I have a question that’s not listed here.
What is the difference between proofreading and editing?
The distinction between proofreading and editing can be quite blurred in modern freelance proofreading, though in the publishing industry it still exists. Many proofreaders now work on screen, rather than on paper, and this typically involves some degree of editing.
If you would like to learn more about proofreading and editing, then why not sign up for our
free trial module. The free trial will give you a great idea of our course style and contents. We also have some articles on proofreading and editing on our website.
What is the pass rate for the Becoming A Proofreader course?
As everyone comes from a different starting point in terms of academic background and proofreading experience, it’s hard to give a pass rate since it varies from week to week depending on the abilities of people on the course. Our grades are split into pass (70-74%), merit (75-79%), and distinction (80% or above). A distinction grade is required if you wish to work with Proofed. The
Becoming A Proofreader course offers three attempts at the final assignments and some applicants will reach a distinction grade on a second or third attempt. The ability to listen to and take on the feedback is a very important skill for proofreaders, whether during the course or working professionally. If you’d like to discuss your experience and suitability for the course, you are welcome to
contact us for a chat.
Can I download the course?
Our courses are interactive and designed to be accessed online so that you can take part in quizzes and watch our videos. You can download individual slides or modules as a PDF for your personal use. Your course is valid for 12 months so you have plenty of time to become familiar with the course material and you may find it helpful to bookmark useful pages so that you have these easily accessible once you start proofreading.
What happens if I don’t get a distinction on the course?
That’s really up to you. You may feel great about your proofreading skills if you score a pass or merit grade and then go on to market your skills yourself. However, if you would like to work with Proofed as a proofreader you’ll need to get a distinction grade. If you do not reach a distinction grade on your third attempt at the
Becoming A Proofreader course then we will give you detailed feedback and advice as to your next steps. We will give you an idea of what wider reading and other training might be suitable for you in order to become a professional proofreader.
Can I use open office software instead of Microsoft Word?
Please read the FAQ above ‘What materials and computer tools do I need?’ for details.
Can you post me a hard copy of the course?
Our courses are interactive and designed to be accessed online as much of the course is interactive and has video content. You can download individual slides or modules as a PDF for your personal use. Your course is valid for 12 months though, so you have plenty of time to become familiar with the course material. You may find it helpful to bookmark useful pages so that you have these easily accessible once you start proofreading.
Why do people use proofreaders?
That’s a great question. Our
advice page has a great article on why people use proofreaders.
Can I contact a tutor?
We do offer a tutoring service in addition to our online course. Please
contact us. We will then arrange a call to better gauge your needs.
Can I still do the course and become a proofreader if English is my second language?
You can, but the course content and final tests are designed for fluent English speakers. It’s important that you have native-level fluency, as there are certain parts of English that are difficult for speakers of other languages to always get right, such as idioms and the correct use of prepositions. It’s unlikely that you will pass the final tests with a high enough score (80%) to work for
Proofed if your English level isn’t at the fluency of a native speaker.
I am in the USA. Is this course relevant for me?
Although we are based in the UK and the course is written in British English, we teach people to proofread in US, UK, and Australian dialects. We have noted the main differences in terms of spelling and grammar between all these dialects in our
Becoming A Proofreader course. So yes, it would be suitable for you! The company we work with takes on proofreaders from all over the world and has proofreading work from British, American, and Australian clients.
I am in the UK. Is this course relevant for me?
The course is written in British English, so yes, it would be suitable for you! We also teach people to proofread in US and Australian dialects. We have noted the main differences in terms of spelling and grammar between all these dialects in our
Becoming A Proofreader course. The company we work with takes on proofreaders from all over the world and has proofreading work from British, American, and Australian clients.
I am in Australia. Is this course relevant for me?
Although we are based in the UK and the course is written in British English, we teach people to proofread in US, UK, and Australian dialects. We have noted the main differences in terms of spelling and grammar between all these dialects in our
Becoming A Proofreader course. So yes, it would be suitable for you! The company we work with takes on proofreaders from all over the world and has proofreading work from British, American, and Australian clients.
Are there finance options available for this course?
Yes, we can set up a payment plan for you to spread the cost of the course over two or three months.
Contact us to find out more.
Is funding available for UK residents under the Jobcentre Plus LVP scheme?
Yes, our Becoming A Proofreader course is eligible for funding under the LVP scheme. For more details, please contact your local Jobcentre Plus.
I am a very experienced proofreader and editor. Why should I take a course?
Great question! Perhaps you are looking to brush up your current skills and use our course as part of your professional development. Or perhaps you would like to join a respected international network of proofreading providers that regularly hire new freelance proofreaders. If you have completed the
Becoming A Proofreader course and obtained a distinction grade of 80% or above then you are qualified to work for our proofreading partner, Proofed.
I’d like to proofread novels and creative writing. Is this course relevant for me?
Absolutely! Our ‘Creative Writing And The Publishing Industry’ module includes all you need to know about proofreading creative writing.