Editing Certificate
Whether you want to refine your editing skills, pursue a career in editing, or gain formal recognition for your experience, our online certificate program provides the knowledge and experience to help you succeed. Following Editors Canada Professional Editorial Standards, our program covers the four stages of editing: structural, stylistic, copy editing and proofreading, as well as editorial roles, the publishing process and more. You’ll gain the professional tools and techniques you need to polish diverse writing styles and work effectively with writers and designers.
Overview
Why this program?
- Develop the key competencies required for Editors Canada certification
- Take hands-on courses aligned with the latest edition of Professional Editorial Standards
- Build marketable skills in your choice of specialized areas
- Learn from experienced working editors
- Take fully online courses on a flexible schedule
- Start with individual courses and apply to the program at any time
- Graduate with a certificate that confers SFU alumni status along with its benefits
Format
Part-time
Location
Online
Program completion
8 months–5 years (from start date of first course)
To graduate, complete all courses with a minimum average grade of B- (70%).
Course duration
3–10 weeks
Course work
6–10 hours/week
Schedule
Self-paced within set deadlines
Courses
Required courses in recommended order (but take in any order, except EDIT410, which should be completed last):
- Editors and Editing: An Introduction (EDIT110)
- Copy Editing (EDIT210)
- Proofreading (EDIT225)
- Efficient Business and Professional Writing (BCPW205)
- Ethics and Legal Issues in Writing and Publishing (BCPW210)
- Grammar (EDIT250)
- Document Design and Production for Editors (EDIT240)
- Stylistic Editing (EDIT320)
- Structural Editing (EDIT330)
- Final Project: Editing (EDIT410)
Elective courses (minimum 2; choose from list):
- Writing and Editing for the Web (EDIT505)
- Freelancing for Editors (EDIT509)
- Plain Language Principles (PLNL110)
- Technical Writing and Editing (TCOM120)
- Indexing: An Essential Art and Science (TCOM230)
Learning materials
See individual courses for textbook details
Cost
$375–$985/course, not including textbooks
$99 program application fee
Application info
No application deadline. Take individual courses and apply to the program at any time.
Application requirements
- Grade 12 or equivalent
- Mature students who do not meet this requirement may qualify with at least 5 years of appropriate experience
- Advanced English Language Requirements
Enroll in the certificate program to:
- Track your progress in your student account
- Access potential tax credits
- Be eligible to graduate when you finish
About our Collection of Personal Information policy.
Attend an online info session
Reserve your spot to explore the program and chat live with program staff.
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In her new freelance career, editor and writer Harkit Dhillon specializes in supporting the stories of underrepresented groups.
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Patricia McDonald established a career as a freelance Spanish/English translator and can now add editing to her services.
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Can you be an editor if you have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)? For Jahleen Turnbull-Sousa, a graduate of SFU’s Editing Certificate, the answer is a resounding yes.
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