Gain the editing skills, knowledge, and networking needed to become an in-demand copyeditor.
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Enrollment
Format
Duration
Investment
Part-time
Online
9 months
$1,340 per course
Deepen Your Editing Knowledge
The changing face of editing demands continuous skill development. As the role of an editor evolves, career opportunities grow across industries. Gain the skills, knowledge, and networking needed to become an in-demand editor.
Copyediting Skills to Stand Out and Expand Your Expertise
Our nationally recognized Editing certificate program offers you intensive editing skill building and practice, detailed individual instructional feedback, tools for editing electronically, and an understanding of running freelance services, securing quality clients, managing projects, and how to successfully collaborate with authors. Dig deep into techniques, guidelines, and editing-related topics. Become an expert in the essential guide in editing, The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS), and build your network with experienced instructors and peers from a variety of industries.
Fast facts:
At the most recognized, comprehensive, and reputable non-credit Editing certificate program in the nation, you will join a community like no other.
Online certificate courses start on a Monday with self-paced activities.
Complete the full certificate program in as little as nine months.
Expert instructors have worked at leading publishing houses as in-house editors, freelancers, and consultants.
You can take courses individually without enrolling in the full certificate program.
Certificates do not need to be paid upfront; instead, our programs allow you to pay for tuition at the time of each course registration.
Current members of certain professional associations are eligible for 10 percent off tuition.
Five online courses: four core and one elective. Specialized standalone courses are also available.
$100k
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for editors in the US was $75,020 in 2023, with the top 10% of earners surpassing $100,000 annually.
11%
According to recent data from Zippia, copyeditor salaries have seen a significant 11% increase over the past five years, reflecting growing demand and evolving opportunities within the industry.
Our instructors have worked as freelancers, consultants, and in-house editorial and production managers at industry-leading publishing houses and have extensive experience working with The Chicago Manual of Style—including consulting on new editions. They are active practitioners with long-standing careers and understand the technical and professional demands of the publishing industry, which helps foster in-demand career development. They also have a wealth of contacts and resources.
Join a distinguished editing community
Our welcoming and supportive community will challenge you, motivate you, and help you build connections with like-minded learners. You become part of an extensive network of editors, writers, and industry professionals. There are opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, and professional growth, helping you advance your career.
Perks of a UChicago certificate:
Onboarding and advising services.
Career services.
Community building with extracurricular activities, events, and webinars.
Instructors are experts in their field.
Networking opportunities.
Direct learning, practice, and feedback.
Applicable content and quick skill building.
Access to UChicago resources.
Monthly job posting notices.
Support of the Professional Development Programs Student Advisory Board.
Alumni Scholarship program.
Digital certificates and badges.
At UChicago, It Is More Than a Certificate—It Is an Educational Experience.
Learn the latest updates in The Chicago Manual of Style, published at UChicago since 1906. Be among the first to learn and apply the updated standards and become a go-to resource using the essential guide in the field.
Looking for the Best Editing certificate?
The program curriculum builds both foundational and specialized skills creating a robust portfolio that demonstrates real-world expertise. Whether you are looking to break into publishing or advance your existing editorial career, this program—backed by the authority of CMOS and bolstered by direct connections to the UChicago Press—provides the professional foundation needed to become an in-demand editor in today’s publishing landscape.
By the end of the program, you will have learned to:
Master The Chicago Manual of Style. Refine your command of grammar, syntax, and style.
Develop advanced copyediting skills. Learn to edit for clarity, coherence, and impact.
Understand the full publishing process.
Understand the full developmental editing process.
Develop strategies for approaching a project.
Navigate and implement emergent marketing technologies.
Editing certificate courses cover a wide array of technical skills and editing standards based on the CMOS. In addition to the focus on manuscript editing in core courses, you can take electives and learn about emerging technologies and marketing tools to specialize your development, including:
Introduction to Acquisition Editing
Introduction to Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing for Fiction
Essentials of Grammar for Professionals
Copyright for Publishing Professionals
Sharpen Your Focus with Standalone Courses
You can build upon your credentials in standalone courses that complement our Editing certificate program and provide tailored learning paths that meet the needs of the evolving job market.
These courses include:
Fact-Checking for Editors
Working with Authors
Editing for Lawyers
Earn Credentials in Editing
A digital course badge is awarded at the successful completion of each course and a certificate of completion after all certificate requirements are met.
The changing face of editing demands continuous skill development as artificial intelligence and analytics platforms reshape traditional workflows. Yet the core challenge is not simply learning new software; it is developing the judgment to blend quantitative insights with editorial instinct. Today’s editors must seek out ways to update their technical capabilities while integrating them with the deep understanding of language and narrative that drives the sort of meaningful content that brought them to the profession in the first place. Learn the needed skills that will help you leave your mark in the field with our online Editing certificate program.
Open doors to exciting career paths
The need for editing skills in marketing continues to grow. Social media managers, for example, play a pivotal role in messaging that requires accuracy and attention to detail as they manage a business’s brand and content. The ability to edit content for proposals, advertisements, content marketing, blog writing, and reports keeps marketing messaging necessarily professional. By gaining advanced editing training and industry knowledge, participants of the program are well-prepared to explore diverse professional jobs in copyediting, including:
Copyeditor: Improve written content across print and digital platforms.
Proofreader: Ensure accuracy and quality in publications, marketing materials, and other documents.
Content Editor: Shape and refine content strategies for media, corporate, or academic organizations.
Freelance Editor: Establish a flexible career offering editing services to a diverse range of clients.
Technical Editor: Edit complex technical documents to ensure clarity, accuracy, and compliance with industry standards.
Book Editor: Work with authors to develop manuscripts, ensuring that they are well-organized, polished, and ready for publication.
This online certificate program is designed for professionals with strong writing, editing, or communication skills who want to refine their expertise in professional editing. It’s also ideal for career changers, recent graduates, and those seeking a focused pathway into the copyediting and publishing industry.
You’ll gain mastery of editing fundamentals, advanced techniques, and industry best practices. The curriculum focuses on grammar, style, and structure, empowering you to edit diverse materials such as manuscripts, marketing collateral, and technical documents. You’ll also learn how to adapt content for various audiences and platforms, ensuring clarity and impact in every project.
The program is delivered fully online, offering flexibility for working professionals. You’ll participate in interactive coursework, benefit from personalized feedback from expert instructors, and connect with a supportive community of peers.
Completing the Editing certificate program at UChicago opens pathways to jobs in publishing, corporate communications, digital marketing, technical editing, and much more. Common roles include copyeditor, content editor, proofreader, and editorial manager in industries such as media, tech, and healthcare.
The program can be completed in as little as nine months, with editing and proofreading courses crafted for a part-time schedule to suit the needs of working professionals.
No formal application process is required. If you have a passion for editing and a desire to enhance your professional skills, you’re encouraged to enroll.
Gain the Needed Skills in Modern Editing
Editing continues to change as innovative technologies are introduced, and this is making skilled professionals more important than ever. Editing is now a multidimensional discipline that shapes how information flows through complex systems. It is a hybrid of traditional craft and technological savvy. Invest in your career with this comprehensive program.
The editing certificate is geared for people who want to proofread professionally and who want to expand their copyediting toolkit by really delving into its nooks and crannies. Students gain a better sense of how they can enhance the quality of their work and make it more thorough.
