5 of the Best Online Proofreading Courses for Beginners

If you’re thinking of starting a career as a professional proofreader, online courses can get you started on your journey.

But with so many options available, how do you decide which course to take?

Our guide to five of the best online proofreading courses on the market will help you compare what’s on offer. We’ll take a look at:

1. Knowadays: Becoming A Proofreader
2. Proofread Anywhere: General Proofreading (Theory and Practice)
3. CIEP: Proofreading 1 (Introduction)
4. The Publishing Training Centre: Essential Proofreading Skills (Editorial Skills One)
5. Udemy: (Proofreading Power Basics)

The Best Online Proofreading Courses for Beginners

We’re going to take a look at five popular proofreading courses and explore what they offer in terms of:

• Curriculum
• Key features
• Learning support
• Certification
• Pricing

We’ll then summarize the key takeaways in the next section so you can make the best decision on which course is right for you.

1. Knowadays: Becoming A Proofreader

Our Becoming A Proofreader course comes complete with modules covering common errors in punctuation, spelling, and grammar, methods for approaching more complex issues such as tone, and specific training in proofreading business, creative, and academic writing.

Tutors are available 24/7 for free support, and the course includes a one-to-one support call, tutor feedback, and group seminars.

Our courses are CPD-accredited, and learners who successfully pass the final assignment will receive a certificate of completion.

If you complete both our Becoming a Proofreader and Becoming an Editor courses and achieve a score of more than 80% in both, you will qualify for a paid trial with our partner company, Proofed, so you can start earning immediately. 

Becoming A Proofreader costs £399. If you purchase the course bundle – which includes Becoming A Proofreader and the Becoming An Editor course – you get 15% off the price of both courses.

2. Proofread Anywhere: General Proofreading (Theory and Practice)

The General Proofreading (Theory and Practice) course that Proofread Anywhere offers explains the basics of proofreading, including spotting and fixing common errors, before providing in-depth, practical information on how to develop and market a freelance proofreading business.

Proofread Anywhere offers access to dozens of ebooks and workshops for learners, and for those who successfully complete the final assignment, the opportunity to network with professional proofreaders and editors is available.

You can access tutor support for at least $40 per 30-minute session. Learners also gain free lifetime access to a support group of peers and other learners.

General Proofreading (Theory and Practice) costs $497, or $597 if learners opt for the Ignite Plus version of the courses. The Ignite Plus version provides learners with the opportunity to take the final test and receive a certificate of completion.

3. CIEP: Proofreading 1 (Introduction)

The Proofreading 1 (Introduction) course that the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) offers covers a variety of proofreading techniques, including how to proofread PDFs, how to work in Microsoft Word, and how to edit on paper using proofreading marks. The course is designed to provide an introduction to proofreading and covers topics such as the difference between proofreading and copy editing, the nature of the proofreading process, common proofreading conventions, and approaches to working with clients.

You can take the class either as a self-assessed online course or as a single-day, in-person workshop. Either form provides learners with three CIEP upgrade points, which can be put toward upgrading your CIEP membership.

Tutors provide all learners with one hour of email-based support, and additional time is available at a cost of £35 per hour.

CIEP courses are not accredited, but CIEP does provide certificates for successful completion that are widely respected in the industry.

As an online course, Proofreading 1 (Introduction) costs £128 for CIEP members and £213 for non-members.

4. The Publishing Training Centre: Essential Proofreading Skills (Editorial Skills One)

The Publishing Training Centre’s Essential Proofreading Skills (Editorial Skills One) course covers page and on-screen proofreading, with a particular focus on using Adobe Reader and Microsoft Word. The course also addresses how proofreaders can work with publishers and provides an overview of where proofreading fits into the publishing industry.

The course has multiple self-assessed exercises, with four longer assignments that tutors check and grade. Each learner is paired with a personal tutor for the duration of the course and receives access to tutor support for up to three months after completing the course.

Learners who successfully pass the course receive a recognized qualification from the Publishing Qualifications Board as well as 10 to 20 CIEP membership points.

Essential Proofreading Skills costs £395, with the option to split the cost into three installments. You can also receive the Publishing Training Centre’s Essential Grammar course for half the price if you buy it alongside Essential Proofreading Skills.

5. Udemy: Proofreading Power Basics

The Proofreading Power Basics course on Udemy’s online platform covers common proofreading errors and ways to fix them. There are also in-depth sections on how to work with style guides, how to use proofreading marks, and how to proofread numbers. Also included are proofreading checklists and a practice proofreading test.

In contrast to other proofreading courses, Udemy’s is delivered mainly through video, with accompanying exercises and resources available for learners to download and try themselves.

The course does not come with tutor support, but learners have lifetime access to the course and all available resources, which include self-assessed aptitude tests. Upon completing the course, learners receive discount codes for proofreading books and guides.

Proofreading Power Basics costs £89.99. Udemy often has sales on its courses for new users, though, so keep an eye out for a discount.

Side-by-Side Comparison

	Key Features	Learning Support	Certification	Pricing
Knowadays	Training covering business, academic, and creative proofreading Guaranteed work with Proofed if you pass both Becoming A Proofreader and Becoming An Editor with distinction	Free 24/7 tutor support One-to-one calls Group seminars	Yes; CPD-accredited	$499 (£399) for Becoming A Proofreader course $849 (£678) for bundle with Becoming An Editor course
Proofread Anywhere	Training specific to launching a freelance proofreading business Access to professional marketing group and additional materials	30-minute support sessions offered for $40+ Access to group where learners can discuss course content	Yes, if Ignite Plus version purchased; not accredited	$497 for Ignite version $597 for Ignite Plus version
CIEP	Training for proofreading on paper, on PDF, and with Microsoft Word Provides three CIEP upgrade points, which can be put toward upgrading CIEP membership	One hour free tutor support  Additional hours available for £35	Yes; not accredited	£128 for CIEP members £213 for non-members
The Publishing Training Centre	An introduction to proofreading, with a focus on proofreading in the publishing industry	Personal tutor assigned to learners, with up to three months’ support after course completion	Yes; PQB-accredited	£395
Udemy	Video-based training with downloadable resources, worksheets, and checklists	No tutor support but lifetime access to learner discussion group	Yes; not accredited	£89.99

Which Proofreading Course Is Best for You?

Ultimately, the proofreading course you choose should be the one that’s right for you.

Before making your decision, consider:

• How much time you can dedicate to a course
• What your budget will cover
• When (and how) you want to start proofreading

If you’re still struggling to pick one, you can always give our courses a go for free. And if you change your mind after purchasing the full course, we’ve got a 14-day money-back guarantee ready for you.

Any questions? Get in touch with our customer support team, available 24/7.