4 Best Online Proofreading Courses To TURN YOU Into a Proofreader

If you want to make a side income or even a career out of proofreading, enrolling in a legitimate course is the best way to get started 

But which online proofreading courses are the best for taking off your career in the proofreading industry?

In this post, I will list four AMAZING courses that have assisted many students in learning this beautiful skill.

But, before I get into the specifics, let’s discuss an important question.

Is it Worthwhile to Take a Proofreading Course?

There are many resources available online that can teach you any skill for free. But the problem is that you won’t be CONFIDENT enough to work with clients and manage projects.

That’s because you learned a skill by reading dozens of articles and watching videos written/created by various people. Some may be professionals, whereas others must have plagiarized information from experts.

As a result, you will not experience the SATISFACTION and INNER CONFIDENCE that comes from enrolling in a reputable course.

Why did I say so?

Because you will be taught by an EXPERT with extensive proofreading industry experience. This alone will BOOST your confidence once you complete their course.

In a nutshell, by enrolling in a course:

• You will gain CONFIDENCE.
• You will learn a skill SYSTEMATICALLY.
• You will know every ins and outs of the proofreading industry.
• Most importantly, you will gain MORE clients & jobs.

So, if you want to learn proofreading as a hobby, you don’t need to enroll in any paid course. 

But, if you want to become a proofreader to generate a nice side income or even full-time income, enrolling in a course is the BEST WAY to do so.

4 Best Online Proofreading Courses

The first two courses on this list are the most popular and have received mostly positive feedback from students. If the first two courses are out of your price range, the third one is also a great option.

1. Proofread Anywhere

This course is an excellent choice if you only want to proofread general documents that do not require specialized knowledge. A few examples are books, articles, essays, research papers, etc.

It is a self-paced course that can be taken by anyone, regardless of their level of proofreading experience.

In addition to learning how to proofread, you will also learn how to start and grow a freelance proofreading business from the scratch.

So, if you want to be your own boss by running your own proofreading business, this course is exactly what you need.

Proofread Anywhere Details

Course Name: General Proofreading: Theory & Practice
Course Creator: Caitlin Pyle. She has been in the proofreading industry for more than 14 years.
Duration: Self-paced. However, you’ll need at least one month to complete the course.
Course Modules: 80 lessons spread across 14 modules, each with grammar-specific worksheets, real-life job examples, student workbooks and quizzes, case studies, and more.
Access Period: Lifetime
Certificate of Completion: Yes, it is available with the Ignite plus plan. However, you need to score 90% or more in the final assessment to receive it.
Price: $397 for the Ignite plan and $497 for the Ignite Plus plan.
Refund Policy: They don’t offer any refund.

Benefits of Proofread Anywhere

Learning and practicing proofreading skills will be a breeze with access to 40+ lessons in 14 modules, grammar-specific worksheets, and real-life example jobs.
You will be able to work INDEPENDENTLY by starting your own online proofreading business. So no more relying on freelance marketplaces and online companies for jobs and paychecks.
The course is designed for all levels of proofreaders, including beginners, intermediate, and experienced proofreaders. So, ANYONE is welcome to join them regardless of their proofreading knowledge.
Become a member of an AWESOME Facebook group where you can interact, ask questions, and help each other grow as Proofreaders. If you are the type of person who requires constant motivation, this group is a BANGER!
Get listed in the Self-Publishing School Preferred Outsourcer Rolodex. This is a great way to start your proofreading career.
Students will receive a Certificate of Completion if they score 90% or more on their final hand-graded exam. You can PROUDLY use this certificate to attract more clients and jobs.
This course also provides many useful bonuses that include extra courses and guides.

Drawbacks of Proofread Anywhere

There is no refund policy. So, if you enroll in the course and don’t like it, you can’t get your money back.
To receive a certificate of completion, you must achieve a score of at least 90%. I don’t mind this disadvantage because it encourages students to take the course material seriously. However, some students will be unhappy.
Although it goes into great detail on how to proofread, only some training material is provided for grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc.

If you want to learn more about this course, read my Proofread Anywhere review, where I’ve highlighted every important detail. This will help you in making an informed decision.

You can also attend Proofread Anywhere’s free 76-minute workshop to know more about this course and some proofreading tips. This is ideal for testing the water.

2. Becoming a Proofreader By Knowadays (Proofreading Academy)

Previously known as Proofreading Academy, today is another popular course that is accredited by Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for meeting the CPD learning standards and benchmarks.

It delves deeply into how to proofread various text documents in different English dialects.

You will learn how to proofread business, creative, and academic copies for common errors and how to work with style guides.

Knowadays Details:

Course Name: Becoming a Proofreader
Course Creator: Proofed Professionals. A proofreading and editing service provider company that started in 2017.
Duration: Self-paced. However, you’ll need at least one month to complete the course.
Course Modules: A 13-module course that uses practical tasks to help you gradually improve your skills. You will be given reading material, detailed tutorial videos, quizzes, and assignments (including real-life example jobs)
Access Period: Lifetime
Certificate of Completion: Yes, you’ll receive it when you pass two proofreading tests and one formatting test with at least a 70% score.
Price: $399. They also offer monthly-based plans for US & UK buyers.
Refund Policy: Yes, but with certain conditions.

Benefits of Knowadays

If you’re able to score 80% or above in their final three tests, you’re GUARANTEED to get a job with Proofed. This is an excellent way to begin your career without struggling to find your first job.
You will receive a digital certificate of completion for passing the exams.
Their support system is excellent because they are responsive and eager to assist you in your success. You will be able to communicate with them via email and chat. You can also schedule a phone call.
There is a lot of training material available in punctuation, grammar, spelling, and other areas. You’ll also learn how to edit texts for flow, tone, readability, and style.
You’ll learn how to proofread in American, British, and Australian English.
You’ll learn how to proofread various types of documents, including academic, creative, and business. You’ll also learn how to work with texts written by non-native English speakers.
Learn how to use different word processing programs for proofreading by using some key features. The programs include Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and Adobe Acrobat.
They provide refunds under certain conditions. A full refund is provided if the course is not accessed within 14 days of purchase. If some of the content has been accessed, a refund for the remaining content is provided. After 14 days, no refunds are given. All refunds are subject to a $35 (£25) administration fee.

Drawbacks of Knowadays

The course does not cover how to start a proofreading business from scratch and how to market yourself.
Proofed guaranteed work is likely to face stiff competition as more students enroll. As a result, taking jobs from their job board will be difficult because it is based on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you want to learn more about them, read my Knowadays review, where I go over their course in depth. Also, if you want to test the waters, they have a free trial plan that you can sign up for by clicking below.

Related Post: Proofread Anywhere vs Knowadays – Here is your winner.

3. Essential Proofreading: Editorial Skills One

This course is accredited by the Publishing Qualifications Board (PQB). It is the only self-study course that will take you from complete beginner to working for publishers.

That’s why people who want to work as a proofreader in editorial or publishing industry should take this course.

The course content is based on the UK English dialect. As a result, if you’re from the UK or want to proofread UK English copies, you can choose this course.  

However, this does not preclude others from using it because its content is applicable everywhere.

Essential Proofreading Details:

Course Name: Essential Proofreading: Editorial Skills One
Course Creator: Gillian Clarke & Margaret Aherne. They both are the founder member and honorary member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP).
Duration: Up to 12 months. It is a self-paced course.
Course Modules: There are six learning modules. Five of them have self-checking exercises, and each has a longer assignment that you send to your personal tutor to be graded and given feedback on.
Access Period: At least 50 hours and up to 12-months. You can exceed for a further 12 months following payment of a £75 re-registration fee.
Certificate of Completion: Yes.
Price: £405. You can also pay in five installments.
Refund Policy: 30 days from the date of purchase.

Benefits of Essential Proofreading:

You will be assigned a personal tutor who is an experienced proofreader. Their job is to provide you support throughout the course and for up to three months after completion.
You will have access to 30 self-check exercises to assist you in learning and practicing.
Passing this course will earn you points towards upgrading your membership of the Chartered Institute of Editors and Proofreaders (CIEP).
When you enroll in the course, you will be able to choose two free e-Learning modules from a list of four. This includes: A Copy-Editor’s Guide to Working With Authors, Adobe Tools for Editors, Introduction to Marketing & Introduction to Publishing.
PQB will issue you a completion certificate with a pass, merit, or distinction after you complete the course. It’s the most widely recognized industry credential!
Gain entry to the PTC’s Freelance Finder, which publishers can use to find a qualified proofreader with extensive training. So, you’ll have a chance to get picked by a publisher for work.

Drawback of Essential Proofreading:

The course will not teach you the fundamentals of grammar. If you want to learn the same thing, you can spend an extra £70 on their course “Essential Grammar.” If you book it with the main course (Essential Proofreading), you can get the same course for £35 instead.
The course costs a lot of money and takes a year to finish. Unless you’re willing to spend a lot of time and money, this course isn’t the best option for you.
There is no training to proofread US English dialect.

4. Proofread Like a Pro

Proofread Like a Pro is intended for those who cannot afford costly courses. For such a low price compared to the other courses on this list, you get a lot of content and practice material.

This course is ideal if you want to work as a proofreader or if you want to catch more errors in your own writing. However, before enrolling in this course, make sure you have some basic grammar knowledge.

Proofread Like a Pro Details:

Course Name: Proofread Like a Pro
Course Creator: Dr. Clare Lynch. She holds a Ph.D. in English literature from Cambridge University. She is also an editor, proofreader, and professional copywriter with more than 20 years of experience working with well-known corporate clients.
Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes in length and it is a self-paced course.
Course Modules: It is divided into six sections and contains 48 lectures. There are also 21 articles and 23 downloadable resources available to you.
Access Period: Lifetime
Certificate of Completion: Yes, you’ll receive it when you complete the course successfully.
Price: $24.99.
Refund Policy: 30 days from the date of purchase.

Benefits of Proofread Like a Pro

The course covers more than just proofreading theory as it also includes hands-on exercises. Following almost every lecture, you will be given a proofreading exercise to test your understanding of the material.
Learn how to catch more errors even when proofreading quickly.
Learn how to proofread academic copies.
Guidelines for proofreading video content.
Learn how to correctly use professionally recognized proofreading symbols.
Tips for finding work as a freelance proofreader and marketing your skills.
The only course on this list that teaches proofreading symbols for hard copy proofreading.

Drawbacks of Proofread Like a Pro

This course is not suitable for beginners. You must have prior knowledge of proper English usage. This means that you should already be proficient in English grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
You should have access to a printer so you can practice proofreading symbols on hard copies.
Nothing about setting up a proofreading business.

Which Proofreading Course is Best For You?

Though all of the courses are excellent and will teach you proofreading skills, it is up to you to decide which one is best for you.

Choose Proofread Anywhere

If you want to learn how to proofread and how to start your own freelance proofreading business so you can work with a variety of clients.
If you want to learn how to market your business so that you can attract more potential clients.

Knowadays is best for you

If you want more training in punctuation, grammar, spelling, and so on.
If you want to learn how to edit texts for flow, tone, readability, and style, as well as have a guaranteed job with Proofed.

Choose Essential Proofreading

If you want to work as a proofreader in the editorial and publishing industry.
If you want a personal tutor to help you throughout the course.

Choose Proofread Like a Pro

If you are looking for a cheap course to learn proofreading.

Final Thoughts:

No matter which course you take, you will not become a proofreader unless you practice.

While a course can certainly guide you in the right direction for learning a skill, it is up to you how much time and effort you put in to hone that skill.

That being said, I hope you enjoyed this post. If you do, please forward this to any friends or family members who are interested in proofreading.

Read Next:

• 15 Best companies that provide Proofreading jobs to everyone
• 9 Best freelance skills you should learn