Certificate in Editing Summer 2026

Admission Requirements

To apply, you must have:

• Two years of college

• Two years of experience in any professional setting where your responsibilities required writing, reading, and the ability to communicate and engage with others using American English

• Solid grammar skills

• Strong reading comprehension skills

• Familiarity with the basic uses of Microsoft Word

• Familiarity with conducting research and using multiple reference sources

Want to make sure this certificate is the right fit for you? Use this evaluation matrix to help assess your skills.

Time Commitment

Including time in class, you should expect to spend about six to eight hours each week on coursework.

English Proficiency

If English is not your native language, you should have advanced English skills to enroll. To see if you qualify, make sure you are at the C1 level on the CEFR self-assessment grid. To learn more, see English Language Proficiency Requirements – Noncredit Programs.

International Students

Because this offering is 100% online, no visa is required and international students are welcome to apply. For more information, see Admission Requirements for International Students.

Technology Requirements

• Access to a computer with a recent operating system (Windows or Mac); students in the hybrid format need a laptop to bring to class

• Microsoft Word (not the web app) and a recent version of Adobe Acrobat Reader DC (free)

• High-speed internet connection

• Access to a printer and scanner or smartphone with a PDF-conversion app

• Headset and webcam (recommended)

Earning the Certificate

You earn a certificate of completion by successfully completing all course requirements. To continue in the program, participants must pass a grammar test during the first quarter. For more information, see Earning the Certificate.

Application Deadline

Applications are open until Monday, June 22, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time, or until the program fills, whichever comes first.

Application Steps

You’ll apply to the program on MyContinuum, our new application system. MyContinuum helps you seamlessly manage the enrollment process and more.

If you have any questions, or want to make sure this program is right for you, reach out to Enrollment Services at enroll@pce.uw.edu or 800-506-1325.

Step 1: Gather the Following Materials

• A brief personal statement (250-word maximum) that describes how your education and experience fulfill the program’s admission requirements

• A current resume

Step 2: Apply

Complete the online application on MyContinuum. You’ll need to create an account first. If you already have a UW NetID, choose that option. Otherwise, sign in with a Google or Apple account.

Step 3: Submit Materials

Submit the materials listed in Step 1. You’ll be prompted to complete this step on MyContinuum.

Step 4: Pay the Application Fee

Next, pay the $50 nonrefundable application fee through MyContinuum. Your application is not complete until you pay this fee.

After Applying

We’ll contact you within two weeks of receiving your application materials to let you know if you’ve been accepted to the program. If you’re accepted, we’ll ask you to complete a questionnaire on MyContinuum to help us learn more about you. Then you’ll get details about how to register for your first-term course and pay your course fees.

To ensure your spot in class, we recommend that you register by the priority registration deadline, which is four weeks before class begins. After that time, we may release your seat to another student. The final registration deadline is two days before the course starts.

Scholarship Information

You may qualify for an income-based scholarship for this program. For more information, see the Scholarships page.

Related Resources

• Drops, Withdrawals & Refunds

Course Details

Jul 6 - Sep 12, 2026 | Noncredit | Online | 10 Weeks | $1,315

Course Description

In this two-part course, we’ll explore both the big picture and the nuts and bolts of working as an editor. In the first five lessons, we’ll cover the role of editors today — what they do and where they do it. You’ll learn how editors fit into the publishing world and the different opportunities for editorial work.

In lessons six through 10, we’ll review the basic rules of grammar and usage. You’ll learn how to recognize and correct errors in content and how to clearly explain these corrections to authors and subject matter experts. You’ll discover what it takes to become a professional editor while you hone your skills and knowledge. 

The course includes a Proofreading for Editors Workshop, which is required for successful completion.

What You'll Learn

• The different milestones in a publishing project

• How language works and essential grammar skills

• How to structure your critique to make it productive 

• Key resources for editing tasks

• Professional etiquette tips for editors

Course Note

This course is offered 100% online and runs from July 6, 2026, to September 12, 2026. Students are required to attend a real-time proofreading workshop on August 15, 2026, online, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pacific time. 

Noncredit Course

You'll earn 4 continuing education units (CEUs) for successfully completing this course. Learn more about noncredit options.

This course can only be taken as part of the Certificate in Editing.

Course Details

Sep 28 - Dec 12, 2026 | Noncredit | Online | 11 Weeks | $1,315

Course Description

In this course, you’ll learn how a professional copyeditor approaches the task of editing simple nonfiction and short fiction manuscripts that contain few elements other than running text. You’ll develop an understanding of what copyediting is (attention to punctuation, spelling, grammar, organization and established style) and is not (rewriting, proofreading or substantive editing).

Throughout the course, you’ll get frequent practice with standard editorial markup. You’ll learn how to recognize the typical elements of a simple manuscript and how to tag the manuscript's elements for a designer and a compositor.

You’ll also prepare to write and edit for the web and learn to use dictionaries and other online resources. You’ll discover how writing and editing online content differs from print, and what makes for an effective website. By the end of the course, you’ll know how to effectively use web-based resources for research and how to create and edit online content that engages readers.

The course includes a Working with Digital Content for Editors workshop, which is required for successful completion.

What You’ll Learn

• Copyediting techniques and editing levels

• Online content management and document collaboration tools and systems

• The basics of web terminology and how to use web-based tools for editorial tasks such as fact checking

• How to construct and update an editorial style sheet

• How to create an estimate for a copyediting project

Course Note

This course is offered 100% online and runs from September 28, 2026, to December 12, 2026. Students are required to attend a real-time digital content workshop on October 31, 2026, online, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pacific time. 

Noncredit Course

You'll earn 4 continuing education units (CEUs) for successfully completing this course. Learn more about noncredit options.

This course can only be taken as part of the Certificate in Editing.

Course Details

Jan 4 - Mar 13, 2027 | Noncredit | Online | 10 Weeks | $1,315

Course Description

What does it take to go from raw manuscript to finished editorial product? In this course, you’ll practice building an effective relationship with a human writer or editor and learn the business of editing from start to finish.

You'll gain the skills needed for developmental, structural, substantive and line editing with a range of media both in print and online. You’ll work through practical examples from a wide range of materials — magazines, news articles, websites, academic journals, short stories, books (novels to general nonfiction) and more. Guest speakers will discuss the editorial and publishing environment and the pressures of working with variable deadlines and a range of writers.

You’ll learn tips for identifying an audience, the writer’s voice and structural problems, as well as reorganizing, revising and researching or writing new content. You’ll also practice communicating with authors, other editors and publication staff, and explore networking strategies for obtaining editing work.

The course includes a Corporate Communications for Editors Workshop, which is required for successful completion.

What You’ll Learn

• Story structures, from expository to narrative fiction and nonfiction

• Best practices in file management, transparent editing and workflow

• Issues of audience, tone, word choice and jargon

• Opportunities in e-books and self-publishing

• Career-building tools and skills

Get Hands-On Experience

You’ll create a real-world editing project, from proposal to final edited piece, and work with a human writer to complete it.

Course Note

This course is offered 100% online and runs from January 4, 2027, to March 13, 2027. Students are required to attend a real-time corporate communications workshop on March 6, 2027, online, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pacific time.

Noncredit Course

You'll earn 4 continuing education units (CEUs) for successfully completing this course. Learn more about noncredit options.

This course can only be taken as part of the Certificate in Editing.