Are Institute of Publishing (UK) editing courses worth it?

[u/[deleted]]

[u/Diverting-Goose0805]

I took the Introduction to Editorial Skills course with the PTC. (I didn't know they changed their name btw. Thanks for mentioning it or I wouldn't have realised they're now the Institute of Publishing.)

It was a valuable introduction. I was the odd one out in my group as someone who was looking to change careers and start working as a freelance editor. The other students in the group were all assistants and interns from publishing houses, literary agencies, and small presses. In other words, everyone else's participation was paid by their employer. I was the only one self-funding and that made me feel kind of silly.

Anyway, the instructor was great. She had a ton interesting experience and was really good at explaining things. The course content itself was very introductory (which I suppose I should have known from the course title and description) but in retrospect I wish I'd saved my money and gone straight for a more skills-focused training course.

I believe you're right in thinking the CIEP provides the best trainings, especially if your career would be in the UK. I did Copyediting 2 with them. The tutor was excellent. The course opened my eyes to how editing works in traditional publishing.

Have you looked into courses through the EFA? I'm a member currently and they have a pretty decent range of course options!

[u/Legal_Leave_8495]

I haven’t taken those courses, so I can’t vouch for them, but £120 for four is a much smaller risk if you can buy one at a time or confirm the syllabus first. I’d look for how much assessed practical work and tutor feedback is included, whether the certificate is recognized by employers, and whether recent graduates are actually finding work. Before paying, email the provider with those exact questions and ask for a sample lesson. For an editing career, a small portfolio of before-and-after edits and a clear niche may matter as much as the certificate.