EAC Certification

1. EAC Certification

2. The Gold Standard of Editing • EAC certification credentials give editors official recognition of the excellence of their knowledge and skills. • This landmark program gives editors a marketing advantage. • As Canada’s national association of editors, EAC is well qualified to acknowledge editing excellence.

3. EAC’s Certification Program • EAC’s certification program is for editors of written material who work in English. • The program is open to EAC members and to non-members. • To earn a credential, a candidate must passa test. • With the 2011 tests, a credential maintenance component was added to the program.

4. The Credentials Editors can earn the following credentials: • Certified Proofreader • Certified Copy Editor • Certified Stylistic Editor • Certified Structural Editor • Certified Professional Editor (CPE), by passing all four tests

5. A Brief History • EAC members voted in 1997 to “institute a certification program in English editing.” • Research was done into standards for certification testing. Policies, procedures, and tests were developed. • First tests were administered in 2006. First credentials were awarded in 2007.

6. EAC Has Now Recognized . . . • 50 Certified Proofreaders • 68 Certified Copy Editors • 30 Certified Structural and Stylistic Editors • 16 Certified Stylistic Editors • 18 Certified Professional Editors

7. Why Certification? • To promote and maintain high professional standards of editing. • To help editors develop professionally. • To enhance the status of editing as a profession in Canada.

8. The Certification Tests

9. Overview of the Tests • There are four tests: proofreading, copy editing, stylistic editing, and structural editing. • Each test examines candidates’ knowledge of and ability to apply standards for: • The skill area being tested. • The fundamentals of editing. • Each test includes a set of short questions and an editing exercise.

10. Two of the four tests are offered each November in cities across Canada. Candidates take the tests in supervised settings. At this time, the tests are paper-based. A committee is investigating the best way to offer them electronically in the future. More on the Tests

11. Still More on the Tests Candidates must obey requirements on: Materials they can bring into the tests. Their conduct during the tests. Candidates must sign confidentiality agreements. Candidates may write each test as many times as they wish.

12. How Does EAC Ensure that the Testing Process Is Rigorous, Fair, and Secure?

13. Standards Are Central • Tests are based on the 2009 edition of Professional Editorial Standards. • The standards outline the skills and knowledge an editor must have in order to edit at a professional level with minimal supervision. • The standards apply to editing in all media.

14. Test Development • Tests are developed using principles that are common to international professional certification programs. • Everyone involved signs a confidentiality agreement and follows procedures that guarantee test security. • EAC uses feedback from candidates, invigilators, and markers to improve the testing process.

15. How Do I Prepare fora Certification Test?

16. Schedule Well • Start studying at least four months before the test. • Gather your study materials early. • Study every week for a set period of time. Make it a habit. • Form a study group or work with a partner.

17. Review Professional Editorial Standards • Review and learn the standards in two areas: • The relevant skill area. • The fundamentals of editing.

18. Review the Fundamentals of Editing The fundamentals of editing are the basic knowledge and practices a professional editor should know. They apply to all types of publications (print and electronic). They are listed in Part A of Professional Editorial Standards.

19. Review Your Reference Books • Review the reference books you are allowed to bring with you: • One dictionary. • Up to three style guides. • Editing Canadian English (published by EAC). • Add tabs to your reference books, so you can easily find what you need.

20. Use the Study Guides • The EAC Certification Study Guides give you practice at writing the tests. • Write each sample test within the allotted time. It’s important to be sure you can complete the actual tests within the time limits. • Compare your answers and markup to the answer key. • Determine your weaknesses.

21. More on Using the Study Guides • Compare the examples of a passing and a failing test to your work on the sample test. • Note the standards you have difficulty with. • Work on those standards (e.g., use Meeting Professional Editorial Standards, other exercises, and tip sheets). • Re-do the Study Guide test.

22. Use Meeting Professional Editorial Standards • Work through the exercises in Meeting Professional Editorial Standards. • Compare your answers and markup to the samples provided. • Re-do the exercises.

23. Refresh Your Test-Taking Skills • If you haven’t written an exam for a while, look for information on test-taking skills, including tips for preparing mentally. • If you edit on computer, review markup symbols for editing and proofreading on paper. • See “Preparing for Certification” at www.editors.ca/certification/index.html.

24. Schedule and Costs

25. Test Schedule • November 17, 2012: • Proofreading • Structural Editing • November 2013 (date to be determined): • Copy Editing • Stylistic Editing

26. 2012 Test Fees EAC members Non-members One test $400 $500 Two tests $750 $950 Administration: • November 17, 2012 • Various cities across Canada (to be determined) • Proofreading: 10:00 am – 1:00 pm • Structural Editing: 2:30 – 5:30 pm

27. Study Guides Subscription fees: Individual fees: $300 (four, print) $75 (print) $220 (four, pdf) $55 (pdf) • Proofreading Study Guide • Copy Editing Study Guide • Stylistic Editing Study Guide • Structural Editing Study Guide

28. Meeting Professional Editorial Standards Subscription fee: $175 (print; four plus binder) Individual fee: $40 (print; plus $15 once for binder) • Proofreading: MPES • Copy Editing: MPES • Stylistic Editing: MPES • Structural Editing: MPES

29. Results and Recognition

30. Results • Results are usually sent 16 to 18 weeks after the test administration. • Candidates are simply told they have passed or failed. • Candidates who have not passed are given a checklist noting the categories in which they need to improve (e.g., “did not follow instructions,” “used non-standard or unclear mark-up,” “did not complete the test,” “introduced errors”).

31. Recognition • The names of successful candidates are: • Announced to EAC members. • Added to the Roster of Certified Editors on the EAC website. • Certified proofreaders and editors: • Are recognized at EAC’s annual general meetings as they earn each certification. • Have their certifications listed in their entries in the Online Directory of Editors.

32. What Is the Credential Maintenance Program?

33. Credential Maintenance • Credential maintenance helps ensure that certified editors: • Advance their skills and knowledge. • Continue to do excellent work. • It helps maintain the reputation of the certification program. • It’s an accepted component of international professional certification programs. • It began with the 2011 test administration.

34. Credential Maintenance Requirements • To remain certified in good standing, anyone with a credential earned during or after the 2011 test administration must: • Earn 100 professional-development points over five years. • Use the secure web-based form to submit proof of these professional-development activities. • Pay an annual administration fee.

35. Credential Maintenance Categories • Delivering editing-related education and training • Receiving education and training • Volunteering for EAC (members only) • Working as an editor or proofreader • Other professional-development activities not listed above

36. Sample Credential MaintenanceReporting Form

37. Yes, You Can! Exploding the Myths About Certification

38. Myth 1 • The tests are too hard. No one passes them. • They’re supposed to be hard. They measure excellence─the gold standard in editing and proofreading. • People do pass them, and in approximately the same proportions as those who pass in-house editing tests during hiring. • You can pass them if you have at least five years of experience and prepare well. Know your resources, study, refresh your test- taking skills, and build your confidence.

39. Myth 2 • The exams don’t reflect the way I edit in the real world. • No exam exactly represents the way things are done in the real world. • In some real-life situations, you do have to edit within a time limit, and on paper instead of using a computer.

40. Myth 3 • The tests are too long. No one finishes them, so they’re not fair. • You need to practise taking the tests. • Even experienced editors sometimes need to practise, to increase their speed. • Before you begin writing a test, look over it. Note how many points each question and each section is worth, and plan your time accordingly.

41. Myth 4 • You need to pass all four tests before itmeans anything. • This was true in the early planning stages of the program, when the only goal was to produce CPEs. It hasn’t been true since the program was launched in 2006. • There are benefits to achieving just one, two, or three of the certifications. • One or two certifications may be all you need for the kind of work you do.

42. Myth 5 • You have to do all of the exams at once. • Only two tests are offered each year. • Candidates are more successful if they write just one exam in a given year.

43. Myth 6 • You have to pass all four tests within a certain time, or you can’t become a CPE. • This used to be true. There used to be a 10-year window to pass all four tests. • Now the test-taking period is open ended. You can take as many years as you like to complete all of the tests you wish to take.

44. Myth 7 • You can write a particular test only three times. If you still fail, you can’t try again. • Again, this used to be true. • Now you can write an exam as many times as you wish, until you pass.

45. Myth 8 • If I fail a test, other EAC members will know, and my reputation will suffer. • Confidentiality is critical to the program. • Throughout the process, you’re identified only by a secret number─never by name. • The only person who ever finds out who passes and who fails is the national professional development coordinator, and she finds out only at the end of the process, as she prepares the pass/fail letters.

46. Myth 9 • The tests are too subjective. You can’t objectively measure an editor’s ability, because there are many ways to edit a passage. Who’s to say what’s “wrong”? • The process has been designed to be as objective as possible, from designing the questions to preparing the answer keys to training the markers. • Markers consider a range of answers. • Each test is marked by two people. If their assessments for a particular candidate differ significantly, the test is sent to a third marker. • A marking analyst assesses all of the results.

47. Myth 10 • Certification won’t make any difference to my career. • Certification allows you to demonstrate objectively that you’re good at what you do. • It boosts your confidence as a professional. • It allows you to charge more for your work. • Some companies now ask for certification. • Many people find that the very act of studying and practising for the tests improves their skills and makes them better editors.

48. Myth 11 • Credential maintenance is too complicated. It scares me. • The process has been simplified since it was first envisioned, and is now very easy to manage. • As you complete each professional- development activity, you simply enter the details on EAC’s website, which tallies and securely stores this confidential information. • It’s a pleasant way to track your own progress.

49. Myth 12 • The whole thing seems overwhelming. I don’t think I can do this. • Yes, you can, if you have at least five years of editing and proofreading experience before you begin. • Yes, you can, if you prepare well. • Yes, you can, if you upgrade and hone your skills and believe in yourself. • Yes. You can.

50. Want More Details? Visit www.editors.ca and Click on “Certification”