Editing Certificate Programs in Canada, Part 2

Welcome back to our two-part exploration of editing certificate programs in Canada. Last week, we covered the programs offered through Mount Royal University and George Brown College, both of which focus on brand-new or prospective editors. Today, we will look at the certificates available from Queen’s University and Simon Fraser University, as well as how to choose a program for yourself.

Queen’s University’s Professional Editing Standards Certificate

In contrast to the other programs we’re examining, Queen’s certificate program is designed for editors who want to strengthen their skills or prepare for the Editors Canada Professional Certification exams. The online curriculum is asynchronous and consists of five courses, which have been designed to the EC standards.

Carla Douglas, Editor and Instructional Designer, explained that this program is designed for mid-level and experienced editors or those who have been consistently editing as part of their work. Douglas recommends five years of editing experience before beginning. Through the program, students can assess how well their current skills align with the EC Standards and then, through practice, have the opportunity to address any gaps. The program’s value is multi-dimensional; students learn from each other through discussions, as well as from the instructors.

For those exploring a career in editing, or new or less experienced editors, Queen’s offers a preliminary course, explained Douglas. How to Copyedit is a robust introduction to editing basics. This popular course is standalone. While it doesn’t apply toward the certificate, it attracts people from a wide variety of occupational backgrounds.

Queen’s also offers another standalone course of interest to editors entitled Editing Genres of Fiction: Working with Indie Authors. This course began this academic year in response to interest. 

Simon Fraser University’s Editing Certificate

The editing program from Simon Fraser University (SFU) offers skills-based courses similar to the other programs, and related courses such as business writing, document design, and ethics and legal issues, as well as a choice of electives. Students must complete ten mandatory courses as well as at least two of the four electives, which are offered in freelancing, plain language, technical writing and editing, and indexing.

SFU students can choose to take courses individually and then decide to apply for the certificate program at any point within five years. Vesna Maljković, Associate Director, Communication Programs, explained that students earn the certificate within two to five years, with the exception of one student who completed the program in two semesters — an achievement she finds remarkable.

At the end of their program, students must complete a capstone project. By undertaking all stages of editing a non-fiction book, they can demonstrate the knowledge and skills they’ve developed, while creating a portfolio of work samples to share with prospective employers and other future opportunities.

Picking a program

What’s the right program for you? That’s a tough one. Time, cost, requirements and your learning needs are all factors to consider. You even have the option of taking individual courses, rather than completing an entire program.

Mount Royal, George Brown, Queen’s and SFU all build on the work and resources of Editors Canada, particularly the Professional Editorial Standards. The courses were designed to reflect these standards, and the schools continue to review their curriculums to keep current and in tune with the standards and new topics in the industry. For example, Simon Fraser fully revised eight courses in 2025 when the standards were updated in 2024.

Mount Royal combines editing fundamentals with preparation for the workforce, whereas George Brown’s courses, running synchronously, provide real-time interaction with fellow students as well as courses in web content and accessible documents.

Simon Fraser has the most extensive, well-rounded program, offering both the skills fundamentals, related topics and electives, giving students the opportunity to follow specific interests. SFU students can register for individual courses at any time, then apply to the program later. By contrast, Queen’s program is the most targeted, taking a deep dive into editing to help experienced editors refine and polish their skills.

Didn’t see a program that would be a good fit? There are many other options for training, including French editing programs or programs on related subjects like publishing, writing, journalism and translation.

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Previous post from Joy Moskovic: Editing Certificate Programs in Canada, Part 1

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