Here are 7+ FREE Top 7+ BEST Online Proofreading Courses/Certifications to boost your skills and credentials as proofreaders. Skillshare: Proofreading Masterclass (SkillShare) - first on the list is an excellent all-round editing course with lots of modules which focus specifically on proofreading, primarily. It is run by Bill Martin, who has been proofreading for over 20 years, and was previously a newspaper reporter. This is one of the most comprehensive courses you can find for proofreading and focuses on the different aspects of proofreading, from grammar, tense, sentence structure, and word usage to citations, author names, and page layout.
Idiot Proofreaders' Free Book - this is my pick of the best online proofreading courses/certifications available. The Idiot Proofreaders' website is run by a former web editor, and so the level of detail is high, and the support is much greater than many of the other courses or certifications out there. Idiot Proofreaders' Free Book covers all areas of proofreading, from long essay-length manuscripts to micro-fiction.
IDEA Proofreaders Certification - this is probably the most popular course of study amongst online proofreaders. The Idear Course is run by Matt Cutts, who has been a copy editor for several years, and is now the Chief Operating Officer of Ideal Ink, one of the largest e-books publishers in the UK. He holds a Bachelor's degree in English, and a Master's degree in Education, with a dissertation on the impact of multimedia on reading and writing. Idear gives you lifetime access to his products, and guarantees that you'll understand everything he has taught you about copy editing.
Proofreading Mastermind - this is the professional proofreading course that can really turn you into a professional proofreader. This is a mentoring program based on mentoring techniques to teach you how to become a professional proofreader in two years and gives you lifetime access to all their products. This course material is a high standard and comes from a highly regarded source. If you have a low time commitment to a profitable job, this is probably a course for you.
Proofreaders Digest - this course is run by Keena Eggenholzer, who is a proofreader for many years. Unlike some other courses, this one gives you lifetime access to the proofreading materials and is run by Keena, who has been a proofreader herself. This is ideal for people who want to be professional proofreaders, but who don't have a low time commitment to doing so. The materials are of a high standard, and the fact that you get lifetime access makes this a great choice.
Upwork - this is another popular choice among people who want to become professional proofreaders. The people at Upwork are very professional and run a very good quality course material. What's best about it is that you can use the materials whenever you want. They also offer lifetime access. However, it is important to note that like many of the courses mentioned above, it is offered by someone who is a proven upswerer and proofreader.
Scripped - this is another popular choice among those who want to become professional proofreaders. It is run by Bill Lewis, who is well known for his proofreading services. The proofreading course he offers is well designed, easy to understand, and comes with full instructions. The fact that there are several back links inside the site, which link to other sites, is another plus for this particular proofreading course. The only downside of the Scripped proofreading course is that it isn't as widely available as some of the other options. It is offered only in the UK.
There are a number of other online reading courses you might like to take if you're serious about becoming a professional proofreader. Before you decide on which course to take, however, it is important to examine your specific needs and desires. Once you have determined what your needs are, you will be able to select the best online proofreading course for you!