ACES Logo

ACES has teamed up with The Poynter Institute to offer ACES members a three-part editing certification program that sets the industry standard for communications professionals who want to improve their editing skills.

The courses cover the latest trends in language and best practices related to editing. The introductory and intermediate programs were revised and updated in 2023. Read more about the newly revised Poynter ACES Intermediate Certificate in Editing

These certificate programs are available on-demand and are offered at a significant discount for ACES members. They are a convenient and cost-effective way to build and maintain editing chops. ACES members can log in to the ACES member center and navigate to the discounts page to learn the codes. 


Poynter ACES Introductory Certificate in Editing
revised and updated in 2023
seven self-paced courses
12–15 hours total
ACES members: $99
Nonmembers: $150

The Poynter ACES Introductory Certificate in Editing provides a solid understanding of the standards, essential skills, and best practices of editing. This foundational certification is designed for those looking to up their editing game for new jobs, promotions, or to hone their skills.  

It draws together knowledge from some of the nation’s leading editors, fact-checkers, and academics for a fast-paced experience that will challenge and entertain you on your quest to becoming a world-class editor.

The course is self-directed so participants can start and pause at their convenience. It is available for one year. 

Please note that quizzes and assessments are timed. For example, a student might have 25 minutes to take a 15-question quiz. Quizzes and assessments require an 80% or higher score to pass and participants have three attempts to pass. 


Poynter ACES Intermediate Certificate in Editing
revised and updated in 2023

seven self-paced courses
12 hours
ACES members: $175
Nonmembers: $250

Read more about the newly revised Poynter ACES Intermediate Certificate in Editing

Each course within the certificate runs about 90 minutes. The intermediate certificate is the second in the three-tier editing certification series.


Poynter ACES Advanced Certificate in Editing

The advanced editing program is currently being updated and will be available in 2024. 


DISCOUNTS & BENEFITS

ACES members access Poynter discount codes by logging in to their ACES membership portal


QUESTIONS

Email training@aceseditors.org for questions about membership, discounts, and other trainings.  

For more information on the Poynter ACES Certificate in Editing programs, please email info@poynter.org


About ACES: The Society for Editing
ACES: The Society for Editing is the nation’s leading organization of editing professionals, educators, and students. Founded in 1997 by copy editors, ACES is dedicated to improving the quality of the written word and the working lives of editors. It sets standards of excellence and gives a voice to editors in journalism, government, business, publishing, and beyond through top-notch training, networking, and career opportunities.ACES hosts an annual in-person conference and, since 2022, an annual virtual conference. ACES Academy hosts monthly webinars. ACES also offers certificates in editing, which it co-hosts with The Poynter Institute, a global leader in journalism. 

About The Poynter Institute
The Poynter Institute is a global nonprofit working to address society’s most pressing issues by teaching journalists and journalism, covering the media and the complexities facing the industry, convening and community building, improving the capacity and sustainability of news organizations and fostering trust and reliability of information. The Institute is a gold standard in journalistic excellence and dedicated to the preservation and advancement of press freedom in democracies worldwide. Through Poynter, journalists, newsrooms, businesses, big tech corporations and citizens convene to find solutions that promote trust and transparency in news and stoke meaningful public discourse. The world’s top journalists and emerging media leaders rely on the Institute to learn new skills, adopt best practices, better serve audiences, scale operations and improve the quality of the universally shared information ecosystem.

The Craig Newmark Center for Ethics and Leadership, the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), MediaWise and PolitiFact are all members of the Poynter organization.

Support for Poynter and our entities upholds the integrity of the free press and the U.S. First Amendment and builds public confidence in journalism and media — an essential for health democracies. Learn more at poynter.org.