Honorary president: Judith Butcher Honorary vice-president: David Crystal OBE

Structure

The SfEP is a professional society for employed and self-employed copy-editors and proofreaders. Desk editors, project managers and other editorial professionals are also encouraged to join.

Anyone with an interest in editorial matters is welcome to become an associate of the SfEP – indeed, everyone who joins the Society does so initially as an associate. However, it is hoped that most of those who join as associates will then go on to become ordinary or advanced members.

Some associates believe that, because they do not have a standard proofreading/copy-editing background or training, they may not be eligible to upgrade and become members. However, this may not be true: the SfEP recognises that, nowadays, those editing and proofreading come to these skills in many different ways and work for a wide range of clients. If you have any doubts, please contact the membership director to discuss them.

Associates

Being an associate is particularly appropriate for:

• those who are starting out as editors or proofreaders
• those who are not primarily editors or proofreaders but who work in a related field such as design.

Associates cannot vote or take an entry in the Directory, but there are still many SfEP benefits that they can take advantage of. In addition, every individual associate receives a £20 voucher during each of the first two years following their joining, to be put towards the cost of any SfEP training course.

Upgrading

Corporate associates

Publishing companies and other businesses and organizations that support the Society's aims can become corporate associates. We have more information on the benefits of becoming a corporate associate.

To join the Society as an associate, go to How to join.

Members

There are two tiers of membership:

• Ordinary – for the professionally competent individual. Ordinary members have full voting rights and may advertise in the Directory.
• Advanced – for the highly skilled and experienced individual. As well as being able to vote, advanced members are highlighted in the Directory, their entries appear first in all online Directory searches and they are promoted in other Society publicity. They can also have an SfEP email address and may use the SfEP logo on their own publicity/stationery.

To become an ordinary member, you must be able to show evidence of competence in copy-editing or proofreading. Each application is awarded points for:

• training (attendance at courses and conferences; SfEP mentoring)
• experience (hours spent proofreading or copy-editing)
• references (up to two references from clients or employers).

Although an application may include all these elements, the only mandatory component is training.

To become an advanced member, you must be able to show evidence of a high degree of competence and substantial experience in copy-editing or proofreading. People who pass the SfEP's Accreditation test automatically become advanced members. For those who do not take the test but wish to apply, an application is awarded points for:

• recent training (attendance at courses and conferences; SfEP mentoring)
• experience (evidence of hours spent proofreading or copy-editing)
• references (up to two references from clients or employers).

Applicants must supply evidence in all three categories.

Individual associates with relevant qualifications and experience may apply for ordinary or advanced membership at any time after joining the SfEP.

Ordinary and advanced members may also revert to being associates if they choose – for example, if they wish to remain in the Society during a career break or when reducing work with a view to retiring. If you want to revert to being an associate, get in touch with the SfEP Office.

To apply for an upgrade to ordinary or advanced membership, go to How to join. There you will also find out how much it costs to join.

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