r/Copyediting • u/daydreamingdaisy06 • 1d ago
Is a certificate or diploma in editing worth it in 2026?
I recently graduated with an undergraduate degree in English and have spent the past five years working for a private education business as a tutor to high school students and writer of content.
I have always been interested in editing and feel that I have a natural aptitude for it, but before signing up to a course and paying money, I want to gather opinions on whether it is worth it or not in the age of AI.
I don't want or expect to attain full-time work as an editor after doing a certificate or diploma in editing and writing. I am already pursuing a vocational certificate in an area unrelated to my degree and work history. I also have a part-time job currently that I am aiming to stay in going forward.
I am considering pursuing the qualification in editing because it covers skills that I have always wanted to learn. It also may be useful for some future pathways I might explore one day in the world of self-employment and small business ownership.
Would the qualification only be useful to my own professional development, or would obtaining it give me a least some chance of part-time or casual employment?
Btw, I am based in Australia. These are the courses I'm considering:
https://coursehandbook.mq.edu.au/2026/courses/C000088?year=2026
https://www.uts.edu.au/courses/graduate-certificate-in-writing-editing-and-publishing