The CIEP Competency Framework

The CIEP Competency Framework describes the skills and knowledge which editorial professionals should seek to obtain and develop at various stages of their career.

What is the Competency Framework?

The CIEP Competency Framework aims to set the benchmark of what good practice looks like in the editorial profession, and to encourage practitioners to continually develop their skills and competency. Editorial professionals can use the Competency Framework to assess their current knowledge and skills, identify any gaps in their skillset and create plans for their professional development. The framework was designed in consultation with the CIEP's Learning and Professional Development Committee.

The professional areas

The Competency Framework is built around three main areas: 'Working as a professional', 'Editorial knowledge and practice' and 'Specialist knowledge and skills'. Each of these areas is broken down into sections which cover the typical areas of practice of someone working as an editor or proofreader, and competences that describe the relevant knowledge and skills required at each professional level.

Working as a professional

The first area describes the core knowledge and skills relevant to everyone working in the editorial profession. The sections describe the roles and responsibilities of an editorial professional, the skills and knowledge relevant to professional practice and ethics, business management and practice, and the tools and technology with which an editorial professional should be familiar.

Editorial knowledge and practice

The second area describes the knowledge and skills that all practitioners should seek to develop. These are necessary to build a successful career in the editorial profession and to develop the required core capabilities to be a competent editor or proofreader. The sections describe the skills and knowledge relevant to publishing processes, as well as editorial knowledge, practice and judgement. ‎

Specialist knowledge and skills (to be published in 2026)

The third area will describe knowledge and skills that are particularly relevant to specialist subjects and areas of practice. We hope to provide this area of the competency framework in 2026. In the meantime, you can download the Specialist skills and knowledge section of the CIEP’s Curriculum for professional development, which predates the competency framework.

The levels

The Competency Framework is structured according to four levels that represent progressively increasing competence in the editorial profession, from Exploring to Expert:

Exploring

You’re starting to learn and develop the foundational knowledge and skills required of an editorial professional, and you’re trying to find out whether it’s the right career for you.

Emerging

You’ve started to deepen your understanding of editorial practices and processes and to refine your skills, and you’re using these to work on editorial projects.

Experienced

You’ve mastered the fundamental skills that are relevant to an editorial professional in your area of practice, and you can apply your skills and knowledge to a wide range of projects in different contexts.

Expert

You’ve gained significant experience in the editorial profession, and you can use this experience to advise fellow professionals and to make insightful recommendations to colleagues and clients on editorial best practice.

Resources to support your professional development

If you’ve used the Competency Framework to assess your editorial knowledge and skills and you've identified gaps or areas that you'd like to develop further, you’re in the right place. We’ve pulled together a selection of resources designed to support your development in each competence. Whether you're looking to build confidence in a particular skill or deepen your expertise, these pages will help guide your next steps.

Explore the sections below to find links to relevant resources aligned with each section of the framework. Simply click on a section to get started.

The roles and responsibilities of an editorial professional

Develop your knowledge and understanding of the role and purpose of the profession as a whole, as well as your role as an individual. ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

Professional practice and ethics

Learn about legal frameworks in publishing, ethical practice, professional communication and continuing professional development. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

Business management and practice

Explore good practice principles in relation to the management and marketing of editorial businesses. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

Tools and technology

Increase your confidence and ability to use tools, systems and technologies relevant to editorial professionals. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

Publishing processes

Discover more about the various stages of publishing processes in a range of contexts and the editorial treatments that are most appropriate for various types of text. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

Editorial knowledge

Deepen your understanding of editorial conventions, including spelling, grammar and punctuation, and how to apply them appropriately for different audiences, channels and variants of English.

Editorial judgement

Enhance your ability to apply editorial judgement to your work and to raise sensitive and appropriate queries. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

Editorial practice

Develop your knowledge and skills in the practice of identifying, marking up and finding appropriate solutions for errors in a piece of text. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

Frequently asked questions

If you have a question about the Competency Framework, you may find the answer here. If not, email [email protected].

What is the Competency Framework?

The CIEP Competency Framework describes the skills and knowledge that editorial professionals should seek to obtain and develop at various stages of their careers. We created it with CIEP members in mind but hope it will prove useful for all editorial professionals.

How should I use the Competency Framework?

You can use the framework to: assess your current knowledge and skills, and whether they’re sufficient for your current career stage identify gaps in your knowledge and skills create plans to help you to develop, and to progress through the various stages, by engaging in CPD or by gaining experience through your professional practice.

Do I have to use the Competency Framework as part of my CIEP membership?

No. The Competency Framework is designed to be a useful guide for CIEP members and others in the editorial profession. Members are not required to use or refer to the Competency Framework in order to gain or maintain membership.

How was the Competency Framework developed?

The Competency Framework builds on the Curriculum for Professional Development, created by Jane Moody (who was the CIEP training director at the time) in 2020. Working with the CIEP’s Learning and Professional Development Committee, we reviewed the content in the curriculum. We worked to bring it into line with current practices and we divided it into four levels, roughly paralleling four stages of an editorial professional’s career. We invited CIEP members to give feedback on the content via a series of focus groups. We refined the content based on that feedback. Finally, the whole framework was checked for plain language and proofread.

Is the Competency Framework linked to the CIEP membership upgrade application process?

The Competency Framework is not directly linked to the CIEP membership upgrading process, and the competences are not intended to represent entry criteria for the membership levels. However, the framework can help you to identify gaps in your knowledge, which can then guide your CPD planning and ultimately support you if you apply to upgrade your membership.

What's the difference between the Competency Framework and the Professional Practice Code?

The Competency Framework describes the knowledge and skills required of editorial professionals at various stages of their career. It is designed to be a useful guide to support members with their professional development, but members are not required to adhere to or comply with the framework. In contrast, the Professional Practice Code sets out professional and ethical standards that are binding for all CIEP members, and it underpins the Professional Practice Complaints procedure.

Who should I contact if I have comments or questions about the Competency Framework?

If you have any questions, comments or feedback about the Competency Framework, please contact Sarah Magee, Head of professional development, by emailing [email protected].