We appreciate that life sometimes takes unexpected turns and that you may need to take time out from your professional editorial career for a while. If you want to do this, you have two options:
If you are a Professional Member (PM) or Advanced Professional Member (APM) you can take one career break of between one and three years. You would still be a part of the CIEP with basic benefits such as access to our forums, although you shouldn’t be working or advertising your services.
Alternatively, you could lapse your membership from between one and three years before rejoining at the same grade and without paying our processing fee. This option is open to all CIEP members.
To start a career break (PMs and APMs only)
Please contact our office to let us know you wish to take a career break, ideally a couple of months before your membership is due to be renewed. If your request is accepted, your membership grade will be changed to Entry-Level and at renewal you will pay the fee for that grade. When you're ready to return from your career break, your former grade will be reinstated if you're returning on your membership renewal date the next year, or on its second or third anniversary. If you take a career break of more than three years, you will need to upgrade to get back to your previous membership level.
To lapse your membership (all membership levels)
Your membership will automatically lapse if you don't pay for your annual membership subscription when it's due for renewal. Keep an eye on the calendar, however, and make sure you rejoin before three years is up. Otherwise you'll have to join as a new member, losing your former membership level and having to pay our administrative application fee.
Rejoining after a break or lapsing
Whether you've taken a career break or lapsed your membership, you'll need to contact our office when you're ready to rejoin us.
If you’ve taken a career break, we'll let you know when your membership will be renewed and confirm the grade that you'll return to.
If your membership lapsed, we'll advise you on how to rejoin and the options available to you. Your renewal date and the grade that you return to will depend on when your membership lapsed. If your membership subscription expired less than three years since your last renewal date, your membership grade will be restored to the level you had when you were last a member, and your joining date will be the same as when you previously held a subscription. You'll be required to pay for the full membership year, even if you're rejoining part way through what would have been your membership year. Alternatively we can contact you when your renewal anniversary is approaching and you can restart your membership then. If your membership subscription expired over three years ago, you’ll rejoin as a new member at the Entry-Level and your membership date will be reset to the day you rejoin.
Retired members
You may apply for Retired Member status if you:
- are a Professional or Advanced Professional Member
- and will be scaling down or ending your professional editing or proofreading work.
You’ll receive basic benefits, such as being able to stay active on our forums and in local groups, but you’ll no longer be able to take CIEP courses at member rates or use CIEP resources to gain work.
Retired Members may describe themselves as 'Professional Member (Retired)' or 'Advanced Professional Member (Retired)' if they held those grades.
To apply to be a Retired Member, contact our office a month or two before your annual renewal date. If you’re eligible, you will be charged at our Retired Member rate when you renew.