Entry requirements to the mentoring scheme

The mentoring scheme is not easy; it will push you to the limits of your current proofreading or copyediting knowledge, and (we hope) beyond. It will make you think; it will make you research editorial problems that might never have occurred to you; it will start to demonstrate what it is to work on a difficult task to a deadline. It will undoubtedly take up quite a bit of your time, and of course it will take up your mentor’s time when they get to see your returned assignments.

All of this means that it is in nobody’s interest for someone to start the mentoring scheme and then find themselves out of their depth. That would mean time, money and self-confidence down the drain. So the entry requirements to mentoring are fairly rigid, although in exceptional circumstances (which you would have to explain persuasively and in some detail), the mentoring director can allow someone to join the scheme even without some of the requirements listed below.

Ideally, you should be able to supply evidence that you have been assessed as ready to undertake mentoring, and normally you should have taken at least two relevant courses, unless you can show one of these three exceptions:

Code	Training
1	PTC Basic Proofreading (BP), distinction
2	CIEP Proofreading 3: Progress (PR3), pass with distinction
3	CIEP Copyediting 3: Progress (CE3), assessed ‘very good’

If your training does not include one of these assessments, then you will need to show evidence of having taken two courses, at least one of which should be assessed:

Code	Training
4	PTC BP pass/merit + one other CIEP course
5	CIEP PR3, pass (or old P2 Proofreading Progress) + one other CIEP or EditTrain course
6	CIEP CE3, pass (or old CE2 Copy-editing Progress) + one other CIEP or EditTrain course
7	CIEP PR2 pass + one of CIEP Editing with Word/Word for Practical Editing, CIEP References or CIEP Brush Up Your Grammar/Getting to Grips with Grammar and Punctuation
8	CIEP CE2 pass + one of CIEP Editing with Word/Word for Practical Editing, CIEP References or CIEP Brush Up Your Grammar/Getting to Grips with Grammar and Punctuation

If you have training that falls into one of the above categories, insert the relevant code number into the box on the application form. Otherwise use one of the following codes:

Code	Training
98	I have other training that I think meets the entry requirements. I have listed it in the free text box (Box 2 on the form).
99	Although I do not have training to meet the entry requirements, I do have a lot of experience that I think qualifies me instead. I have summarised it in the free text box (Box 3 on the form).

In certain circumstances we are willing to consider other training in lieu of the above requirements. We will accept training given in other countries if you can show us that it is adequate. Where experienced editors or proofreaders are returning after a long break or have worked only within a narrow field, we are likely to accept higher-level or in-house training. We will also consider basic training given by a reputable organisation comparable to the CIEP or the Publishing Training Centre. In all these cases, please email [email protected] in the first instance with details of your training. If the mentoring director does approve other training in lieu, you will need to include the date of the approval (if email) or a scan of the letter (if post) when you apply.

Specialist mentoring

 Legal mentoring is carried out over four assignments, two in proofreading and two in copyediting. Mentees are expected to have passed CE3 Copyediting Progress, although candidates who have passed P3 Proofreading Progress and have completed the CIEP References course, or who can demonstrate familiarity with referencing systems, will be considered. All assignments are taken from academic textbooks on law, and mentees should be comfortable dealing with the following elements of such texts:

• All aspects of academic texts, including footnotes, bibliographies and referencing systems
• Legal terminology, although no formal legal training is required. Familiarity with how the UK legal system operates would be an advantage.
• Legal referencing systems, such as OSCOLA. 

Candidates are advised to take further training or carry out self-study on any of the above areas with which they are not familiar before applying for the specialist legal mentoring scheme.