Information about the accreditation exam.
IPEd accreditation exam
The IPEd accreditation exam is held about every 2 years and has 3 parts: Language, Knowledge and Manuscript. Starting in 2026, candidates sit each part of the exam separately and only progress to the next part if they pass the previous part.
Information about the exam is set out below under the following headings:
- Benefits of sitting the exam
- Eligibility to sit the exam
- Registration for the exam
- Structure and format of the exam
- Preparation for the exam
If you have a question not answered below or in the linked pages and documents, contact your Accreditation Board branch delegate in the first instance. If you do not belong to an IPEd branch, contact the delegate for your area or the chair of the Accreditation Board. Contact information is on the Governance of accreditation page.
For a quick introduction to the accreditation exam, download the accreditation exam fact sheet [PDF 189KB].
Questions about the accreditation exam? We’ve collated your frequently asked questions in this downloadable fact sheet [PDF 1MB].
Benefits of sitting the exam
The primary purpose of sitting the exam is to gain accreditation. However, past candidates have reported that preparing for the exam is beneficial in itself, as it improves their editorial skills and knowledge. The benefits of accreditation for editors, their clients and employers, and the editing profession are listed on the Accreditation scheme page.
Eligibility to sit the exam
The IPEd accreditation exam is open only to IPEd members and members of approved affiliate editing organisations (e.g. Canberra Society of Editors, CIEP, Editors Canada). Candidates who are not currently IPEd or affiliate members should join IPEd as an associate member. Associate members of IPEd who pass the exam automatically qualify for professional membership (professional membership fee applies).
The Accreditation Board recommends that candidates have at least 2 to 3 years of full-time or 4 to 6 years of casual or part-time editing experience. This is because the exam is not designed to test entry-level editing skills but to measure an editor’s professional competence against the skills and knowledge set out in IPEd standards for editing practice (3rd edn).
Registration for the exam
The Exam registration page has everything you need to know about registering for the exam, including key dates, registration fees and the registration process. General registration information is provided below.
Sitting the exam
Starting in 2026, remote sitting in your home, workplace or other suitable venue is the default option for sitting the exam. Sitting the exam at an alternative venue with an in-person invigilator is available only on request when you register for the exam. An alternative venue should be a low-cost, quiet space with reliable wi-fi service.
For all candidates, availability of the exam is subject to enough invigilators being available.
Privacy waiver and technical indemnity agreement
When you register for the exam, you will be asked to agree to a privacy waiver and technical indemnity conditions, and to attend recorded practice sessions before the day of the exam.
The privacy waiver is to allow a remote or alternative venue invigilator to watch and record you and your computer screen throughout the exam, in your home, workplace or other setting.
The technical indemnity agreement is because you are responsible for ensuring your technology systems at your home, workplace or alternative venue are up to date and robust enough to maintain video communications and internet connectivity for the duration of the exam (up to 3 hours per part, including check-in, set-up, reading and working time, and end-of-exam procedures).
Alternative venue candidates will also be asked to agree that if a suitable venue or invigilator cannot be arranged in time for the exam, or part of the exam, you will switch to a remote sitting or have your registration cancelled.
Recorded practice sessions
All candidates will be invited to attend recorded practice sessions before the exam. If you choose not to attend, then IPEd is not responsible for any technical issues that prevent you from sitting the exam on the day.
Emergencies in an exam location
In the event of an emergency (e.g. a natural disaster) in an alternative venue location, any candidates registered for that venue will be offered remote sitting – provided sufficient remote invigilators are available and the candidates meet the technical requirements. A candidate unwilling or unable to sit the exam remotely in these circumstances will receive a refund of their registration fee in line with our cancellation and refund policy.
Registration fees
IPEd keeps exam registration fees as low as possible, but we do need to cover the direct costs of holding the exam and associated administrative costs. These include exam development, venue hire for candidates unable to sit remotely, invigilator fees and expenses, marker and moderator fees and expenses, administrative and technical support, and candidate materials and certificates.
The registration fee does not include the cost of hearing an appeal against your result; an additional fee applies for lodging an appeal.
Registration policy
For more information about the registration process and policies for the next exam, see the Exam registration page.
Structure and format of the exam
The exam tests editors’ competence (not excellence) in applying the standards set out in IPEd standards for editing practice (3rd edn). It tests copyediting skills, such as language skills and practical editing mark-up skills in Microsoft Word, and other skills and knowledge that editors need, such as the ability to define a project and identify ethical and legal issues.
Structure
- LANGUAGE: short-answer and multiple-choice questions on language skills needed for copyediting, such as spelling, punctuation, grammar, syntax, style and usage (20%)
- KNOWLEDGE: short-answer questions on general editing skills and knowledge, comprising 2 compulsory questions and 4 elective questions from which candidates choose 2 (40%)
- MANUSCRIPT: a practical copyediting exercise (40%), comprising a short extract for editing (32% for the edits and 4% for author queries) and a style sheet (4%).
To pass, a candidate must gain:
- an overall mark of 80%
- a minimum of 65% in each of the 2 compulsory questions in the KNOWLEDGE part
- a minimum of 65% in each part, including a minimum of 65% in each component of the Manuscript part (extract, author queries and style sheet).
See the Guide for candidates for more information.
Format
The Language and Knowledge parts use Adobe Acrobat PDF files. The Manuscript part uses MS Word files. The exam does not test proficiency in Word or PDF, but you must have basic technology skills such as the ability to work on-screen and to open, save and close documents. (This is standard A3.2 of the IPEd standards for editing practice.)
The exam is “open book”. This means that you may use your own reference materials (such as a dictionary and a style guide) and notes, as long as you comply with the requirements in the Guide for candidates.
During the exam, you have access to approved websites only. You have no internet access via mobile phones or devices other than the computer you use to complete the exam.
Duration of the exam
The preparation time is for:
- the invigilator to check your ID and your specific room, workstation or venue set-up
- you to download the exam files and check your candidate number
- you and the invigilator to check your file settings and that there are no technology issues
- the invigilator to guide you through the exam rules and instructions
- you to review the instructions for the part.
The reading time is for you to read the exam questions or other content and, in the Knowledge part, decide which questions and sub-questions you might answer.
| Exam part | Preparation time* | Reading time | Working time | Total |
| Language | TBC | 5 minutes | 30 minutes | 35 minutes + prep time |
| Knowledge | TBC | 20 minutes | 75 minutes | 95 minutes + prep time |
| Manuscript | TBC | 20 minutes | 75 minutes | 95 minutes + prep time |
| Total | 45 minutes | 180 minutes (3 hours) | 3 hours 45 minutes + prep time |
* Preparation time for each exam part to be confirmed after trialling.
Preparation for the exam
IPEd has developed an online exam preparation course on MoodleCloud. Registrations for the course will open soon.
Many other resources are also available to help you prepare for the exam. See the Exam resources and Guide for candidates pages for details.
See the study tips fact sheet for advice on preparing for the accreditation exam.
The IPEd accreditation exam is proudly sponsored by the Macquarie Dictionary and Thesaurus Online and the Canberra Society of Editors
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