10 Qualifications You Need to Be a Proofreader in 2023

If you’re interested in becoming a digital nomad, making good money online while lazing on a beach by the Mediterranean, or camping on the soaring Canadian Rockies, I recommend that you try proofreading online. Before you start, however, you’ll need to consider the qualifications to be a proofreader.

With so much written content being released in today’s digital world, proofreading is in demand. And luckily, this job can be worked from anywhere.

I began freelance proofreading when I started living abroad in Japan, and the extra cash allowed me to backpack around the entire country; from exploring Tokyo to trekking around Iriomote Island. Proofreading is also one of my favorite online jobs; it’s so much fun to read a wide variety of written work, from student sociology essays to media news articles and neuroscience research papers.

But, if you’re interested in proofreading online, you’ll first have to consider the many requirements to secure proofreading jobs. So, to help you out, I listed out the 10 qualifications that you need to be a freelance proofreader.

Without further ado, let’s begin.

☞ SEE ALSO: How to Become a Proofreader

Qualifications to Be a Proofreader

Before we dive right in, I just want to clarify that while having these 10 qualifications to become a proofreader is highly recommended before starting your proofreading career, not all of them are required. Many of these skills can be learned or developed while working as a proofreader, and there are many proofreaders that are just as successful without some of these traits.

However, it is much harder to do well as a proofreader without these skills, so I definitely recommend working on them. With that being said, let’s get started with the 10 ultimate qualifications to be a proofreader:

1. Take a Proofreading Course

First, one of the key qualifications for becoming a freelance proofreader is the completion of a proofreading course. Not only will this allow you to gain valuable insight into the fundamentals of grammar and proofreading, but you’ll also be more marketable to potential clients. The right course will also expose you to the terminology, rules, and best practices for finding mistakes, spotting inconsistencies, and improving the writing of others.

One of the best proofreading courses available is the Knowadays Becoming a Proofreader course, as it comes with guaranteed work with their partner company, Proofed.

While I…