Certification Dashboard
This page is intended as a quick-reference guide for all publishing trade contractors certified by The Company. The information herein is legally binding per your certification agreement. If you have any questions, please contact Brad at brad@writers.company.
General Overview
A “certification” from The Company is an extension of trust. When a candidate is certified, The Company is loaning its reputation to the practitioner for his benefit.
In order to maintain that trust, The Company must ensure that those who advertise their certifications are trustworthy. Practitioners may be subject to regular review, as well as random review without previous notice.
Complaints lodged to The Company against the practitioner may initiate a project review, which will carry the listed project review rate (even if certification has already been granted) or certification may be forfeited.
To be certified, a candidate:
- Must be a member in good standing of The Company (Standard or Premium member)
- Must operate his business in an ethical manner, without major or consistent complaint from clients
- Must live a lifestyle in accordance with the Bible
- Must advertise certification in a manner that is consistent with the intent of the program
- Must include terms of the certification in all client contracts (specific language included below)
- May not advertise or imply that the certification extends beyond the specific skill set, or explicitly or implicitly communicate that the certification carries any warranty or guarantee.
Certification may be revoked by The Company at any time, for any reason
In most cases, “projects” should be presented as they are completed, not well after the fact or in bulk. Generally, 10 short stories will be considered 1 book, where the trade allows.
In most cases, candidates will be given feedback on presented projects to bring them up to standard. However, The Company reserves the right to reject poor quality work towards certification, or to revoke previous certification upon presentation of substandard work.
Types of Certifications
Novice (Status – No certification given)
The candidate has completed required classroom instruction. Candidate may not represent this as any kind of certification, but may take independent projects as long as it is clearly stated that the candidate is in training and seeking certification. All projects must be reviewed, unless specific authorization is granted.
Provisional
The candidate has received formal instruction and demonstrates aptitude for the skill, as well as core competency. The candidate has completed at least two major projects (or commensurate) in an environment in which close supervision and feedback is facilitated.
The candidate is authorized to seek projects for hire, but should work under the instruction and supervision of a craft master. If your certification status has been announced in any form, project review is not optional, unless specifically authorized. You must bring all projects in for review until you achieve full certification.
Certified
The candidate has complete at least five major projects (or commensurate) for hire, to the satisfaction of both his supervising master and his clients.
The candidate can successfully complete the most common 80% of projects without assistance or supervision.
The candidate is authorized to seek projects for hire without direct instruction or supervision, but should continue to work under the mentorship of a master as he continues to gain experience.
Master
The candidate has mastered the skill, and can complete 100% of projects without assistance or supervision.
In situations in which no clear answer is accepted among the community of professionals, a master has the wisdom and understanding to forge a new path.
Achieving Master typically requires 5 years of full-time dedication to the craft, longer for candidates who are not practicing the craft as a primary enterprise.
The candidate is authorized to teach this skill and to supervise the work of others.
Mandatory Contract Language
If you advertise your certification from The Company in any capacity (on your website, verbally, in passing mention, etc.), you MUST include the following verbiage in your work agreement with every client.
Please include a separate paragraph in your work agreement or contract for each trade skill relevant the project.
You may change tense, person, or gender to match your agreement.
NOVICE
Contractor is considered a “Novice” by Writercorp ltd (dba “The Company”) in the publishing trade skill of [name skill]. This means that the contractor has completed some training, but is still learning, gaining experience, and practicing this skill, and may not exhibit mastery of the skill. The Company does not provide any guarantee or warranty of Contractor’s work. If you would like to make a report of Contractor’s work for any reason, please send an email to certification@writers.company.
PROVISIONAL
Contractor has been granted “Provisional Certification” by Writercorp ltd (dba “The Company”) in the publishing trade skill of [name skill]. This means that the contractor has completed some training and practice, and has access to support, but is still gaining experience in this skill and may not exhibit complete mastery of the skill. The Company does not provide any guarantee or warranty of Contractor’s work. If you would like to make a report of Contractor’s work for any reason, please send an email to certification@writers.company.
CERTIFIED
Contractor has been granted professional certification by Writercorp ltd (dba “The Company”) in the publishing trade skill of [name skill]. This means that the contractor has completed training, a reasonable amount of experience with satisfactory results for his clients, and has access to professional support. The Company does not provide any guarantee or warranty of Contractor’s work, and contractor may still be working towards mastery of this skill. If you would like to make a report of Contractor’s work for any reason, please send an email to certification@writers.company.
MASTER
Contractor has been granted “Master Certification” by Writercorp ltd (dba “The Company”) in the publishing trade skill of [name skill]. This means that the contractor has completed training and extensive experience with satisfactory results for his clients. While Contractor is considered a master of this skill, The Company does not provide any guarantee or warranty of Contractor’s work. If you would like to make a report of Contractor’s work for any reason, please send an email to certification@writers.company.
Mandatory Advertising Language
If you advertise your certification from The Company in any capacity (on your website, verbally, in passing mention, etc.), you MUST include the following verbiage in the text of your advertisement.
You may change tense, person, or gender to match your text.
NOVICE
You may not imply in any fashion that you are certified by The Company. You may state that you are pursuing certification, as long as it is clear that certification or approval has not yet been obtained.
Advertising must clearly state “Provisional Certification,” and must not imply that full certification or approval has been granted by The Company.
Note that if you publicly state anywhere your certification status, you MUST bring those projects for review while your status is “provisional”. Don’t forget to factor the appropriate fees into your pricing.
You may plainly state that you are “certified” in the skill.
Please ensure that this claim applies specifically to the certified skill, and doesn’t ambiguously imply other certifications. For example:
Good: Contractor is a certified developmental editor, and he also provides interior book design services.
Bad: Contractor is a certified developmental editor and book designer.
Available Certifications and Review Fees
All fees are waived for apprentices while actively enrolled.
Copy Editing
Novice – Has completed video course and passed initial sample test
$250 project review fee
Provisional – Has independently completed two full-length projects
$150 project review fee
Certified – Has independently completed five full-length projects
Support/review billed on an hourly rate
Master – Has accumulated five years or commensurate skill experience and demonstrated mastery of the skill
$1,000 portfolio review fee
Development Editing (Narrative Novels | Short Stories)
Developmental editing of narrative novels and developmental editing of short stories are considered separate certifications.
Novice – Has completed in-person training and practice projects
$400 project review fee
Provisional – Has independently completed two full-length projects
$250 project review fee
Certified – Has independently completed five full-length projects
Support/review billed on an hourly rate
Master – Has accumulated five years or commensurate skill experience and demonstrated mastery of the skill
$1,000 portfolio review fee
Proofreading
Novice – Has completed in-person training and practice projects
$150 project review fee
Provisional – Has independently completed two full-length projects
$100 project review fee
Certified – Has independently complete five full-length projects
Support/review billed on an hourly rate
Master – Has accumulated five years or commensurate skill experience and demonstrated mastery of the skill
$1,000 portfolio review fee
Interior Book Design
Novice – Has completed in-person training and practice projects
$150 project review fee
Provisional – Has independently completed two full-length projects
$100 project review fee
Certified – Has independently completed five full-length projects
Support/review billed on an hourly rate
Master – Has accumulated five years or commensurate skill experience and demonstrated mastery of the skill
$1,000 portfolio review fee
Social Media Management
A “project” is defined as a specific campaign that 1) Helps the client reach a measurable goal established in advance (for instance, X increase in sales, X increase in followers or engagement); 2) Demonstrates professionalism and consistency over at least a 12 week term; 3) Demonstrates excellence in presentation, including text content, graphics, and suitability to the specific platform.
Novice – Has completed training and practice projects
$400 project review fee
Provisional – Has independently completed two projects
$250 project review fee
Certified – Has independently completed five projects
Support/review billed on an hourly rate
Master – Has accumulated five years or commensurate skill experience and demonstrated mastery of the skill
$1,000 portfolio review fee
Book Production Management
Novice – Completed training and assisted in a learning capacity
$100 project review fee
Provisional – Has managed five completed projects
$50 project review fee
Certified – Has managed twelve completed projects
Support/review billed on an hourly rate
Master – Has accumulated five years or commensurate skill experience and demonstrated mastery of the skill
$1,000 portfolio review fee
Project Review Process
To submit a project for review, please email us at certification@writers.company.
Even if you have done a project as contract work for The Company, please submit it for review.