Exceptions

The Board of Editors in the Life Sciences, at its discretion, may grant three kinds of exceptions to the application requirements. You may ask that experience be substituted for education or education for experience, as specified below. All substitutions should be directly relevant to scientific editing. Requests will be considered case by case.

  1. Experience in Lieu of Education

If you have 4 or more years of documented experience as a manuscript editor in the life sciences, you may request an exception to the academic requirement, submitting a detailed summary of relevant experience.

  1. Education in Lieu of Experience

An accredited program in scientific or technical writing or editing may be substituted for 1 year of experience. Or an advanced degree in a scientific field may be substituted for 1 year of experience. Or 2 or more years of relevant postgraduate education may be substituted for 1 year of experience. In any case, submit a transcript, diploma, or other documentation. 

  1. Workshop Training in Lieu of Experience

A minimum of 24 hours of documented formal training in or teaching of workshops through a recognized association relevant to scientific editing may be substituted for 1 year of relevant experience. Each workshop may be cited only once. You must submit official documentation of participation and course content.

You may not combine exceptions. For example, if you have an advanced degree that can be substituted for 1 year of life-sciences editing, you will need to document that you have worked as an editor for at least 1 year. 

The Board of Editors in the Life Sciences may independently verify documentation when deciding on exceptions to the requirements for eligibility.