Board of Editors in the Life Sciences

History Application & registration THE EXAM

History

1980s: CBE Profession was growing too fast

1980s: CBE Scientists complaints about poor editorial work

1980s: CBE Absence of recognized standards

1980s: CBE No formal, academic degree-related training process

Credential?

Purposes Establish a baseline of professional standards in editing

Purposes Marker of proficiency for employers/clients

Purposes Confirm skills

CBE Appointed task force

Goals Learn how other professions credential

Goals CBE program warranted? -if so, structure and organization of program

Late 1980s 2-level credentialing program Certification: ELS Diplomate: ELS(D)

1990 CBE task force disbanded

1991 Independent organization established

Test development

1991 First exam: CBE meeting, Denver 23 test takers 14 passed

2012 October 3 Sacramento, CA exam #130

Current Membership

1000+ members 19 countries Australia Brazil Canada Cayman Islands China Egypt Finland France Germany India Japan Kenya The Netherlands New Zealand Philippines Saudi Arabia Taiwan United Kingdom United States

So why should you take the BELS exam?

Voluntary evaluation of skills

Application & Registration

www.bels.org

Application

Requirements Bachelor s degree from an accredited academic institution

Requirements At least 2 years of experience as a manuscript editor in the life sciences

Submit CV or résumé

Submit Diploma or final college transcript (copy)

Submit 3 Letters of reference Supervisors Clients Peers

US $50 Submit

Exceptions

Exceptions Experience in lieu of education

Exceptions Education in lieu of experience

Exceptions Workshop training in lieu of experience

Cautions Not an entrance exam A test of editing, not writing

Candidacy approved

BELS Certification Examinations, 2012 2015* Exam Date Day Time City Site Other meetings Register by 130. October 3, 2012 Wednesday 9:30 AM 12:30 PM 131. February 16, 2013 Saturday 1:00-4:00 PM 132. May 4, 2013 Saturday 1:00-4:00 PM 133. November 6, Wednesday 9:30 AM 2013 12:30 PM 134. May 3, 2014 Saturday 1:00-4:00 PM 135. September 24, Wednesday 9:30 AM 2014 12:30 PM 136. October 21, 2015 Wednesday 9:30 AM 12:30 PM *Please check the Web site (www.bels.org) for updates. Sacramento, CA Sacramento Convention Center AMWA Annual Meeting, October 4 6 September 12, 2012 Atlanta, GA Emory University None January 26, 2013 Montreal, Quebec TBA CSE, May 3 6 April 13, 2013 Columbus, OH TBA AMWA, October 16, November 7 9 2013 San Antonio, TX TBA CSE, May 2 5 April 12, 2014 San Antonio. TX TBA AMWA, September 3, September 25 27 2014 Memphis, TN TBA AMWA, October September 22 24 30, 2015 Please note: The deadline for registration is 3 weeks before the scheduled date of the examination. Please allow at least 5 weeks for the application and registration process if you use the US mails. International mails may take longer than 5 weeks. For more information, contact Leslie E. Neistadt, ELS, Hughston Sports Medicine Foundation, Inc, 6262 Veterans Parkway, Columbus, GA 31909, USA, phone (706) 494-3322, fax (706) 494-3348, e-mail lneistadt@hughston.com

Registration Registration Form $200 BELS Certification Examination Name: Street address: City: State/Province: Postal code, country: Telephone (day): (evening): FAX: e-mail: Local telephone number at exam site (if pertinent): I enclose my check money order (cashable through a U.S. bank) in the amount of US$200 made payable to the Board of Editors in the Life Sciences, Inc. Please reserve a place for me at the following examination: Date: City, country: (For updated schedules, write to BELS at the address below or visit www.bels.org.) Please return this form to Leslie E. Neistadt, ELS BELS Hughston Sports Medicine Foundation, Inc 6262 Veterans Parkway Columbus, GA 31909 USA

THE EXAM

The exam 3 Hours Multiple choice 100-110 Questions

Topics covered grammar punctuation mechanics

Topics covered usage and diction syntax

Topics covered internal consistency numbers

Topics covered bibliographic references tables and illustrations

Topics covered units of scientific measure and scientific terms publishing requirements

Topics covered traditional principles and ethics of scientific inquiry, writing, and publishing

Usual references

The very best preparation for the exam is

Exam day

Identification

OK to bring/use

We provide

May NOT use

Passing Score: 65% Rate: 55%

Success!

Or not

Retake exam $150 Registration Form BELS Certification Examination Name: Street address: City: State/Province: Postal code, country: Telephone (day): (evening): FAX: e-mail: I enclose my check money order (cashable through a U.S. bank) in the amount of US$150, the re-test fee, made payable to the Board of Editors in the Life Sciences, Inc. OR I authorize the charge of $ on Mastercard VISA account number expiration date in the name of card code Signature Date Please reserve a place for me at the following examination: Date: City, country: Please return this form to Leslie E. Neistadt, ELS Board of Editors in the Life Sciences Hughston Sports Medicine Foundation, Inc 6262 V eterans Parkway Columbus, GA 31909 USA lneistadt@hughston.com

Diplomate Program

Diplomate Program Eligibility BELS certified x 2 years Editorial experience x 6 years

Diplomate Program The Board of Editors in the Life Sciences Application for Diplomate Candidacy $50 Please send a Request for Evaluation form and instructions for compiling a portfolio to: Name Address City State/Province ZIP/Postal code Country Daytime telephone Evening telephone Fax E-mail address I enclose my résumé or curriculum vitae, or a summary of my editing and other relevant experience; 2 letters of reference or other documentation of 6 or more years of experience as an editor of scientific manuscripts; and the nonrefundable application fee of $50.00 (US), in the form of a check (drawn on a US bank) made payable to the Board of Editors in the Life Sciences. For international applicants: I authorize the charge of $ on Mastercard VISA Account number Expiration date In the name of Signature Date I have been a Certified Editor in the Life Sciences for at least 2 years. Signature Return completed form, documents, and payment of fee to the current BELS Diplomate Registrar, who is listed on the BELS Web site (www.bels.org) on the About BELS section under Executive Council. Look up the registrar s current address in the Members Only section (you must log in to the site) under Member Directory.

Diplomate Program The Board of Editors in the Life Sciences Diplomate Program Portfolio Guide The examination for diplomate status in the Board of Editors in the Life Sciences consists of the evaluation of a submitted portfolio, which comprises material that you have edited, your description of the circumstances of your editing of the material, and 2 essays that you have written about editing. The portfolio is the means by which you exhibit your mastery of editorial skills in material of your choosing. This guide explains how to prepare the portfolio. Section 1 sets out the substance of a portfolio and the procedures for preparing and submitting it, Section 2 describes the examiners portfolio review procedure, and Section 3 explains how to appeal a decision of the portfolio examiners. Appendix A lays out the various fees associated with the diplomate examination, Appendix B is a checklist for portfolio preparation and submission, Appendix C provides an example of editing by hand, and Appendix D, examples of editing on the computer. Section 1 The Portfolio The specifications for each element of the portfolio are described in the subsections that follow. Portfolio components on the checklist in Appendix B are keyed by subsection number to these descriptions. Prepare your portfolio carefully. If specifications are not met, the portfolio will be returned to you for revision. If you choose to continue with the examination, you will then resubmit the revised portfolio with a resubmission or re-evaluation fee (see Appendix A). 1.1 The Portfolio Manuscript Prepare the portfolio manuscript to demonstrate your proficiency in substantive editing of manuscripts in the life sciences at the level of a master editor. 1.1.1. Statement of Circumstances of Editing The statement of circumstances is your opportunity to orient the examiners. It may be as short as you like, but it must not exceed 250 words. Describe the setting and circumstances in which the manuscript was edited, its intended audience, special conditions related to the editing (such as the author s expectations), and why you selected this particular material to submit as evidence of your editorial proficiency. Include with your statement any formal instructions for manuscript preparation from the journal, publisher, or agency for which the manuscript was edited. If you did not work with such instructions, describe any directives that you did receive in your statement of circumstances. 1.1.2 Composition of the Manuscript The manuscript you submit to exhibit your editing must meet the following specifications. (For simplicity, manuscript herein refers to text, tables, and graphic elements in a variety of formats, word processed or typeset; the author may refer to more than one author or a client other than the author.) Submit editing that shows your expertise in all the facets of editing detailed in section 2.2. Select material in a field in or related to the life sciences. Select material that is written in legible English and show editing that is in legible English. Select 15 to 30 pages of manuscript that you have edited for an employer or client OR 15 to 30 pages of

Diplomate Program Portfolio of edited materials Description of editing circumstances

Diplomate Program 2 essays -Topic list provided by BELS $150

Diplomate Program Review by 3 diplomates

Success!

Or not

Try again Feedback on portfolio $150 3 years

Benefits of BELS membership

Executive Council Award up to US$500 for a supporting BELS-certified editor to attend a professional meeting, workshop, or other qualifying activity

BELS gatherings

BELS in Mumbai

Board of Editors in the Life Sciences lneistadt@hughston.com