The institute has operated since 2008, following a 10-year process that brought the originally separate, mostly state-based, societies of editors together under one umbrella.
To ensure editors could find appropriate training, the society ran courses and workshops and provided networking opportunities for its members.
Over more than a decade, the society worked closely with RMIT University to establish in 1988 Australia's first postgraduate editing course.
However, it was not until 2016 that IPEd became a direct membership organisation, with branches no longer being independent, and planning, budgets and communications becoming centralised.
Candidates are expected to complete an examination that tests editorial skills and knowledge, and, on attaining accreditation, provide evidence of ongoing professional development.
[19] In addition to the conferences, each branch of IPEd runs its own professional development activities, including seminars, workshops and courses.