Cheap TEFL course for South Africans: what US$29 (about R500) gets you
What simpleTEFL's US$29 course costs in rand, what it includes, and what South Africans need beyond a TEFL to teach online or abroad.
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simpleTEFL’s accredited 120-hour online TEFL course costs US$29, about R500 at recent exchange rates. That one payment includes tutor and job support, lifetime access with no deadline, and a digital certificate employers can verify online. It’s an affordable way to get the 120-hour TEFL that online platforms and many schools abroad ask for.
This page covers the cost in rand, what’s included, and what else South Africans need to teach online or abroad.
We run simpleTEFL, so this page describes our own course. Exchange rates change daily: rand amounts are approximate, and you pay in US dollars.
What does it cost in rand?
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| 120-hour course, tutor and job support, lifetime access | US$29, about R500 |
| Digital certificate with online verification | Included |
| Assessment retakes | Included, unlimited |
| Printed certificate (optional) | US$25 plus delivery |
| Apostille for a visa (optional) | Separate fee, through our UK partner Hague Apostille |
You pay by card in US dollars. Your bank converts it to rand, and some banks add a foreign transaction fee, so the amount on your statement can differ slightly from the estimate. Rand figures use rates of about R16–R18 to the dollar seen in 2026.
What does the course include?
- 120 hours of training in seven modules, from TEFL basics and grammar to lesson preparation, language skills and classroom management. See the modules
- Tutor and job support by email: help with the course, feedback on your CV and applications, and job leads on request.
- Lifetime access with no deadline, so you can study around work or family and come back to the material later.
- A digital certificate with a unique ID that employers can check on our verification page.
- ACCREDITAT accreditation, listed on ACCREDITAT’s client page.
Assessment is online checkpoints and quizzes, marked automatically. There are no tutor-marked assignments and no observed teaching practice, and the course isn’t a regulated Level 5 qualification. If a job asks for one of those, you’ll need a different course. Is a $29 TEFL course legit?
Using your TEFL from South Africa
Teaching online
Online teaching is the quickest route for many South Africans, and it doesn’t need a work visa. Each platform sets its own rules, and some ask for particular nationalities or a “native speaker” accent, so read the requirements before you apply. A 120-hour TEFL strengthens your profile on platforms that don’t require one. What Preply, Cambly and italki ask for
Where South Africans can teach abroad
South Africa is one of the countries several visa schemes treat as English-speaking, which opens doors that are closed to many applicants:
- South Korea: the government EPIK programme lists South Africa among its accepted citizenships. You may need to show your schooling from Grade 7 onwards was in English. EPIK eligibility
- Taiwan: cram-school teachers must teach an official language of their passport country, and English is one of South Africa’s. Taiwan WDA guidance
- Thailand and Vietnam: realistic, but it depends more on the employer and your paperwork than on one official list. See our Thailand and Vietnam guides.
What you’ll need to teach abroad
Most of these routes expect:
What schools abroad usually ask South Africans for
- A bachelor’s degree, which is usually needed for the work visa
- A 120-hour TEFL that the school can verify
- A police clearance: SAPS says it takes about 15 working days once all documents are in
- Legalised documents: DIRCO legalises South African documents, such as your degree and police clearance, free of charge
Your simpleTEFL certificate is issued in the UK, so if a visa needs it legalised, that goes through the UK route with our partner Hague Apostille. Our guide to teaching English abroad as a South African covers the countries and paperwork in detail.
What do South African graduates say?
Many of our Trustpilot reviewers are South African. Two of them:
“The course had no time limit, so I could work at my own pace.”
— Jade, South Africa, 5-star Trustpilot review, March 2026. Read the full review
“I was able to download my certificate immediately after completing the final assessment.”
— Gift Chuene, South Africa, 5-star Trustpilot review, February 2024. Read the full review
The course has a 30-day money-back guarantee for eligible purchases; the refund policy explains the conditions.
Sources and references
Checked on 7 November 2026 unless stated.
- Wise — USD to ZAR
Used to check: about R16.5–R16.8 to the dollar in July 2026.
- South African Police Service — police clearance
Used to check: about 15 working days.
- DIRCO — consular notarial services
Used to check: legalisation of South African documents.
- DIRCO — legalisation scam alert
Used to check: legalisation services are free.
- EPIK — eligibility
Used to check: South Africa among accepted citizenships.
- Taiwan WDA guidance
Used to check: official language of passport country.
Frequently asked questions
How much is simpleTEFL's course in rand?
The course costs US$29, one time, which is about R500 at recent exchange rates. You pay in US dollars by card, so the exact rand amount depends on your bank's rate and any foreign transaction fee.
Can South Africans teach English online with a TEFL?
Many South Africans do. Each platform sets its own rules on nationality, accent and qualifications, so check the platform's requirements before you apply. A 120-hour TEFL strengthens your profile even where one isn't required.
Do I need a degree to teach English abroad from South Africa?
For most structured routes in Asia, yes. A bachelor's degree is usually needed for the work visa. Without one, teaching online is the more realistic first step. Teaching English abroad for South Africans
Can my simpleTEFL certificate be apostilled?
Yes. simpleTEFL is a UK provider, so the certificate is legalised through the UK route, using our partner Hague Apostille, for a separate fee. Your South African documents, such as your degree and police clearance, are legalised by DIRCO.
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