TEFL courses with no deadline: how long do you get to finish?

How long do online TEFL courses give you to finish?

Sources: IntrepidTEFL, StudyTEFL, TEFLmasters, World TESOL Academy, The TEFL Org and The TEFL Academy’s terms, checked 25–26 October 2026; the four budget courses were rechecked on 10 November 2026. i-to-i and Premier TEFL details come from our cheap TEFL courses comparison, checked 24 October 2026.

A longer deadline often comes with a higher tier or a separate product, so compare the version you’d actually buy. The same is true of support: see which cheap courses include a tutor.

Is 6 months enough to finish a 120-hour TEFL course?

Usually, if you study steadily. But it leaves less room than it sounds. Here is how long the full 120 hours takes at different paces:

• 10 hours a week: about 12 weeks
• 5 hours a week: about 24 weeks, which is almost exactly 6 months
• 3 hours a week: about 40 weeks

Many students finish faster than the stated hours, especially if they already know some grammar. But if you can only manage a few hours a week, one busy month, an illness or a move abroad can push you past a 6-month deadline. A 10-week deadline needs about 12 hours a week.

What does a TEFL course extension cost?

Most providers sell extra time once your access runs out. The TEFL Academy publishes its fees: £64 for 30 days if you extend before your access ends, or £84 afterwards, and £90 or £105 for 90 days. The TEFL Org sells extensions from one week to three months through your student dashboard.

One extension can cost more than a whole budget course. If you’re not sure how much time you’ll have, a course with no deadline can work out cheaper than a cheaper-looking course plus an extension.

What does “lifetime access” really include?

“Lifetime access” can mean different things, so check what it covers:

Lifetime access is about the course materials. Whether your certificate expires is a separate question. Most TEFL certificates don’t, but check each provider’s terms.

How does simpleTEFL’s lifetime access work?

simpleTEFL’s 120-hour course costs US$29, one time, with no deadline to finish. You get the full course for life. There’s no separate deadline for your assessments, and you can come back to the materials after you’ve earned your certificate. Tutor and job support by email, unlimited assessment retakes and a digital certificate are included too.

You can study a few hours one month and none the next, and pick up where you left off. When you start teaching, the lesson planning and grammar modules are still there to look back at.

The course has a 30-day money-back guarantee for eligible purchases; the refund policy explains the conditions. To compare course prices more widely, see how much a TEFL course costs.