tefl/tesol certification guide (2026): 

how to choose the right course on a budget

Written by Kevin, TEFL/TESOL course designer at simpleTEFL
Last updated: January 2026

Kevin has worked in TEFL for over a decade, including roles in language centres and private tutoring international students across East Asia.

about the team • editorial policy

what’s new in the January 2026 update:

  • Rewrote the "in a hurry?" summary for clarity
  • Added a quick decision table (online vs abroad vs no degree)
  • Added a 5-minute accreditation verification checklist
  • Updated budget pricing expectations + what to watch for (hidden fees/add-ons)


Note: The fundamentals (120-hour baseline + accreditation verification) change slowly. We update this guide when requirements, pricing norms, or common scams shift.
So, you're thinking of teaching English. Maybe you want to be self-employed and set your own schedule teaching online, or perhaps you’re ready for a new adventure teaching abroad.
But once you start looking at TEFL/TESOL courses, things can get confusing. Different hours, prices, accreditors and “advanced” options everywhere. From $10 Groupon courses to $1000+ diplomas, scary stories about fake accreditation, and a lot of loud marketing in between can mean it's difficult to distinguish the best choice for you.
Our hope with this TEFL/TESOL certification guide is to reduce the noise and leave you with a solid understanding of the options available.
We’ll walk through what a TEFL certificate actually is, how many hours you really need, what a course should cost, and how to avoid wasting money on something schools won’t take seriously.
By the end, you’ll know which type of course fits your goals and budget and what to do next.

in a hurry? here’s a summary:

  • What it is: A TEFL/TESOL certificate is short teacher training that prepares you to teach English to non-native speakers (lesson planning, classroom management, grammar, and practical teaching skills).
  • Do you need it?: Not everywhere, but if you want paid, legal, competitive, and more widely accepted work, a TEFL/TESOL certificate makes interviews and hiring much easier (especially as a beginner).
  • Accreditation: Only trust courses that name an accreditor and let you verify the provider on the accreditor’s own website.
  • Budget: You can find solid courses under $50, but do your research to avoid ones that cut corners.
  • Simple decision line: If you’re starting out, choose an accredited 120-hour online course first, then specialise later if needed.
  • Best next steps (more detail in the sections below):
    1. Get clear on your goals (teach online, abroad, or side income).
    2. Choose the course format & hours (usually a 120-hour online course to start).
    3. Shortlist 2–3 providers whose websites, policies, and pricing feel professional and transparent.
    4. Verify accreditation and check what’s inside (syllabus, samples, screenshots).
    5. Cross-check independent reviews (Trustpilot, Google, Reddit, GoOverseas).
    6. If in doubt, email the provider and see how they respond.
    Note: Each of these steps has important caveats. The rest of this guide walks through the details so you don’t miss anything.
Disclaimer: simpleTEFL
We publish this guide and we also sell a TEFL/TESOL course. 
If you’re considering simpleTEFL, here’s what to check (the same checks we recommend for any provider):
  • Accreditation: verify our listing on the accreditor’s website (ACCREDITAT).
  • What’s included: digital certificate, tutor/job support, course access length, and any optional extras.
  • Price transparency: total cost and any optional add-ons shown up front.
  • Proof: screenshots/syllabus and independent reviews.


See the course details →

quick decision table: choosing the right tefl/tesol course

goal best starting certificate other common requirements
Teach English online Accredited 120-hour online TEFL/TESOL Pass a demo lesson; strong profile; reliable tech setup
Teach abroad Accredited 120-hour + country documents Visa/document requirements vary (degree often required in some countries)
Teach abroad at competitive schools CELTA or 120-hour + observed teaching practice Experience + references; higher-level qualifications later if needed
Teach without a degree Accredited 120-hour + realistic country/role targeting Flexibility on location/role; experience + niche (exam prep / business English)
Teach young learners Accredited 120-hour Young learners specialism; extra classroom management practice
Already have teaching experience Accredited 120-hour (to pass hiring filters) or CELTA (for top-tier roles) Higher-level certs only if your target jobs require them
table of contents:
  1. what is a tefl/tesol certificate?
  2. do you actually need a tefl/tesol to teach English?
  3. how many tefl/tesol hours do you need?
  4. how much should a tefl/tesol course cost?
  5. accreditation: what it is and how to check it’s real
  6. step-by-Step: how to choose a tefl/tesol course
  7. how we can help you get tefl/tesol-certified
  8. tefl/tesol certification FAQ

1. what is a tefl/tesol certificate, really?

Short answer:
A TEFL/TESOL certificate is a training course that prepares you to teach English to non-native speakers. A good TEFL/TESOL course covers lesson planning, grammar, class management and practical teaching skills to help you succeed in the classroom. 

Most employers and recruiters look for at least a 120-hour TEFL/TESOL from a recognised provider.
Now the slightly longer version!
TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language. It’s used as an umbrella term for courses that train you to teach English to learners whose first language isn’t English, either online or in another country.
A TEFL course usually means a foundational teaching course that gives you:
  1. A structured introduction to how people learn languages
  2. Techniques for planning and delivering lessons
  3. Practice with common grammar points and error correction
  4. Classroom management basics (even if your “classroom” is online)
Note:
There isn’t one single global "TEFL license”. Instead, schools look at:
  • Number of hours of training (often a minimum of 120hrs)
  • Accreditation (who checks the course quality)
  • Your potential (your class demos and interview)

tefl vs tesol: what’s the difference?

You’ll often see both TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) and TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). In practice, they’re used almost interchangeably.

TEFL is more commonly used when talking about teaching English abroad in non-English-speaking countries. TESOL is sometimes used as a broader term, including teaching English to immigrants in English-speaking countries.

In practice, employers usually care more that your course is accredited and at least 120 hours than whether it’s labelled TEFL or TESOL.

2. do you actually need a tefl/tesol to teach English?

Short answer:
In many cases, yes. If you’re new to teaching, most online platforms and many schools abroad expect at least a 120-hour TEFL. There are exceptions, such as some volunteer roles or informal tutoring, but if you want real, legal, paid work and more choice, a TEFL makes your job search much easier.
You'll probably find yourself in three main situations:
1. You want to teach English online
If you want to teach online, most reputable online teaching companies list a TEFL certificate as:
  • Required – you must have it to apply
  • Preferred – you’ll be chosen ahead of applicants who don’t have one.
2. You want to teach English abroad
For teaching abroad, requirements vary wildly by country and even by school. You’ll see job ads asking for:
  • 120-hour TEFL/TESOL - South America, parts of Southeast Asia, etc.
  • 120-hour TEFL/TESOL + Bachelor's degree - South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, etc.
  • Bachelor's degree + CELTA - more competitive roles, such as British Council, some university language programmes.
3. You don't have a degree
Luckily, there are many countries and roles where you can teach without a degree.
For example, private language schools, volunteer programmes, or positions in parts of Southeast Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe, and many more. In those cases, a TEFL certificate becomes even more important because it’s your main proof that you’re serious and have some training.

do you legally need one?

There isn’t a single worldwide rule, but in many countries your legal work visa is based on a mix of your degree, nationality, clean criminal record, and proof of qualifications.
In some destinations, a TEFL/TESOL certificate is explicitly part of the visa or sponsorship requirements; in others, the visa is technically based on your degree, but employers and recruiters still expect a TEFL and use it to filter candidates.
The takeaway is, when it comes to getting a job, having a TEFL puts you in the worth-interviewing pile, which is especially important these days as more people compete for jobs in popular countries.

3. how many tefl/tesol hours do you need?

Short answer:
For most first-time teachers, an accredited 120-hour TEFL is the standard baseline. Many employers and recruiters list 120 hours as their minimum. Shorter 40–60 hour courses are usually taster courses, not full qualifications. Longer or Level 5 courses go deeper but aren’t essential for your first job.
You’ll see lots of different numbers when trying to find a course, so here’s how to think about them.

common tefl courses

type of course typical hours good for… limitations
Short taster TEFL 20–60 hours Getting a feel for TEFL Not enough on its own for paid jobs
Standard TEFL certificate 120 hours Online jobs, entry-level roles abroad Less depth than higher-level qualifications
Advanced / Level 5 180–300+ Career advancement, more competitive roles Expensive, takes longer
Overall, we'd skip the short taster courses and advise one that hits 120-hours minimum. For most new teachers, especially if you’re changing career or watching your budget, this is the sweet spot. It’s widely recognised by employers as enough to start, affordable compared to longer programmes, and realistic to complete while working.
Note:
One thing to be aware of is that some providers advertise “150-hour” or “180-hour advanced” TEFL courses that are really just a standard 120-hour core with one or two extra bolt-on modules (for example, teaching young learners or teaching online). 

Those topics can be useful, but employers won’t treat “150 hours” as fundamentally different from a solid 120-hour certificate. They just want to see that you’ve completed at least a recognised 120-hour TEFL and can actually teach.
Level 5 diplomas and higher-end courses can be a great next step if you already know you can afford it and want to target the most competitive schools from day one. 
But you definitely don’t have to start there to get your first real job or your first online students. And once you have experience and your foot in the door,  more opportunities will naturally open up for you.

4. how much should a tefl/tesol course cost?

Short answer:
This is a tough one to answer. You’ll see everything from $20 TEFLs to $2,000+ intensive courses. You can find great courses for under $50, but predictably there are also plenty of low-quality offerings at this price-point.

Just know that cheap doesn’t automatically mean bad, but if you think a price looks too good to be true, check:
  • The quality of the website (does it look like it's been thrown together in an afternoon?)
  • The accreditation (more on that here)
  • Hidden fees (are there "admin" or "certification" fees thrown in at the end?)
  • Problems people have had in the past (does the company have genuine reviews on third-party websites?)
You don’t want to overpay for something that might be unnecessary for you right now. But you also don’t want to save money up front and end up with a certificate that schools don’t really respect.

why are some tefl courses so cheap now?

Over the last decade, TEFL has moved heavily online. Instead of running physical training centres, many providers (like us) now deliver everything through a learning platform. That cuts a lot of overhead, which is why online TEFL courses are often much cheaper than traditional in-person courses, sometimes 40–50% less for the same number of hours.
At the same time, there are far more providers than there used to be, plus coupon sites and year-round “sale” promotions. That competition has dragged prices down and created huge gaps between what companies are marketing their headline price as (“Was $399!”) and what people actually pay (“Now $20!”).
This sounds great for the consumer, but the downside is that it’s harder to tell the difference between a genuinely affordable, accredited course and something that’s cheap because it cuts corners. That’s why it’s so important to look past the price and do your research (more on how to do this here).

what a lower-priced course tefl course should look like

If you’re looking at lower-priced TEFL courses, use this as a quick filter. A genuinely affordable TEFL should look different from a too good to be true deal:
🕵️ what to check good and affordable 🙌 red flag central 🚩
Accreditation Names a real accreditor and shows you how to verify it on their site. The accreditation company is used by more than one or two other TEFL companies. Vague badges or logos, no accreditor named, no way to confirm it's genuine. No verifiable client list.
Website quality Looks modern, readable and cared for; clear policies and contact details. Looks like a rushed template, random stock images, poor design and broken links everywhere, unclear terms or policies
Reviews & outcomes Has independent reviews and real stories from past students Only vague claims and no real outcomes displayed. No genuine reviews hosted on third-party platforms.
Support & contact Easy to contact, and replies sound human and helpful when you ask questions Hard to reach, pushy responses, or sound defensive when asked questions about legitimacy
Sales tactics Fair, consistent pricing with occasional genuine promos Permanent "90% off", countdown timers that mysteriously reset, year-round "flash sales"
When you’re looking at cheaper courses, the goal isn’t to hunt for the absolute lowest number.
Just try to find ones that lands firmly in the good and affordable column: 
  • accredited and easy to verify
  • honest about what’s inside and what you’ll pay
  • run by people who look like they clearly care about the course and their students
If you’re comparing providers, use the checklist above to evaluate any course (including ours).

5. accreditation: what it is and how to verify it

Short answer:
Accreditation is basically quality control for TEFL courses. A genuine accrediting body (separate from the course provider) reviews the course content, assessments, policies and support, then approves it if it meets their standards. 

Employers expect an accredited TEFL certificate. The trouble is that the TEFL industry isn’t tightly regulated, so there are many fake or meaningless accreditations floating around. That’s why you should always verify accreditation instead of just trusting a logo.

what tefl accreditation actually means

In simple terms, TEFL/TESOL accreditation means an independent organisation has checked the course provider.

They’ve reviewed things like:
  • syllabus and learning outcomes
  • tutor qualifications
  • assessment methods
  • student support and complaints procedures
The provider is then approved to display that accreditor’s name or seal, providing they pass ongoing checks or renewals.
Unlike universities, which are regulated at a national level, TEFL doesn’t have one global official regulator. Instead, there are multiple accrediting bodies with different levels of strictness and reputation.
That’s why you’ll see a mix of:
  • long-established education / accreditation organisations
  • TEFL-specific accreditation bodies
  • and, unfortunately, made-up “accreditors” created by course providers themselves.
The key idea being: real accreditor means external quality control and accountability. Fake accreditation means no real guarantee of quality, even if the logo looks impressive.
Note:
Many TEFL providers list things as accreditation or accreditation partners that have nothing to do with course quality. For example, some will point to:
  • apostille or legalisation services
  • being a registered learning provider or having a company registration number
  • membership in a generic professional body
These can be useful administrative or legal details, but they're not the same as academic accreditation and don’t say anything about how good the course itself is. Always look for a named accreditor and check you can find the course or provider on that accreditor’s website.

why accreditation matters

For most people comparing TEFL courses, accreditation matters for three main reasons:
  1. Employers care.
  2. It protects your time and money.
  3. It’s a quick filter for scams.
That said, accreditation alone doesn’t automatically mean a course is perfect for you.
You should obviously still look at:
  • The cost (Will it fit your budget?)
  • The level and depth of the course (Will you be getting enough training for your goals?)
  • How it’s delivered (Is it self-paced and online, or in-person? Will it fit your schedule?)
Think of accreditation as a baseline must-have when picking a course, but not the only deciding factor.

how to check if a TEFL course’s accreditation is real

Luckily, you don’t need to be an expert to verify accreditation.
How to verify a TEFL accreditor in 5 minutes:
  1. Go to the accreditor’s official website. Don’t rely on logos on the TEFL provider’s site.
  2. Find their “approved providers” / “clients” / “courses” list.
  3. Confirm the exact name of the TEFL provider is listed.
  4. Check if they accredit multiple legitimate providers, with clear standards/contact details, and a real history.
  5. If you can’t verify it, treat it as unaccredited and move on.
Note:
Accreditation is a baseline, not a guarantee. Make sure to still check the syllabus, transparency on fees, genuine reviews, and how they respond to questions.

how our course handles accreditation

Since accreditation is such a big part of choosing a TEFL, we thought it'd be a good idea to show you how we handle ours, and how that lines up with the checks in this guide.
When we were setting up this course, we knew we didn’t just want a nice-looking badge. We wanted an accreditor that already worked with multiple TEFL/TESOL providers, had clear published standards, and enough experience to hold our course to a genuinely high bar and give graduates confidence that their certificate would be taken seriously.
In our case, our 120-hour course is accredited by ACCREDITAT, an external body that works with over 25 clients and specialises in evaluating TEFL/TESOL courses.
That means:
  • the course syllabus, assessment and tutor support have been reviewed against their standards
  • our accreditation is ongoing and reviewed each year, not a one-time rubber stamp
  • you can verify us directly on their website by searching for our provider name on their Clients page
We always recommend you double-check any course you’re considering (including ours). If a provider is confident in their accreditation, they shouldn’t mind you looking it up.
The bottom line: whatever course you choose, make sure you’re happy with who stands behind it, not just the number of hours or the price on the front. An accredited TEFL from a transparent provider is far more likely to be accepted by employers and to actually prepare you for real classrooms and online lessons.

6. step-by-step: how to choose a tefl/tesol course

There are hundreds of TEFL courses out there, all claiming to be “fully accredited” and “internationally recognised”. And if you don’t already know the industry, it’s hard to tell what’s actually worth your time and money.
This step-by-step checklist is designed to help you sort through the noise and find the perfect course for you.

step 1 – get clear on your goal

Before you look at providers, decide what you actually want to do.
Ask yourself:
  • Teach online, teach abroad, or keep it as a side option?
  • Do you want this as a short-term adventure, a stepping stone into a new career, or a long-term career path?
  • How much time and money do you realistically have right now?
In general, if you're just starting out and want to teach online or find your first job abroad, go with an accredited 120-hour course. 
If you later decide that teaching is really your thing and you want to move into more competitive schools or university programmes, you can always add a CELTA-type or higher-level qualification on top to strengthen your options.

step 2 – decide on course type and format

Next, set a few basic filters so you’re not comparing everything with everything:
online vs in-person
Online: Most online TEFL courses are self-paced. You log in, work through the modules in your own time, and submit assignments as you go. Some higher-priced online options add live classes or cohort start dates, but the majority are flexible enough to fit around a job or studies.
In-person/Intensive courses: These run on a fixed timetable in a physical centre (or occasionally as a live online intensive). They’re more expensive, but can include observed teaching practice, which certain higher-end schools look for.
hours
20–60 hours: fine for the curious that just want to know more about TEFL
120 hours: good for those looking to get their first job, need a work visa, or want to teach online
Level 5/CELTA: good for those who want to go deeper and have the budget, but not necessary for every job and you can always take one later if you decide to specialise. For a broader look at long-term TESOL career paths, you can also check out TESOL International Association’s overview of beginning a career in English language teaching.
Once you know “I definitely want to learn online and only need 120-hours” or "I know I want to target high-end schools and have the budget for it", it becomes much easier to filter out options that simply don’t fit.

step 3 – create a shortlist of 2-3 providers

Now, rather than try and juggle 20 different tabs, make a shortlist of potential providers.
Look for providers that, at first glance:
  • Are transparent about what’s in the course
  • Have a website that looks like it’s been properly designed, updated, and maintained
  • Offer a course type that matches what you decided in Steps 1–2
You’re not making your final decision here. Just pick a small group of providers that seem promising enough to investigate properly.

step 4 – check accreditation

Before you go any further, make sure each course on your shortlist actually passes a basic accreditation check.
If you haven’t already: 
Scroll up to the section TEFL Accreditation section and follow the quick 5-minute test there.
If a course fails that test, it’s usually best to cross it off your list and move on to the next option.

step 5 – check what’s actually inside the course

Next, look at the content. Some providers don’t show much detail until after checkout. If a syllabus, sample module, or platform screenshots aren’t available, consider that a transparency risk and look for a provider that shows you what you’re buying.
Good providers will:
  • Provide a reasonably detailed module-by-module syllabus or outline
  • Show examples or screenshots of the platform and course
  • Have a free taster module so you can see what you're getting
Be cautious if there’s almost no information about what you’ll be learning or it's phrased in a vague kind of way (You'll learn classroom management, how to teach grammar, etc.), or you can't see any of the actual contents.
You want to be confident that by the end, you’ll actually feel ready to plan and teach lessons, not just own a certificate!

step 6 – check reviews (and the type of review site)

Reviews are obviously hugely helpful, but you need to be smart about where you read them.
Look for:
  • Independent platforms – Trustpilot, Google reviews, Reddit, GoOverseas
  • Specific stories – people explaining how they actually used their certification to get a job, teach online, or move abroad
Be careful with "review” sites that don’t seem as independent as they claim.
Warning signs include:
  • almost every article ends by recommending the same provider
  • competitors are routinely described as “scams” while one course is presented as the only safe option
  • the same "award" is given to the same provider multiple years in a row
  • nearly every button or link pushes you toward one company
These kinds of sites can look pretty convincing at first glance, especially when you’re nervous about picking the wrong course. But cross-check what you see there with the proven independent sources like the ones mentioned above. 
You don’t need perfect consensus though, just a general idea that “Oh, people like me have taken this course and actually used their certification.”

step 7 – check pricing, hidden fees, and policies

Once you’re happy with the content and reviews, look closely at money and terms.
Is it clear what the price includes? Some common extra fees across TEFL courses are:
  • Printed certificates
  • “Admin fees” or "assessment fees"
  • Extensions if your course has an expiry date
It's worth noting that some add-ons are perfectly reasonable. For example, a provider might keep the base price low by only issuing a digital certificate (which is usually fine for employers and visa applications), and only charge extra if you want a printed, posted copy.
So the simple fact that there are optional extras isn’t always a red flag. What matters is how clearly those extras and their prices are explained up front, and whether the amounts feel fair.
If you only discover important fees at checkout, or you’re seeing things like a $50 “admin fee” for a basic certificate, that’s usually a sign to slow down and ask what else might be hidden.

step 8 – contact the provider and notice their response

Before you enrol, do a little research about your own situation (your passport, degree status, age, etc.) and then email the provider with a specific, realistic question.

For example, you could ask:

I have an Indian passport and a degree. Is it realistic for me to get legal work in South Korea with this certificate?
A good provider will explain any limits or complications, even if it’s not what you were hoping to hear. If your research tells you that it's unlikely you'd get legal work in this instance, but the provider glosses over the issue and promises the world, that’s a good sign you should be sceptical.

step 9 – make a decision you feel comfortable with

By this point, you should have:
  • a clear idea of the type of course you need (hours, format, level)
  • 1–2 providers that pass your checks on accreditation, content, reviews, and pricing
  • a sense of how each provider treats you when you contact them
At that stage, it’s usually better to make a decision than to keep researching endlessly.
No TEFL course is perfect, but: an accredited 120-hour online TEFL from a transparent provider with clear content, fair pricing and decent support is more than enough for most people to get started teaching online or in many schools abroad. You can always specialise, upgrade, or take more advanced qualifications later. 
The main goal of this first course is to give you a solid, recognised starting point, and the confidence to actually step into a classroom.

7. if you’re considering simpleTEFL

a quick overview of simpleTEFL:

  • course: 120-hour tefl/tesol (online, self-paced)
  • includes: tutor support, digital certificate, job support guidance
  • accreditation: ACCREDITAT (verifiable on the accreditor’s website)
  • course access: lifetime access for no extra charge
  • pricing: $29. Optional hard copy certificate available for $20 + shipping
  • refund policy: 30-day money-back guarantee. See our refund policy here for more details.

what you’ll study:

how to compare us fairly:

Use the same checks we recommend for other providers from this guide: verify accreditation, review the syllabus/platform screenshots, confirm what’s included vs optional extras, and cross-check independent reviews.

is it a good fit for you?

  • good fit if: you want a recognised 120-hour baseline, prefer self-paced study, and want transparent pricing.
  • consider a different route if: you need observed teaching practice for a specific employer (CELTA/practicum routes can be better for that).

view all the details of our accredited 120-hour online TEFL/TESOL course here:

8. FAQ: tefl courses, cheap deals and getting certified

Is a 120-hour TEFL certificate enough to get a job?

Short answer: For most beginners, yes. An accredited 120-hour TEFL is the standard baseline many schools and online platforms look for.
More detail:
A 120-hour TEFL is usually enough to get started with:
  • entry-level jobs in many language schools abroad
  • many online teaching roles
  • your first private students
For very competitive schools, universities or top-end language centres, you may later add a higher-level or in- person qualification (e.g. CELTA / Level 5), but you don’t have to start there.
For the full breakdown, see the section “How many TEFL/TESOL hours do you need?” above.

Do I need a degree as well as TEFL?

Short answer:
It depends where and how you want to teach. Some countries and platforms require a bachelor’s degree, others don’t.

More detail:
Many government programmes and better-paid jobs abroad want a degree + 120-hour TEFL.

But there are countries and online platforms that will hire teachers without a degree, especially for lower-barrier roles or freelance / private students.

If you have a specific country in mind, it’s worth checking current visa rules and typical job ads, and you can also see the section “Do you actually need a TEFL/TESOL to teach?” above for more context.

Are cheap TEFL courses legit?

Short answer:
Some are, some definitely aren’t. A low price doesn’t automatically mean a scam. No matter the price of the course, you need to look closely at accreditation, transparency and hidden fees.

More detail:
A cheap TEFL course can be legit if:
  • it’s properly accredited and easy to verify
  • it clearly shows what’s in the course
  • the price and any extras are explained up front


Be cautious of courses that:
  • use vague “internationally accredited” claims with no named accreditor
  • don't show any of the course contents
  • run permanent “90% off today only!” style sales


For the full list of things to watch out for, see the sections “How much should a TEFL/TESOL course cost?” and “What a good affordable TEFL course should look like.” above.

Is TEFL the same as TESOL? Which one do I need?

Short answer:
In most job ads, TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) and TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) are used almost interchangeably.

More detail:
A few universities or specialist programmes use TESOL in a more academic, long-term-career sense, but for most language schools and online jobs, employers mainly want to see a recognised teaching-English qualification, not one exact label.

If a school specifically asks for TESOL, an accredited TEFL/TESOL certificate from a known provider will be acceptable – but you can always email and ask them to confirm.

For a fuller explanation, see the section “TEFL, TESOL, CELTA, Level 5 – what’s the difference?” above.

Will my TEFL certificate expire?

Most TEFL certificates do not expire. Once you’ve completed the course, the qualification is yours.

Is TEFL certification recognised worldwide?

Short answer:
There is no single global official “TEFL licence”, but a properly accredited 120-hour TEFL is widely accepted by language schools and online platforms around the world.

More detail:
What matters far more than the brand name is whether the course has:
  • accreditation that can be independently verified
  • at least 120 hours of structured training
  • a provider with a decent, transparent reputation

Acceptance is always up to individual employers, but if your course passes the basic checks in this guide, it should be recognised by most employers who accept online TEFL/TESOLs.

For more detail, see the sections “How many TEFL/TESOL hours do you need?” and “How to check if a TEFL course’s accreditation is real.” above.

How long does it take to finish a 120-hour TEFL course?

Short answer:
It depends how much time you can give it. If you study part-time, many people finish in a few weeks. If you treat it like a full-time project, you can complete it faster.

More detail:
“120 hours” usually means the estimated study time, not a fixed schedule. With an online, self-paced course you can log in whenever you have time and stop when you need to, which makes it easier to fit around work or studies.

When you compare courses, check how long you have access (for example, 3 months, 6 months or 12 months) so you know you have enough time to finish comfortably.

Can I teach English online with just a TEFL and no experience?

Short answer:
Yes. Many people start teaching online with a 120-hour TEFL and no formal teaching background.

More detail:
Some companies will hire new teachers with:
  • a 120-hour TEFL
  • a good internet connection and basic tech setup
  • a successful demo lesson and interview
Others prefer a degree plus some teaching or tutoring experience. Private tutoring (one-to-one classes you arrange yourself) can be more flexible but requires more initiative on your part.

In all cases, a decent TEFL course should give you enough lesson-planning and classroom skills to feel prepared for those first lessons. For more on this, see the parts of this guide that talk about teaching English online and what employers actually look for.

Do I need CELTA or a Level 5 course as well?

Short answer:
Not to start. For most new teachers, an accredited 120-hour TEFL is enough for first jobs online or abroad.

More detail:
CELTA and Level 5 courses are great options if you:
  • already know you want a long-term career in ELT
  • want to work in more competitive schools or language centres


Many teachers start with a 120-hour TEFL, gain some experience, and then decide later whether a CELTA or Level 5 course is worth the extra time and money for their goals.

You don’t need to go straight to the most expensive option to find out if you actually enjoy teaching.

What if I buy a TEFL course and then realise it isn’t right for me?

Short answer:
That’s why it’s important to check the refund policy before you enrol.

More detail:
Good providers clearly state:
  • how long you have to change your mind
  • whether you can get a full or partial refund
  • what happens if you haven’t started the course yet


Be cautious if refund information is buried, vague, or missing altogether. If in doubt, email and ask them to confirm in writing. For more on this, see the pricing and “hidden fees” parts of this guide above.
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