United States
US
How To Get TESOL Certification
September 20, 2023
Table of Contents
- How to get TESOL Certified
- What is TESOL certification
- Types of TESOL certifications
- How much does TESOL certification cost
- How long does it take to get TESOL certified
- Do I have to legalize my TESOL certification
- Start your TESOL journey with us
- Summary
- Depending on which TESOL certification you choose, there will be different minimum requirements.
- Doing a TESOL course is an investment of your time and your money. Which is why you should choose a TEFL course carefully.
- With a TEFL/TESOL certification under your belt, check out our Jobs Board and apply for the teaching job of your dreams.
Are climbing up the Eiffel Tower, walking along the Great Wall of China, or visiting Machu Picchu on your bucket list? But your bank balance is a little sad?
Then you should get TESOL certified to be able to travel the world and earn money while you’re on the adventure of a lifetime!
First things first, you need to get TESOL certified. Here’s how.
1. Meet the minimum requirements
Depending on which TESOL certification you choose, there will be different minimum requirements.
But for the most part, they are the same regardless of the qualification.
To do a TEFL/TESOL course with The TEFL Academy you DO need to:
- be 16 years of age,
- have graduated from high school,
- have an English level of at least Advanced level (C1 according to the CEFR).
But you DON’T need to:
- have a degree,
- be a native English speaker,
- have any teaching experience.
2. Research and choose a TEFL course
The next step is finding a TEFL/TESOL course.
Doing a TESOL course is an investment of your time and your money. Which is why you should choose a TEFL course carefully.
Find a TEFL/TESOL course which suits your learning style, your time constraints, and your budget.
At the same time, make sure your TEFL?TESOL course is accredited, reputable and internationally recognised.
An online TEFL course is the most convenient and flexible option. You can complete the course in your own time at your own pace. As long as you have the support of dedicated professionals to help you through any tough spots, there’s no reason an online TEFL course is inferior to an in-person course.
3. Enroll and complete the coursework
Sign up to get access to your course.
A TEFL course with The TEFL Academy gives you 6 months’ access to your course materials. You are supported every step of your learning journey by experienced and qualified professionals, who are available to help you at the click of a button.
4. Gain teaching experience
In TESOL, experience is king.
The TEFL Academy’s Level 5 Combined Course provides you with online tuition as well as 10 hours of practical teaching practice. Or you can do our Level 5 Observed Teaching Practice Course which lets you do your teaching practice online.
If you opt for a TEFL course with no practical component, gain some teaching experience by volunteering or private tutoring.
5. Start your TESOL journey
With a TEFL/TESOL certification under your belt, check out our Jobs Board and apply for the teaching job of your dreams.
What is TESOL certification?
What exactly is a TESOL certification?
A TESOL certification is a qualification which prepares you to teach English in your home country. With a TESOL certification you are qualified to teach English in an English-speaking country to foreigners, or you can even use the certification to teach English in a non-English-speaking country, and online.
For example, TEFL/TESOL teachers can teach English to Spanish speakers in the US, or French speakers in Cape Town, or Thai speakers in Thailand.
Types of TESOL certifications
These days many TEFL teachers get qualified through an online TEFL/TESOL course. The subject matter is taught through videos, readings, online activities, assignments and assessments.
The TEFL Academy offers a 120-hour and a 168-hour online TEFL course. The former gives you a Level 3 TESOL certification; the latter a Level 5 TESOL certification.
If you choose the online course, there is no in-class component, meaning you can complete the entire course from the comfort of your couch!
In-class TESOL Certification
Some TEFL/TESOL certifications offer in-class components. It’s possible to do your entire course in a classroom, with lessons led by experienced TEFL trainers. These courses have set hours and set dates. Because of this, they are more suited to younger teachers or students who have more flexibility.
The TEFL Academy’s 168-hour Level 5 Combined TEFL Course is mostly done online, but there is a 10-hour in-class practical component, which can be completed in any one of 96 locations across the globe.
Or, in a first of its kind, The TEFL Academy offers a 40-hour Level 5 Observed Practical Course. On this course, teachers complete practical teaching experience, but online rather than in-person.
How much does TESOL certification cost?
TESOL certifications range from as little as $20 to $3,000.
Dirt-cheap TESOL courses are generally not worth doing, because they are poor quality, short, and won’t be recognised by TEFL employers.
TEFL courses with The TEFL Academy cost between $140 and $400, but you can count on high-quality course content, support from qualified professionals, international accreditation, an excellent reputation, and high student satisfaction.
Read More: How Much Does TEFL/TESOL Certification Cost?
How long does it take to get TESOL certified?
The minimum TEFL/TESOL requirement for TEFL/TESOL jobs is 120 hours. Anything less than 120 hours may still be called a TEFL/TESOL qualification, but it’s unlikely to get you a job – so what’s the point?
But if the course says 120 hours on the tin, that doesn’t mean it will take you exactly 120 hours (3 weeks) to complete. The beauty of a TEFL course is its flexibility. If you are doing an online course, you can choose to study as much or as little as you want, whenever and wherever you want.
You can knock it out the park in a few weeks if you dedicate your every waking moment to it, or you can take it a bit slower and do a couple of hours a day. How long it takes you is up to you!
Read More: How to Get TESOL Certified
Do I have to legalize my TESOL certification?
It’s a good idea to get your TESOL certification legalized, for work purposes. When applying for jobs, you are usually asked to provide certified copies of your academic qualifications, including your TESOL certificate.
Read More: How To Legalize Your TEFL Certificate [2023]
Start your TESOL journey with us
The TEFL Academy offers everything you need to become TESOL-certified. No matter where or who you want to teach, a TEFL/TESOL qualification from The TEFL Academy will get you that job. (And our Jobs Board can even help you with that!).
Don’t let any confusion between TESOL and TEFL stand in your way.
Don’t hesitate! Sign up with The TEFL Academy today to start your journey to teaching English as a foreign language.
Meet The Author
Kirsten Colquhoun is the Content Manager for The TEFL Academy. A graduate of Cambridge University and DELTA-qualified, she first started teaching kindergarten in Thailand in 2003. A South African, she has also taught in China, the UK, Spain, Qatar and South Africa, but these days she is a teacher trainer and freelance writer and editor.Table of Contents
- How to get TESOL Certified
- What is TESOL certification
- Types of TESOL certifications
- How much does TESOL certification cost
- How long does it take to get TESOL certified
- Do I have to legalize my TESOL certification
- Start your TESOL journey with us
- Summary
- Depending on which TESOL certification you choose, there will be different minimum requirements.
- Doing a TESOL course is an investment of your time and your money. Which is why you should choose a TEFL course carefully.
- With a TEFL/TESOL certification under your belt, check out our Jobs Board and apply for the teaching job of your dreams.
Are climbing up the Eiffel Tower, walking along the Great Wall of China, or visiting Machu Picchu on your bucket list? But your bank balance is a little sad?
Then you should get TESOL certified to be able to travel the world and earn money while you’re on the adventure of a lifetime!
First things first, you need to get TESOL certified. Here’s how.
1. Meet the minimum requirements
Depending on which TESOL certification you choose, there will be different minimum requirements.
But for the most part, they are the same regardless of the qualification.
To do a TEFL/TESOL course with The TEFL Academy you DO need to:
- be 16 years of age,
- have graduated from high school,
- have an English level of at least Advanced level (C1 according to the CEFR).
But you DON’T need to:
- have a degree,
- be a native English speaker,
- have any teaching experience.
2. Research and choose a TEFL course
The next step is finding a TEFL/TESOL course.
Doing a TESOL course is an investment of your time and your money. Which is why you should choose a TEFL course carefully.
Find a TEFL/TESOL course which suits your learning style, your time constraints, and your budget.
At the same time, make sure your TEFL?TESOL course is accredited, reputable and internationally recognised.
An online TEFL course is the most convenient and flexible option. You can complete the course in your own time at your own pace. As long as you have the support of dedicated professionals to help you through any tough spots, there’s no reason an online TEFL course is inferior to an in-person course.
3. Enroll and complete the coursework
Sign up to get access to your course.
A TEFL course with The TEFL Academy gives you 6 months’ access to your course materials. You are supported every step of your learning journey by experienced and qualified professionals, who are available to help you at the click of a button.
4. Gain teaching experience
In TESOL, experience is king.
The TEFL Academy’s Level 5 Combined Course provides you with online tuition as well as 10 hours of practical teaching practice. Or you can do our Level 5 Observed Teaching Practice Course which lets you do your teaching practice online.
If you opt for a TEFL course with no practical component, gain some teaching experience by volunteering or private tutoring.
5. Start your TESOL journey
With a TEFL/TESOL certification under your belt, check out our Jobs Board and apply for the teaching job of your dreams.
What is TESOL certification?
What exactly is a TESOL certification?
A TESOL certification is a qualification which prepares you to teach English in your home country. With a TESOL certification you are qualified to teach English in an English-speaking country to foreigners, or you can even use the certification to teach English in a non-English-speaking country, and online.
For example, TEFL/TESOL teachers can teach English to Spanish speakers in the US, or French speakers in Cape Town, or Thai speakers in Thailand.
Types of TESOL certifications
These days many TEFL teachers get qualified through an online TEFL/TESOL course. The subject matter is taught through videos, readings, online activities, assignments and assessments.
The TEFL Academy offers a 120-hour and a 168-hour online TEFL course. The former gives you a Level 3 TESOL certification; the latter a Level 5 TESOL certification.
If you choose the online course, there is no in-class component, meaning you can complete the entire course from the comfort of your couch!
In-class TESOL Certification
Some TEFL/TESOL certifications offer in-class components. It’s possible to do your entire course in a classroom, with lessons led by experienced TEFL trainers. These courses have set hours and set dates. Because of this, they are more suited to younger teachers or students who have more flexibility.
The TEFL Academy’s 168-hour Level 5 Combined TEFL Course is mostly done online, but there is a 10-hour in-class practical component, which can be completed in any one of 96 locations across the globe.
Or, in a first of its kind, The TEFL Academy offers a 40-hour Level 5 Observed Practical Course. On this course, teachers complete practical teaching experience, but online rather than in-person.
How much does TESOL certification cost?
TESOL certifications range from as little as $20 to $3,000.
Dirt-cheap TESOL courses are generally not worth doing, because they are poor quality, short, and won’t be recognised by TEFL employers.
TEFL courses with The TEFL Academy cost between $140 and $400, but you can count on high-quality course content, support from qualified professionals, international accreditation, an excellent reputation, and high student satisfaction.
Read More: How Much Does TEFL/TESOL Certification Cost?
How long does it take to get TESOL certified?
The minimum TEFL/TESOL requirement for TEFL/TESOL jobs is 120 hours. Anything less than 120 hours may still be called a TEFL/TESOL qualification, but it’s unlikely to get you a job – so what’s the point?
But if the course says 120 hours on the tin, that doesn’t mean it will take you exactly 120 hours (3 weeks) to complete. The beauty of a TEFL course is its flexibility. If you are doing an online course, you can choose to study as much or as little as you want, whenever and wherever you want.
You can knock it out the park in a few weeks if you dedicate your every waking moment to it, or you can take it a bit slower and do a couple of hours a day. How long it takes you is up to you!
Read More: How to Get TESOL Certified
Do I have to legalize my TESOL certification?
It’s a good idea to get your TESOL certification legalized, for work purposes. When applying for jobs, you are usually asked to provide certified copies of your academic qualifications, including your TESOL certificate.
Read More: How To Legalize Your TEFL Certificate [2023]
Start your TESOL journey with us
The TEFL Academy offers everything you need to become TESOL-certified. No matter where or who you want to teach, a TEFL/TESOL qualification from The TEFL Academy will get you that job. (And our Jobs Board can even help you with that!).
Don’t let any confusion between TESOL and TEFL stand in your way.
Don’t hesitate! Sign up with The TEFL Academy today to start your journey to teaching English as a foreign language.
Meet The Author
Kirsten Colquhoun is the Content Manager for The TEFL Academy. A graduate of Cambridge University and DELTA-qualified, she first started teaching kindergarten in Thailand in 2003. A South African, she has also taught in China, the UK, Spain, Qatar and South Africa, but these days she is a teacher trainer and freelance writer and editor.