How to choose TEFL courses
Investing in a TEFL course is a big deal! Although there may be some initial sticker shock, the cost is almost always worth it—as long as you know how to choose the right course for you. Choosing a TEFL course is not only about affordability, but also about meeting your goals.
That could mean setting up your future by choosing a course that helps build a long term career in teaching English abroad, signing up for a course in your dream destination, choosing a provider that offers high quality job support, and so much more.
The right qualification for you will depend on your goals.
So, here's exactly how to choose a TEFL course—the right way.
1. Define your goals
As with anything you do in life, you need a strong “why”. Why do you want to get TEFL certified? What's your end game? Do you want to permanently travel around the world teaching English, or do you just want to strengthen your resume/CV for further down the road? Depending on your ultimate goal, the right TEFL course for you can vary.
2. Choose a destination
Where do you want to get TEFL certified? Do you want to get certified in the same country where you want to teach? That's a great option, and sets you up to find a job more easily post-certification.
Or maybe you want to save money, and get certified at home or online. That works too! Just make sure, in that case, that you're choosing a course that provides high quality practical experience. If you have no experience in a classroom, having that in-person training can be crucial during TEFL certification—therefore, it's important that your TEFL course can offer the same benefits in a virtual setting as an in-person course.
3. Check accreditation
Don't skip this step. No matter what your goal is, you won't get very far without an accredited TEFL course. What does accreditation mean? It means that your TEFL course has been reviewed by an educational body and it meets particular standards that actually qualify you to teach English.
This information should be easy to find on the provider's website. Remember: Not only do you want an education worth paying for, but there are also very few places where you can teach English in the world without an accredited TEFL certificate.
4. Practical experience
As mentioned above, getting practical (or classroom) experience is essential to a worthwhile TEFL course, especially if you don't have prior teaching experience. If you've taught in a classroom before, then you can be a bit more lenient on this step.
However, keep in mind that classrooms around the world vary greatly in norms and culture, so even if you're an experienced teacher, you can still benefit from getting TEFL teaching practice.
5. Job support
As mentioned above, getting practical (or classroom) Does your TEFL course offer post-certification job support? It should. If you’re a beginner to teaching English abroad, it can be tough to get your foot in the door, no matter what destination you’re interested in or what your qualifications are. Having a TEFL provider that can help you make connections or find valuable job leads is a game changer.
6. Read reviews
Always read reviews! By reading reviews from previous TEFL course alumni, you'll be getting a crystal clear look at what you're signing up for. Want to go a step further? Request a meeting with program alumni prior to committing to a course. A good provider with nothing to hide won't have any problem connecting you with their alumni network.
Best TEFL Courses for 2023
All that said, which TEFL courses are the best of the best? That’ll vary a lot based on what you’re looking for! We’ve ranked the best courses based on affordability, program inclusions, job support, career development, and teaching practice.
Award Winning TEFL Courses for Teaching English Abroad
Verified
Location: Online
Duration: 170 hours
Price: $1399
Rating: 9.67 (2110 reviews)
Learn more about this program!This online course from International TEFL Academy is highly interactive and provides lifetime job search guidance. Students and graduates have access to TEFL jobs in more than 80 countries worldwide! Plus, unlike most online TEFL courses, this course is taught by experienced university-level instructors. It also includes a 20-hour practicum.
Top-Rated TEFL Certification with Job Placement Guarantee
Verified
Location: Costa Rica, Guatemala, Peru, Online
Duration: 150 hours
Price: $395
Rating: 9.69 (68 reviews)
Learn more about this program!Get TEFL certified in South and Central America with Maximo Nivel! Their program provides a job placement guarantee and is recognized for teaching English globally. Participants in the program receive practical teaching experience by instructing actual ESL students, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the teaching process.
Combined Level 5 TEFL Course Abroad
Verified
Location: Online
Duration: 168 hours self-paced
Price: $573
Rating: 9.35 (483 reviews)
Learn more about this program!If you want to teach English abroad but are nervous you'll never be ready for a real classroom, The TEFL Academy will put you at ease. At 168 hours, this is one of the most extensive TEFL courses around. The self-paced setting includes 10 hours of face-to-face teaching practice—which is helpful if you're applying for jobs in a country that doesn't accept solely online TEFL certification.
120-Hour Professional TEFL Course
Verified
Location: Online
Duration: 120 hours self-paced
Price: $299
Rating: 9.47 (178 reviews)
Learn more about this program!myTEFL is an excellent option for students who love steep discounts or want to take their TEFL course online. At 120 hours, you'll get exactly the training you need to secure a job post-certification. This is a great option for those who are aiming to teach English online.
Award-Winning TEFL Course in Prague, Czech Republic
Verified
Location: Prague, Czech Republic
Duration: 130 hours over 4 weeks
Price: $1450
Rating: 9.68 (340 reviews)
Learn more about this program!Quite simply, TEFL Worldwide Prague is world-renowned. Their course in Prague has been taken by hundreds of students, creating an alumni network of over 3500 teachers. It's a bit longer than the standard 120 hours, meaning you get to take your education to the next level, making your resume even more competitive
BeyondTEFL 4-Week Virtual Intensive TEFL Course
Verified
This 170-hour intensive online TEFL course is designed for you if you want to get your job search started quickly—this full-time course lasts just 4 weeks! To participate, all you need is a strong internet connection and the time to commit. Additionally, participants engage in a 20-hour practicum, a unique aspect not commonly found in many online TEFL programs.
100% Online Cambridge CELTA Course
Verified
Location: Online
Duration: 120 hours over 4 weeks (14-week, part-time course is available)
Price: $1800
Rating: 9.77 (13 reviews)
Learn more about this program!Some people want to teach English abroad as a way to make a little money while traveling. Others want to teach English abroad and make it a career. If you're in the latter camp, this is the course for you. CELTA is a more advanced certification meant for students who have long term interests in teaching English abroad.
Virtual Classroom & Online TEFL Courses with The TEFL Org
Verified
Location: Online
Duration: 120 hours self-paced
Price: $529
Rating: 9.24 (207 reviews)
Learn more about this program!The TEFL Org offers internationally recognized online TEFL certification programs with full tutor support. You’ll learn how to teach both young and adult learners of all levels (from complete beginners to advanced) in a fun and engaging way, whether that’s in the classroom, online, or on a one-to-one basis! This program also includes specialist training for large classes, which is perfect if your goal is to teach in China or Vietnam (where large class sizes are commonplace)
The Language House TEFL - Join our Community & Teach Abroad!
Verified
Location: Prague, Czech Republic
Duration: 130 hours (4 weeks)
Price: $1590
Rating: 9.8 (297 reviews)
Learn more about this program!If you want to be successful teaching English abroad, get the full experience by doing your TEFL certification on-site. While in Prague with The Language House TEFL, you’ll get to practice teaching with real students—which will be invaluable later on when you secure a job. This course is fully accredited, 4 weeks long, and begins every month. No prior teaching experience is necessary. Applicants must be native English speakers or fluent in English.
Fully Accredited, Online 120-Hour Advanced TEFL Course
Verified
Location: Online
Duration: 120 hours self-paced
Price: $299
Rating: 9.17 (201 reviews)
Learn more about this program!myTEFL is an excellent option for students who love steep discounts or want to take their TEFL course online. At 120 hours, you'll get exactly the training you need to secure a job post-certification. This is a great option for those who are aiming to teach English online.
How we chose the best TEFL Courses
Not just anyone can make the list of best TEFL courses—here's how we made our decisions.
To be chosen as a best TEFL course, we ensured that each course had at least 50 reviews on GoAbroad.com with an average rating of 9.0 or higher. Courses also had to be accredited, with the information easy to find on their website's homepage.
