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Last updated: November 2026. This is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Requirements change, so confirm with official sources and your school before you apply.
Which qualification do you actually need?
The question I get most from people thinking about teaching overseas isn't where to go. It's "which certificate do I need first?" After over a decade in classrooms around the world, my honest answer is that it depends on the job you want, not on which course has the best ads.
There are really three doors, and each certificate opens a different one:
Language schools and online teaching want a TEFL or TESOL certificate. A 120-hour course is the usual floor.
Better-paid language schools, university language centres and adult programmes often prefer the CELTA.
International schools (the ones teaching a full curriculum in English) usually want a teaching licence or an equivalent, such as a PGCE with QTS, plus classroom experience.
Pick the door first. Then pick the certificate.
The quick comparison
TEFL / TESOL
What it is: a certificate in teaching English to speakers of other languages
Length: 120 hours minimum; self-paced online is common
Cost: varies widely by provider
Observed teaching: depends on the course; many online courses have none
Best for: language schools, online teaching, a first year abroad
CELTA
What it is: Cambridge's standardised English-teaching certificate
Length: 120 contact hours, either 4 weeks full time or about 10–19 weeks part time
Cost: about £1,150–£1,950 / $1,800–$3,000 depending on the centre
Observed teaching: yes, 6 hours of assessed teaching practice and 6 hours watching experienced teachers
Best for: adult ESL, competitive language-school jobs, a career in English language teaching
US teaching licence (online route)
What it is: a state-issued licence to teach a subject or grade band
Length: about 9 months (e.g. Moreland TEACH-NOW, including 12 weeks of clinical practice)
Cost: $7,200 tuition for TEACH-NOW
Observed teaching: yes, a supervised placement
Best for: international and US-curriculum schools
iPGCE / iQTS
What it is: a UK postgraduate teaching certificate for teachers working abroad
Length: typically 12 months
Cost: about £2,850–£9,250
Observed teaching: yes, in your own school setting
Best for: British-curriculum international schools
TEFL / TESOL: the entry ticket
TEFL and TESOL mean the same thing in practice. Employers mostly check one box: do you have at least 120 hours? Beyond that, quality varies enormously, so look for three things:
Real tutor feedback on your lesson plans, not just auto-graded quizzes.
Some observed or practicum teaching, even a few hours. It is the part that actually changes how you teach.
A real organisation behind it: an address, named tutors and a refund policy. Be wary of anything very cheap or promising a guaranteed job.
If you're testing whether life abroad suits you, a solid 120-hour TEFL is the cheapest sensible start.
CELTA: the gold standard for English teaching
The CELTA is run by Cambridge through approved centres. Every course follows the same framework: around 120 contact hours, six hours of assessed teaching with real learners and six hours observing experienced teachers. Cambridge also recommends a lot of extra self-study, so budget your time like a part-time job at minimum.
Prices are set by each centre. A few current examples:
a London centre charges £1,747 plus a £186 Cambridge fee;
another London centre starts at £1,450 including the exam fee;
US centres quote around $2,995 all-in;
some online courses run around $1,800–$1,900.
The intensive four-week version is exactly that: intense. If you're working, the part-time online version is much kinder to your evenings.
Why I rate it: the CELTA is built around what I care about most in a classroom. You learn to keep teacher talk short, model clearly, and get learners doing the work. That habit transfers to every age group.
There's no affiliate program for the CELTA. Book directly through Cambridge's centre finder.
A teaching licence: the door to international schools
If you want to teach a full curriculum (maths, science, a homeroom class) at an international school, most good schools want a teaching licence or equivalent and two or more years of experience. A TEFL or CELTA alone usually won't get you there.
For US citizens without an education degree, online alternative routes have made this realistic from abroad. Moreland University's TEACH-NOW programme, for example, takes about nine months. It includes 12 weeks of clinical learning, and tuition is listed at $7,200 with payment plans. Most states also require licensing exams, such as the Praxis, so build in study time.
A tip from experience: get the subject and grade band on your licence that matches the jobs you're applying for. A licence in the wrong area is a hard sell.
iPGCE vs iQTS: the British-curriculum route
British-curriculum international schools often ask for a PGCE. Several UK universities offer an international version, the iPGCE, that you complete while working in a school abroad. Costs range from about £2,850 to £9,250, and it typically takes a year.
The catch: a standard iPGCE does not give you Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in England. The newer iPGCE with iQTS does, and many international schools accept it. If you might ever teach in England, or want the widest choice of British schools, ask about iQTS before you enrol.
So which should you choose?
Trying it for a year or two? A good 120-hour TEFL.
Serious about teaching English as a career? CELTA.
Want international-school salaries and contracts? A teaching licence (US route) or a PGCE with QTS/iQTS (British route), plus experience.
Already teaching English abroad and want to move up? Many teachers start with TEFL, work a year, then do a licence or iPGCE while employed. That's often the cheapest way up, because the school gives you the classroom you need for practice.
Whichever you pick, remember that the certificate gets you the interview. What keeps you hired is what happens in the room: clear models, short instructions, and students doing most of the talking.
Next steps: once you've picked a route, see A Guide to Teaching Overseas for the full step-by-step process, and What It Really Costs to Move Abroad to Teach to budget for the move.
FAQ
Is an online TEFL accepted? For most language schools and online platforms, yes, if it's at least 120 hours. Some employers prefer a course that includes observed teaching practice, so check job ads in your target country before you buy.
Is CELTA worth it over TEFL? If you plan to teach English for more than a couple of years, usually yes. It is more widely recognised and includes assessed teaching with real learners.
Can I teach at an international school with only a CELTA? Sometimes in an EAL or language-support role. For classroom and subject posts, most schools want a teaching licence or PGCE.
Do I need my degree apostilled too? Often, yes, for work visas. See How to Get an FBI Background Check Apostilled While Living Abroad. The same process applies to degree certificates.
Sources: IH London CELTA fees and hours · St Giles CELTA London · Teaching House CELTA prices · University College Cork online CELTA · IH course finder (online CELTA prices) · Moreland University TEACH-NOW tuition · Moreland, Michigan pathway (12 weeks clinical) · Coventry University: iPGCE vs iPGCE with iQTS · University of Sheffield iPGCE (no QTS) · iPGCE cost range