How to Get a TEFL Certification

teacher

Teaching English abroad can be the perfect opportunity for many. You get to travel the world, see and meet people from different backgrounds and cultures, all the while building confidence and growing your career prospects – and a TEFL Certification can be invaluable.

The question is though, how do you get started? Well, because there are not very many requirements in most countries, getting started is pretty easy. In fact, all it takes is a decision and you can pack your bags and be on your way. There is one thing that can increase your chances of not just getting hired as an English teacher abroad, but also increase your asking price – a TEFL certification and even this can be easy to acquire with the right know-how.

Here’s a step by step process to get TEFL certification;

Decide if this is What You Want

Understand that teaching English abroad is a very long-term and involved process. You want to be sure that you are 100% headstrong that it’s the career path you seek before you begin. There will be a lot of time and money spent on preparation and the finding the right job for you – so decide if you want to invest time and energy into this before you go any further.

It is advisable to take the time to learn the processes of finding employment teaching English in a foreign county. This will help you to easily make a decision. Once you have decided you are willing to spend time and money doing this, you are ready to begin the hunt for your TEFL certification and that idyllic teaching job abroad.

 Are You Qualified?

Just as with every other job you want to apply for, the next step is to check if you meet the minimum requirements to teach English abroad. The good news is there are very few requirements you have to meet. In fact, there are only three; are you fluent in English, are you at least 18 years old and are you TEFL certified.

Chances are you’ve checked the first two boxes and it is perfectly fine that you are not yet TEFL certified. However, you must realize that most countries will not grant you a visa to enter the country as an English teacher unless you have TEFL certification – and that’s what we’re here to help you with!

Learn About TEFL Certification

Before you sign up to any TEFL certification program, you should take the time to find out what TEFL certification is. This way, you will be ready for the upcoming challenge of choosing the right program and completing it to earn your certification.

TEFL certification programs come in many forms. There are those you can take online which tend to be less involving and cheaper and there are those you can take in-person. Before you jump right in and choose the easiest and indeed the cheapest option, you may want to check the requirements of the destination country. Some countries require that you take an in-person certification program before you can teach English and some will accept an online program or a combination of both.

Choose TEFL Certification Courses

Now that you are aware of what a TEFL certification course is and where you can get one, the next step is choosing a program. If you’ll be taking an online TEFL course, there are a plethora of companies to choose from – and this can be a minefield! My advice is to choose a reputable company that has been established for a long period of time – usually companies that have been around for longer periods of time, tend to have the better credibility.  

It is also important to check the reviews of the TEFL companies on your shortlist. With the emergence of so many review sites, the Internet isn’t short of them and finding reviews for certain TEFL companies should be a doddle with a quick Internet search.  

Talk to Many TEFL Certification Companies before deciding

TEFL certification companies aren’t created equal and you should aim to speak to at least talk to 2 or 3 before making a final decision. Find out what other services they offer besides TEFL certification to help you decide which one is the right fit. Ask the right questions such as how long they’ve been in business and what the application process is.

Once you have selected a TEFL provider, you are ready to apply and get that certification – the final hurdle to your dream job abroad!

Good Luck

By Jamie McKaye