What is the duration required to obtain TEFL certification? We get this question a lot, and it’s a valid one! It makes sense that you want to know how long it will take you to get there since we know you’re excited to start working on your plans, which may include teaching in classrooms abroad, teaching online from the comfort of your home, or teaching online as a digital nomad while you travel.
What makes TEFL?
Let’s take a brief look at the reasons you would wish to enroll in a TEFL course before discussing how long it takes to finish. Teaching English as a Foreign Language, or TEFL, is an internationally recognized credential that enables you to instruct non-native English speakers both online and overseas. Most respectable jobs globally will want a 120-hour TEFL certification from a duly authorized TEFL education provider. While having a TEFL certification is sufficient to begin teaching English, you should check the country’s visa requirements since some may demand instructors to possess a passport from a certain English-speaking nation in addition to a bachelor’s degree. If you don’t have a degree, go here for further information; if you’re not a native speaker, go here.
In addition to providing you with the credentials these businesses want, a TEFL course equips you with the real-world knowledge and expertise needed to succeed as a teacher. You’ll be able to review grammar and gain insight into the ins and outs of instructing non-native speakers. Essential skills like lesson preparation and classroom management will also be covered in a quality TEFL course. Later in this post, we’ll examine exactly what you should study in a TEFL course.
Classroom vs Online
First, let’s compare online and in-person classes. The most significant factor influencing how long it takes you to obtain your TEFL certification is the learning approach you select. Since you may study at your speed and have access to the content around the clock, online courses are substantially faster. With online courses, you also have a lower chance of missing study sessions than you could in traditional classroom settings—for instance, if the instructor is ill, your car breaks down, you have to rush to work, etc. (which occurs more often than you may imagine!). This is crucial since you can qualify sooner if you miss fewer sessions.
Since in-person classes are more expensive, you might need to put off starting your teaching profession until later by having to save up money for a while.
Things to keep in mind
Keep in mind that you might finish your course faster than the typical person if you can study for it full-time. On the other hand, you could take a little longer than usual if you find that you don’t have much time throughout the week to study or if an unforeseen circumstance causes you to stop studying for a while. The above times are only approximate estimates meant to show you what’s feasible if you can consistently study part-time.
Recall that if you enroll in a course with I-to-I, you have an entire network of support teams at your disposal that will expedite your TEFL certification process. More support equals a lower chance of getting stuck and a higher likelihood of finishing your course quickly. Our TEFL Course Experts can assist you in choosing the best course for your needs, and our Customer Support team can assist you with any technical problems you may encounter with the course. Our Academic Support team and tutors are also available to answer any questions you may have about the course material and offer thorough feedback on your assignments.
Do you need some advice on how to finish your course? See Samukelisiwe, a TEFL instructor in South Africa,’s blog article. Are you prepared to begin now that you are aware of how long it takes to obtain TEFL certification? Visit our courses page to choose your course, or make an appointment for a complimentary callback from one of our TEFL specialists if you have any concerns or need guidance on which course is best for you.
Other elements
Once you’ve decided to enroll in an online course, there are a few more things that will impact how long it takes to receive your TEFL certification. Among them are:
- Although it should go without saying, how much training you wish to undertake will determine how long the course takes to finish.
- How many hours a week can you commit to studying? Your progress through the course content will accelerate the more time you can commit to it.
- The extent to which you are prepared to seek assistance when needed: if you find anything difficult or confusing to solve on your own, you’re more inclined to stop or put off moving forward.
- How quickly you finish the material: You’ll probably finish the course sooner than the typical person if you’re the kind of person who reads a book rapidly and breezes through study materials. The opposite also holds: it’s acceptable if you like to take your time and learn things at a slower pace. You will advance more slowly that way. (It’s best to confirm that you comprehend everything beforehand!
Average durations
Before you begin, you may get an idea of how long it might take to get TEFL certified despite all these extra considerations by looking at the average time that other individuals have taken to finish each of our online courses:
500-hour Advanced TEFL Diploma at Level 5
The course can be completed in 15–24 weeks on average, but you can start earning money as soon as you finish the first 180 hours because you will receive an initial certificate that you can use to apply for online teaching positions. This way, you can start earning money as soon as you finish the course and increase your hourly teaching rate as your qualification level increases.
Level 5 Advanced TEFL Diploma, 420 hours
This course takes 12–20 weeks on average to finish, but much like the 500-hour course, you may work while you learn because you’ll get a certificate after completing the first 180 hours, which is typically about 6 weeks in.
300-hour TEFL Diploma at Level 5
Typically, it takes 8 to 16 weeks to finish this course.
180-hour TEFL Certification at Level 5
It takes 4–8 weeks on average to finish our 180-hour course.
Level 3 TEFL Certificate, 120 hours
Given that this is how long prior students have taken on average to finish our shortest course, you might receive your TEFL certification in as little as two to six weeks (!).
Is earning a TEFL certificate challenging?
The quick response is that obtaining a TEFL certification is not difficult at all! The lengthier response is that while credentials are easily obtained online, you should make sure you have the time and the resources to dedicate yourself entirely to obtaining your certification. After selecting your curriculum, you need to choose when you should become certified.
The issue of how long it takes to obtain a TEFL certification follows naturally. The majority of discussions are on generic TEFL/TESOL certification, which is intended for those who are new to the English language teaching (ELT) industry. In the end, the true query is: How long does a 120-hour TEFL course take to complete? The good news is that you have complete control over it! These kinds of courses cover anything from lesson preparation and efficient teaching strategies to teaching grammar and other specialized subjects. This homework will go much more quickly for you if you are familiar with some of the material.
Generally, the minimal need to be eligible for TEFL/TESOL employment both online and overseas is a 120-hour certification. Both in-person and online courses are included in this average. Therefore, the duration required to obtain TEFL certification is expressed in participation hours rather than months or years.
It’s important to keep in mind that most (but not all!) online TEFL certifications are self-paced and that most TEFL/TESOL training is now delivered online when considering certification time commitment. A prospective employer’s perception of your onsite vs. online certification is essentially the same! If you decide to get certified in person, you won’t pace yourself; instead, you’ll finish the course according to a set timetable.
Does TEFL have any prerequisites?
The fact that you may enroll in a course without prior experience or certifications is one of the nicest things about TEFL. Many individuals erroneously think that to become a TEFL teacher, you must have a degree, teaching experience, or some other kind of teaching certification. However, this isn’t at all the case! We’re glad to inform everyone curious about the age requirement that TEFL is never too late! Any age or stage of life might be the starting point for someone to pursue teaching.
English language proficiency, the course cost, and study time are the only requirements for enrolling in a TEFL course. Not sure if you have enough time to become certified? Don’t worry, you can learn all about that from this post!
How do the courses offered by TEFL Org work?
Let’s now briefly examine how TEFL classes operate. We at The TEFL Organization provide classroom and online TEFL training. Our classroom TEFL courses take place over one weekend or three back-to-back weekdays in the UK and Ireland. Our virtual classroom courses are a terrific choice if the dates don’t work for you or if you’re situated somewhere else. They follow the same syllabus. You may study whenever it’s convenient for you because our online TEFL courses are fully self-paced.
Being a supplier of TEFL courses, one of our goals is to make TEFL certification as accessible as possible. For this reason, we’ve made our courses flexible so you may fit learning around your other obligations and job. You may use your laptop, smartphone, or tablet to learn from any location in the globe. We’ll even send your certificate, free of charge, to your location once you’ve finished the course.
Factors Influencing the TEFL Certification Timeline
If you have never taught abroad before, it may be tough to know where to begin. One excellent and essential step toward teaching overseas is earning a TEFL certification. TEFL-certified applicants are preferred by employers. Put another way, income increases with TEFL certification. It could also be the deciding factor in landing an ESL job. TEFL applicants should be aware of the certification timeline to plan their careers. Several factors influence how long the TEFL certification course takes. An online or in-person TEFL certificate, for example, will impact how long it takes.
Start and end dates for on-site TEFL courses are provided so you are aware of the certification schedule. Online TEFL, however, gives you more flexibility. Candidates with little free time choose for online TEFL courses. Your choice of TEFL course may have a significant impact on when you get certified. TEFL certifications obtained online are quick and flexible. since there are always educational materials available.
You may also learn at your own pace. Absences from classes and self-study are decreased with an online TEFL certification. Faster course completion is the result of fewer missed sessions. On-site training, on the other hand, is comprehensive and practical. On-site classes take place in classrooms. They are taught by a qualified ESL teacher. It takes longer to become a TEFL certified on-site than online. One big advantage of on-site TEFL certification is the opportunity to teach with real students. Those with teaching experience are given preference in many schools. Gaining TEFL certification might lead to networking opportunities. You need to know how long TEFL courses take to apply for the appropriate employment. The duration of TEFL certification is impacted by these other factors.
When can I receive my TEFL certification?
You have three months to finish Bridge’s 120-hour Master Certificate program. Nonetheless, the majority of students finish this standard TEFL/TESOL certification course in about six to eight weeks. You could be done even sooner, depending on your schedule!
The Master Certificate is a self-paced course that includes subjects like classroom management and how to teach certain English language skills. This implies that you will have complete freedom in terms of how you choose to engage with the course. Among the assignments you will have to complete for the course are:
- Using the discussion boards to write
- submitting written tasks to be evaluated by a tutor
- taking tests that include short-answer and multiple-choice questions
You will have access to a study plan similar to the one below for each Bridge course, including the Master Certificate. If you wish to finish your certification sooner, you may always alter it!
Your Productivity in Examining the Course Content
Those who enjoy taking TEFL courses can finish the material quickly. They can become certified more rapidly as a result. You will advance more slowly if you decide to learn things slowly. Think about the TEFL certification hours in addition to these other factors. Today’s majority of ESL students want 150-hour courses. Ten modules, 19 topics, and 169 units make up the 150-hour TEFL course. The training is available to candidates for six months. The 150-hour TEFL course takes two to three months to complete.
Another well-liked ESL course is the 250-hour TEFL certification program. It’s one of the most comprehensive TEFL certifications with 219 units. There are 13 modules and 22 topics in the course. The course is offered for eight months. TEFL certification takes three to six months to get. Your employment prospects will improve with the in-depth skills you may acquire with the 250-hour TEFL certification. What is the duration required for online TEFL certification? The length of the program depends on what you want to include. It should also contain all of the classroom hours for the TEFL certification course.
TEFL students typically require more time than full-time students. Programs for TEFL certification offer many support teams to address inquiries. Having more support lessens the chance of becoming stuck.
The Level of Training Intensity
Some TEFL courses include intense modules that will enable you to get comprehensive ESL teaching abilities. It will take longer to finish a TEFL course with extensive course material and modules, though.
Hours of Independent Study
Establishing a specific timetable for independent study should always be your goal while enrolled in a TEFL certification program. Your progress through the course material will accelerate the more time you can devote to it. It will also assist you in achieving high grades.
Your Desire to Ask for Assistance
It will be difficult to advance if you are trapped and unable to comprehend the course material. Consequently, if you come across anything you don’t understand, you should always be open to seeking assistance. Typically, the trainers assist with the approved online TEFL programs. By asking the trainer questions and receiving an answer that includes explanations, you may have all of your questions about the course answered.
Conclusion: Step Into Your TEFL Adventure with Self-Belief
In summary, starting the TEFL certification process is a thrilling step toward a variety of teaching jobs throughout the world. Obtaining TEFL certification takes a variety of time, but the globally accepted credential makes it possible to teach English online or overseas. TEFL gives you the necessary skills to pursue a job from the comforts of your home, travel as a digital nomad, or experience learning in schools overseas. Don’t forget to take into account other requirements, such as a bachelor’s degree and certain passport requirements for some nations.
FAQs: Getting Started with TEFL Certification
1. What is the duration required to finish a TEFL course?
Although the length varies, a typical TEFL course takes 120 hours to finish. On the other hand, certain courses provide for pace flexibility.
2. Why go with TEFL as a certification to teach English online or in another country?
The globally recognized Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) credential is necessary for instructing non-native English speakers in the language. It provides access to a plethora of international teaching possibilities.
3. Is a 120-hour TEFL qualification a requirement for all reputable employers?
Yes, most respectable businesses globally want a 120-hour TEFL certification from an authorized training institution. This certification guarantees that educators possess the requisite abilities and understanding.
4. Does teaching English in some countries need anything more than TEFL certification?
Indeed, certain nations could mandate that educators possess a bachelor’s degree and/or a passport from designated English-speaking nations. It’s important to learn about and do your homework on visa requirements before looking for teaching positions.
5. Can someone who is not a native speaker of English or does not have a degree teach English using a TEFL qualification?
Although many teaching professions just require a TEFL degree, some nations could have extra qualifications. Examine possibilities for non-native speakers or those without a degree while taking certain visa requirements into account.
