You are ready to jump into teaching ESL online, but do you require a TEFL certificate to land a good online teaching job? Generally, the answer is yes, a TEFL certificate is required or considered an asset for the majority of the highest-paying online teaching jobs.
Even though it might not be a requirement for all teaching platforms out there, your pay when teaching online as a certified TEFL teacher will be higher with certification than without certification. Completing a TEFL course also gives you the confidence and abilities necessary to teach someone a foreign language, which is no simple undertaking!
Aside from a TEFL certificate, there are a few other requirements for teaching English online, which we will explore here.
What are the requirements for most online English teaching jobs?
In most cases, you will need to meet the following requirements to teach English online:
- Have a bachelor's degree (no matter what your major was)
- Be fluent in the English language
- A teaching certificate in English as a second language (ESL) (like a TEFL or TESOL certificate)
That is all there is to it! There are even some platforms where you can work as an English teacher without a university degree.
While having a teaching license, an online teaching certificate, an advanced degree, and a lot of teaching experience can all help you earn more money, they are not required across the board. A standard 120-hour TEFL certificate or higher is totally acceptable.
There are also some technical requirements for teaching online, such as a computer (with a webcam and mic or headset) and a fast internet connection.
What certification do I need to teach English online?
A TEFL certificate is required to qualify for the best online teaching jobs. Even though it might not be listed as a requirement in the job offer, it could be an important aspect that separates you from the competition.
A 120-hour TEFL certificate is the international standard TEFL certification for both teaching online and also abroad. If you want to teach English online temporarily or as a side gig, this TEFL certification is sufficient.
However, if you are pursuing a long-term career in teaching English online and want to establish yourself as a successful online teacher, we recommend the 170-hr course in teaching English as a foreign language with online specialization.
This course is for teachers who want to earn a qualification to work in the TEFL field and want to expand their options into the online ESL market. The course includes the skills and abilities necessary to teach English in both classroom and online settings.
