This section offers a comprehensive guide to achieving one of the teaching credentials that will be essential for your working career. Although the profession is not governed by a single body or a single qualifying entrance exam, there are many ways to become a qualified teacher – the following sections explain how.

Whether you plan to teach in your own country or travel overseas, you will need to consider the type of training you will require in order to be employed; opinions within the teaching field are varied on this question.

Some teachers argue that you don’t need a TEFL Certificate to teach English around the world. Others argue that a Master’s degree is an unnecessary waste of time and money and that it is easy to get a job at a school or college without one. Teachers of this mindset are convinced that the teacher training industry is some sort of vast conspiracy set up in order to fleece unsuspecting students of their money by conning them into taking courses for qualifications which are almost useless. The reality is that you can get a job teaching English without a formal qualification, though it is increasingly difficult.

And another consideration: Do you really want to start teaching with no idea of what you are doing? Is this fair on you? Is it fair on your students? There are gifted teachers born with a natural ability, but even these teachers need guidance and feedback from peers and mentors.

This section of the website is designed to give you an idea of the courses and programmes on offer and which qualification suits your needs best when training to be a teacher. For post-experience courses (i.e. once you have taught for several years and want to develop your career), click here.

The English language teaching profession is not governed by a single body. Instead of a single qualifying entrance exam, there are multiple routes to qualification as an English language teacher. You can start with a simple introductory course – often designed to help you decide if this is the career for you – then move on to a basic certificate course. You can then teach around the world, before perhaps working on a diploma, Master’s degree or postgraduate qualification.