Is online TEFL certification worth it? Absolutely! You may have heard the tantalizing legends of the flourishing English teaching world. The promise of a stable, well-paying career off in exotic corners of the world. Little to no teaching experience required. Only needing your English speaking self and no fancy background or cert--...Okay, let’s stop you there.

This is the final stop on your search to learn how to get a TEFL certification online!

It’s true that many-a-times, you can find some stellar Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) positions that don’t require a teaching certification at all. While this expands the talent pool to a whole lot more potential teachers, let’s give some thought as to why you should absolutely not skip a TEFL certification course.

Whether you plan on teaching English for a year or the rest of your life, a solid foundation will help you a) know what you’re doing and b) provide your students with a knowledgeable instructor.

Now that we’re on the same page about why you should 100% get certified, it’s time to decide on one of the many ways to get TEFL certified: on-site, online, or a combination of both! Does online sound like your calling? Let’s take a good look at things to know if you plan to get TEFL certified online.

What to know about online TEFL certification programs

You don’t have to be a tech-god to succeed in an online TEFL certification course. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when comparing TEFL courses side-by-side. Online sound nice? Consider this!

1. Hours Matter

Grab some friends for accountability.

An online TEFL certification course can range anywhere from 20 to 250 hours of instruction. That behemoth gap makes it all the more difficult to make your final selection, but there’s a good rule of thumb to guide your decision.

While a 20 hour option may be cheapest, quickest, and still a recognized certification, it will only get you so far in the English teaching world. Your time and money is better invested in a 120 hour course, at the very least.

Schools and teach abroad programs will oftentimes only recognize programs with at least 120 hours. So, while less hours will still get you a good idea of teaching methodology and techniques, that 120+ is your golden ticket into a legit school.

Also keep in mind that an online TEFL certification course may break up those hours differently. Some may include more classroom time and less instruction.

2. You May Not Get the Same Experience as an In-Person Program 

As much as the internet has come to revolutionize the way we do basically everything, there are still some pretty clear ways that an online option differs from the in-person alternative. The benefits of each ultimately boil down to your unique needs.

Online Pros:

An online TEFL certification course (like this one from International TEFL Academy) is a stellar pick for any knowledge hungry hippos out there who may not have the flexibility to attend an in-person class.

While you have the benefit of receiving a similar, if not identical, curriculum to an in-person class, you can take the course on your schedule and from wherever you want. 

Additionally, staying put often results in saved costs because you don’t have to relocate and the program provider can also save on overhead.

In-Person Pros:

If you’re able to absorb a higher price tag and want to get serious about teaching English abroad ASAP, an in-person or even on-site program may be more up your alley. On-site means you’ll be learning abroad, typically in the region where you aim to teach, to gain better tailored cultural training.

You can also jump right into a job the second you have a TEFL certification in hand. In-person TEFL courses are more likely to offer hands-on classroom experience and classmates act as a great resource as you go through the process.

If you’re feeling a little conflicted on which learning format to choose, here’s a hint for you. Try a mixed class that combines online learning with an in-person classroom component!

Getting TEFL certified online from home can certainly have its perks…

3. Accreditation Differs

Is a TEFL certification course legit if it’s online? Yes! But sometimes no, if you don’t research well.

We all know the internet can be a dark, mysterious place, which means that it’s unfortunately too easy to get caught up in a not-so-honest program. While in-person TEFL courses must put all their cards on display (it’s hard to fake classrooms and instructors), it’s a bit tougher to catch the frauds in the online cert world.

The good news is that you can skip the sketchiness and go straight to some real, accredited programs by searching TEFL certifications on GoAbroad. Our directory features pages of accredited, trusted companies in the industry so you can find your soul program from a list of best online TEFL courses.

Some stellar picks that we recommend include:

No matter your accredited choice, don’t forget to opt for courses over 120 hours so you can ensure employers far and wide will be in hot pursuit of your goods (AKA that training).

4. A Certification Can Help You Teach Online

When you get TEFL certified online, you open the door to opportunities to teach anywhere your heart desires, including online. Chances are if you know your way around a computer well enough to take an online TEFL course, then teaching online should also be a breeze.

Certification lets you explore several well respected online English teaching companies and potentially earn more moolah than the certificate-less individuals out there.

Even those whose hearts are still set on teaching abroad have much to gain by starting out teaching online. You can keep your flexible schedule while gaining real world teaching experience that will later give you a mega boost when scouring jobs abroad. 

Teaching online is also a lower commitment way to test the waters of teaching English before you sell your belongings, hand off your cat, and move overseas long term.

5. You Can Get TEFL Certified Online for FREE

So, if English instructors are so high in demand around the world, you may be asking yourself how to get a TEFL certification online free. After all, there must be some employers that train their future teachers, right?

Online programs are already the cost-effective way to go, but if you can drop that price to nada, the deal gets all the sweeter.

World-wide recognized TEFL providers like EF - English First will sponsor qualified candidates for their online TEFL certification course and guarantee job placement upon graduation.

Not only will you save hundreds of dollars, you’ll have the peace of mind knowing that you have a beefy job at the end of the training tunnel.

Open yourself up to a world of job opportunities—maybe even get paid to travel!

Finding other providers that offer free certification may take a bit of research. However, keep in mind to avoid any online courses advertising “free certification” without any employment attached due to lack of accreditation. While you may gain some useful knowledge, a $0 program may equal 0 value in the end.

Here’s our best advice on how to pay for your TEFL certification class—because yes, the investment is 100% worth it AND will help you get better online English teaching jobs.

6. Classroom Practice Isn’t Always Included

...but you need it! Some online TEFL certification programs may skimp you on teaching practice, especially ones under the golden 120 hours. The benefits of teaching practice in an online TEFL go beyond impressing employers and passing their requirements. 

Teaching in theory is a lot easier than getting up in front of a crowd of students. Practicing will boost your confidence, teach you to improvise, and equip you with necessary classroom management skills.

So what does classroom practice look like online? Some online programs may require you to submit videos of you executing a self-created lesson plan, as if you were teaching to an online classroom.

Others may have a more involved process that requires you to seek out a local ESL course and spend a number of hours observing or even participating in instruction. Another option may be private tutoring.

No matter the format, classroom practice will prep you for what to expect out on the ground.

7. Never Underestimate the Power of Career Support!

Even if you consider yourself a “lifelong learner”, it’s safe to assume you would like to get TEFL certified online for more than just the experience. A certification will not only prepare you for the classroom, but it will also groom you to be future job ready!

Before settling down on any online TEFL course, be certain it offers career support for all graduates. This means having resume guidance and partnerships with potential employers.

There’s no reason to be on your own for the job hunt if you’re completing a TEFL course beforehand. Although career support may be expected from an in-person program, online courses should definitely still offer complete career prep.

Additionally, don’t forget to use your program as a great tool for networking and landing a solid recommendation from an instructor. If the goal is to be English teacher official before wrapping up the course, use every resource your TEFL online has to offer!

Get TEFL certified online from the comfort of your couch!

Make connections in every corner of the globe.

Your TEFL journey is just around the corner! It lives on your Wi-Fi enabled device, in fact. Which means since you’re reading this article on one, you’ve already got everything you need to dive into that online TEFL certification course. Now, let’s get you primed and ready to bring the English language to the far reaches of the world!

Get Matched with 5 Online TEFL Certification Courses for FREE