Be precise about what qualification you hold
Write down your exact award, issuing institution and completion status. No bachelor's degree could mean school qualifications, a vocational award, a diploma, an unfinished degree or a degree expected before departure. Those are different starting points. Ask how the receiving organisation assesses your particular evidence.
Record teaching experience separately, including learner ages and references. Experience may strengthen an application, but do not assume it substitutes for a mandatory qualification. The qualifications guide and TEFL and CELTA comparison help you identify the evidence a course actually provides.
Use three independent checks
| Decision | Who should confirm it? | What to record |
|---|---|---|
| Work permission | Relevant immigration authority or consulate | Permission for your nationality, circumstances and proposed activity. |
| Programme admission | The programme owner | Qualification, residence, language and cycle-specific criteria. |
| Appointment | The actual employer or host | Role requirements, duties, conditions and evidence accepted. |
An employer's interest answers only part of the question. Keep a source link and date for each requirement; mark conflicting or incomplete answers as unresolved.
Official programme examples show why the route matters
The British Council's published assistantship criteria include a minimum academic standard at A-level or equivalent, alongside other conditions and destination-specific requirements. That is not a promise that every applicant without a degree qualifies. At this check, parts of the detailed page still refer to the previous application cycle; verify the criteria for the intake you want.
By contrast, the UK JET eligibility page specifies a bachelor's degree by its designated pre-departure date. The official EPIK eligibility page also contains a bachelor's-degree requirement. These are named programme examples, not findings about every possible job or residence category in those countries.
Worked example: replace a country list with evidence
Hypothetical planning example: an applicant has completed Level 3 study, has no bachelor's degree and wants to support language learning overseas. They compare a named assistantship with a vacancy requiring a degree. The assistantship deserves further investigation if its published academic criterion fits, but residence, language, destination rules and work permission remain unanswered.
The degree-required vacancy stays outside the shortlist unless the responsible organisation confirms an applicable alternative. Buying an additional course does not itself change that result. The applicant records the reasons and the next source to check. This is a decision method, not a real case, legal conclusion or prediction of acceptance.
Evaluate each opportunity before paying
Ask a recruiter to identify the employer, job title, teaching duties and proposed permission route. Ask which rules it relies on and obtain the current programme or authority checklist. Compare the reply with independently located official information rather than relying only on a sales conversation.
Check whether advertised work is paid employment, an assistantship, a placement or volunteering, and what costs you must meet. Ask separately about permission for any online teaching or additional tutoring. Do not assume that being admitted to a country, a course or a placement authorises every activity you plan.
Build a shortlist with honest unknowns
- Choose a specific role and named programme or employer.
- Match your existing qualifications and experience to its published criteria.
- Check nationality, residence and work-permission questions through official channels.
- Record the intake, document deadline, costs and any conditions still outstanding.
- Commit only when the relevant organisations have resolved the material questions.
Start with the assistant-programme guide, then read the relevant destination information for Spain, Japan or South Korea. A destination page is a research starting point, not confirmation that you can work there. Use the blank worksheet to retain evidence locally; do not put passport numbers or document images in it.
Sources and scope
This guide is based on the published sources below, checked on 2 November 2026. It has not been signed off by a named specialist reviewer. It is general planning information, not an individual eligibility decision. Check the current rules with the programme, employer and relevant authority before committing money or travel.
Route evidence worksheet
Download a blank decision worksheet. Keep your completed copy on your own device and record the source and date for each answer. TeachAtlas does not receive your entries.
Download CSV worksheetSources and dates
- English Language Assistants eligibility
British Council · checked 2026-11-02
- UK JET eligibility criteria
Embassy of Japan in the UK · checked 2026-11-02
- EPIK eligibility
National Institute for International Education / EPIK · checked 2026-11-02
Prepared by TeachAtlas editorial using AI-assisted research and synthesis. Sources were checked for the statements cited; no individual specialist review or personal teaching experience is claimed. Eligibility and permission must be confirmed for your circumstances.