Start with the role before choosing a course
Find two or three real vacancies or programme specifications that interest you. Record the precise qualification wording, learner age group and whether the requirement is essential or preferred. A language-school post, a classroom assistantship and a qualified international-school role may ask for different evidence.
Use the route finder to organise the possibilities, then check each one with the organisation recruiting. Training in language teaching should not be assumed to replace school-teacher qualification or registration. The qualifications guide explains why academic awards, professional status and work permission need separate checks.
Compare courses using the same evidence
| Check | Evidence to request |
|---|---|
| Award | Exact qualification name, awarding body and approved centre. |
| Practice | Hours teaching real learners, who observes and how performance is assessed. |
| Workload | Contact time, independent study, fixed attendance and assignment deadlines. |
| Assessment | Written work, practical assessment, external quality checks and resit rules. |
| Acceptance | Written confirmation from the target programme or employer for this exact course. |
Keep the specification, not just a screenshot of a promotional badge. Ask whether a provider's accreditation claim concerns the provider, a particular qualification or membership of an association.
What the named qualifications include
Cambridge's CELTA specification includes at least 120 contact hours and six hours of assessed teaching practice. Full-time, part-time, face-to-face, online and mixed delivery options are available; online delivery does not mean that teaching practice disappears. Allow for preparation and assignment time beyond the timetable.
Trinity's CertTESOL specification identifies 130 guided learning hours within 200 total qualification hours, including at least six hours of teaching practice with real learners. Read the centre's current schedule and assessment arrangements as well as the awarding body's specification.
Other TEFL or TESOL courses vary. Ask for their own evidence rather than assuming that a similar name, delivery format or number of hours makes them identical.
Keep level, acceptance and work permission separate
GOV.UK explains qualification levels as measures of difficulty and notes that qualifications at the same level can cover different amounts of a subject. A shared level therefore does not establish identical assessment, content or employer acceptance.
English UK's training guidance provides useful context for its sector, including CELTA, CertTESOL and AccessTEFL. An overseas vacancy still needs its own check. Course admission, acceptance for a job and permission to work are three different decisions, made by different organisations.
Worked example: compare requirements before price
Hypothetical planning example: one applicant shortlists a school requiring CELTA, CertTESOL or an accepted equivalent. A second vacancy asks for a TEFL certificate and specifies observed teaching practice. The applicant has found a cheaper course advertised as Level 5, but its practical assessment is unclear.
The useful next step is to send the exact course specification to both recruiters and ask what evidence they require. Record any conditions and the person authorised to confirm acceptance. If the practical component is missing or the answer remains unclear, the lower price does not resolve that uncertainty. This example illustrates a checking method; it is not a real placement or a claim about any provider.
Budget for the complete course and certificate timetable
Compare tuition, assessment, resits, materials, travel, accommodation and income you would forgo while studying. Record when the final certificate is issued and whether your target accepts an interim result. A course can finish before a recruitment deadline while its certificate arrives too late.
Ask what job support actually includes and read cancellation terms before paying. Use Money & planning for the wider move and the documents guide for certificate preparation. Download the course-check worksheet and leave an answer marked unknown until you have evidence.
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.
Course comparison 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
- What's in the CELTA course?
Cambridge English · checked 2026-11-02
- CertTESOL qualification
Trinity College London · checked 2026-11-02
- What qualification levels mean
GOV.UK · checked 2026-11-02
- Get started with the right TEFL qualification
English UK · 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.