Fast 120-hour
The common entry ticket for first jobs. Best when it is properly accredited, assessed, and backed by real tutor support. Enough to start applying, especially in countries that hire without a degree.
course file
Buy a real course. Not a shiny PDF.
The cheapest badge is not always the cheapest route. Pick the certificate employers recognise, pass it inside 60 days, then go earn. Level 5 is the better buy for most people; CELTA is the premium option.
PASS IN 60 DAYS
Guaranteed pass in 60 daysLevel 5 is the better buyCELTA for the career route$1,300+ / $2,500+ average pay
Level 5 — the better option
Regulated, deeper, and far more assessment than a basic 120. It reads stronger on a CV, gets you past pickier schools, and is the one we recommend if you want the higher end of the pay scale.
- → Regulated qualification, not just a badge
- → Stronger with degree-required employers
- → Better leverage on salary at interview
CELTA
The Cambridge classroom qualification: four intensive weeks, real observed teaching practice, the most recognised name in the industry. Costs the most and demands the most time, but it opens the serious schools.
- → Observed teaching with real learners
- → Recognised worldwide by name
- → Best if teaching becomes the career
What you earn after
With a TEFL done, teaching roles average around $1,300+ a month in countries that hire without a bachelor's, and $2,500+ a month in degree-required markets. Level 5 and CELTA holders sit at the top of those ranges.
Red flags
Mystery accreditation, instant certificates, no assessment, fake countdown timers, and promises of guaranteed jobs. A pass guarantee is normal. A job guarantee is not.
the course call
Check the rules. Then move.
Your pass is guaranteed within 60 days. Pay figures are typical averages, not promises, and course acceptance varies by employer and country — check job listings and visa requirements for your target market before buying.
the full directory
Every guide in this cluster
Is an online TEFL accepted in South Korea? →Yes, in most cases — if the course is accredited and at least 100-120 hours, delivered by a recognised provider with a verifiable certificate.Is an online TEFL accepted in Japan? →Often yes for eikaiwa (private language schools) and dispatch ALT companies, if the course is accredited and around 120 hours with a verifiable certificate.Does EPIK accept an online TEFL? →Generally yes, EPIK has accepted accredited online TEFL certificates, but historically some intakes have leaned toward 100+ hours and looked favourably on courses including observed or practical teaching components.Does the JET Programme accept a TEFL certificate? →JET has not required a TEFL certificate as a core eligibility item; selection has focused on your degree, references, personal statement and interview performance.Is a Level 5 TEFL accepted in the UAE? →For private language centres and some tutoring or corporate English roles, a Level 5 (120-hour) accredited TEFL is often accepted alongside a degree.CELTA vs a 120-hour TEFL for Vietnam? →A 120-hour accredited TEFL is accepted by most Vietnamese language centres and is the working minimum for a visa-sponsored teaching role.CELTA vs Level 5 TEFL — which do you need? →A Level 5 (120-hour) accredited TEFL is accepted by most language schools worldwide and is the practical working minimum.Is a £99 TEFL certificate accepted abroad? →Price alone doesn't tell you whether a TEFL is accepted — a £99 course can be a legitimately discounted 120-hour accredited course, or it can be a thin 20-40 hour certificate that many schools reject.Is a Groupon TEFL certificate accepted? →It depends entirely on the underlying course, not the deal platform — some Groupon-style listings resell a genuinely accredited 120-hour course at a discount, while others sell short, weakly-assessed certificates that many schools reject.Is a 40-hour TEFL enough for Thailand? →A 40-hour TEFL can be enough for some smaller or budget Thai schools, but it's increasingly the minimum end of what's accepted, and a growing number of language centres and better-paying schools prefer 120+ hours.Do you need teaching practice for Asia jobs? →For most language-school jobs across South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia, an accredited online TEFL without observed teaching practice is accepted.Will international schools accept an online TEFL? →Generally no — international schools typically require a recognised teaching licence, PGCE, or equivalent qualified-teacher status, since most follow national or IB curricula with formal accreditation requirements.What's the cheapest accredited TEFL course that schools will accept? →The cheapest course schools reliably accept is an accredited 120-hour TEFL — anything shorter gets quietly rejected at visa or hiring stage.Can you finish a TEFL course in 4 weeks? →Finishing a 120-hour TEFL in 4 weeks is possible if you can commit roughly 25-30 hours a week — the real constraint is your available time, not the course content.Can you finish a TEFL course in 2 weeks? →Technically possible, but tough: 120 hours in 2 weeks means roughly 60 hours a week, which is a full-time-plus workload most people can't sustain while absorbing the material properly.How can you get TEFL certified in 30 days? →Thirty days is a realistic, sustainable target for a 120-hour accredited TEFL course at around 20-25 hours a week, leaving room for tutor marking before the month is out.What does a TEFL course 'pass guarantee' actually mean? →A TEFL pass guarantee usually means a resit or extra tutor support policy, not a promise that you'll automatically pass regardless of effort — the exact terms vary a lot by provider.How long does a 120-hour TEFL course actually take? →A 120-hour TEFL course typically takes 6-8 weeks at a realistic 15-20 hours a week, though full-time study can bring that down to around 4 weeks.