How long does TEFL Certification last?
A quality TEFL course is a significant investment of both time and money, so it’s only sensible to consider whether your newly minted certificate has a shelf life.
If you are concerned about when your TEFL certification expires, you can relax.
The good news is that TEFL certification is a lifetime qualification, and you will be able to use your TEFL certificate as proof of your qualification throughout your career as a teacher of English abroad, in the UK or to teach English online.
However, there are some factors you should consider if you want access to the best job opportunities and to develop a successful career teaching English as a foreign language.
Choose the right TEFL certificate at the start of your career
All TEFL certificates are not created equal.
If you are going to be using your TEFL certificate as proof of your teaching skills for years to come, you must choose a great course to start with.
You should aim for the best course you can, choosing one that will be recognised by most training providers abroad.
It is worth noting that most potential employers abroad will expect applicants for posts teaching English abroad to have completed a course of at least 120 hours.
The golden ticket to the best job opportunities would be a diploma-level course, such as our 200-hour Level 5 Online TEFL course.
Choose a recognised course provider
TEFL certification providers should be accredited and regulated by recognised bodies to ensure they operate to high-quality standards and provide the highest level of training for their students.
Reputable employers and language schools abroad will not only check that your TEFL certificate is valid but also that it is backed by one of the best accrediting institutions.
TEFL Full Circle courses are accredited by ACCREDITAT and Gatehouse Awards – an Ofqual-recognised awarding organisation renowned for exceptional service and quality in the UK and Internationally
Do your teaching skills have an expiration date?
Rest assured, your TEFL certification is valid for life.
However, it is still essential to develop your skills throughout your career to ensure you are in the running for the teaching opportunities you want.
In common with all professions, the world of teaching English changes constantly.
New technologies, different teaching methods, and student needs emerge every few years.
The internet and AI are having a significant impact on all areas of working life, including teaching a foreign language, and you will need to be fully aware of new developments to access the best teaching opportunities.
This may mean regularly refreshing your course materials, sharpening your teaching skills, and being open to new technologies and teaching styles.
How to ensure the longevity of your career as a teacher of English as a foreign language
There are several ways in which you can ensure that your TEFL teaching practice remains current:
Expand your teaching experience
If all your previous teaching experience has been in the same context, such as a classroom, then it may be time to consider other ways to use your TEFL qualification.
Teaching English Online
Teaching online is increasingly popular as students can access teachers from anywhere.
Online teaching also means that you can prepare from wherever you like, as long as you have a good broadband connection.
You can find details of our teaching English online course here.
Private tutoring
Whether online or in person, private one-to-one tutoring can be lucrative.
Many of the most successful private tutors use social media platforms to promote their services and build their own tutoring businesses.
Expand your teaching practice
English as a foreign language students are a diverse bunch, and you can make the most of your qualification if you can teach various groups.
You may like to consider the following:
Teaching young learners
Teaching young learners in person or increasingly online is a growing field.
Teaching English for Business purposes
Many international businesses require their workers to be proficient in English so they can work worldwide.
Update your course materials
Course materials and lesson plans are at the core of your practice and should always be current, containing references that are meaningful to your students.
Full Circle graduates have lifetime access to our bank of course materials and lesson plans, ensuring that you will always have something fresh and relevant to excite and motivate your students.
Our Online TEFL Courses
If you browse our website here, you can find out more about our range of TEFL courses.
If you have any questions, you can chat with us or fill out an online form here. We are available Monday to Sunday from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm GMT.
How to Contact Us
Address
TEFL Full Circle
23 Victoria Avenue
Harrogate
HG1 5RD
support@teflfullcircle.com
info@teflfullcircle.com