TEFL certification can be your ticket to finding teaching jobs abroad and can ultimately jumpstart your career as an international teacher. It’s simple enough to get yourself a TEFL certificate, and sometimes you’ll even be able to get an additional trip abroad out of it if on-site TEFL programs appeal to you. For many, there’s just one problem though: time commitment.
How long does TEFL certification take? You’ll find the right time length (and destination) for you!
If you’re a full-time student or employed full-time, it can be difficult figuring out when you’re going to fit a brand new certification into your schedule (especially if you’re looking at completing it on-site overseas!).
You’ve done preliminary research, and you’ve heard the typical course lengths — like 120 hours and 140 hours, for instance. But what does that actually mean? How long does a TEFL course take?
The short answer is that TEFL certification takes as long as you want it to! Structured on-site TEFL courses have start and end dates, so knowing how long it’ll take to complete a TEFL course will be as easy as knowing what the program dates are.
However, if you’re doing TEFL online (or a combined course, like this Level 5 TEFL course from The TEFL Academy) there can be a lot more flexibility with how long it’ll take to complete — which can be very appealing to people who don’t have a lot of free time to work with.
To help you make a more informed decision about the right TEFL course duration for you, we’ve broken down common TEFL course lengths with insight on how long they take to complete!
How long does TEFL certification take?
1. 150-168 hours
A great TEFL course length is one that falls between 150-168 hours. This TEFL course length will take upwards of a month to complete, giving you lots of time to get to know your host country. Plus, considering it falls on the longer end of the spectrum, you can also be assured that the material is thorough, and that the class will allow you plenty of time to practice your new skills.
Alternatively, if you decide to take a 150-168 hour TEFL course online rather than on-site, you won’t have to feel quite so stressed or under pressure. The TEFL Academy offers a comprehensive 168-hour Level 5 TEFL course that you can complete a majority of online (148 hours) over the course of six months (or less, if you have more time to commit), with the final 20 hours taking place in a classroom. Plus, completing a Level 5 course will earn you more pay than other certifications!
150-hour+ TEFL courses that we recommend:
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No matter which TEFL course length you choose, you’ll be gaining a ton of new skills.
2. 120 hours
How long does it take to complete a 120-hour TEFL course? About four weeks. However, that will depend on whether you’re taking a self-paced course online, or a structured on-site course. For example, some 120-hour TEFL courses may last beyond three or four weeks abroad, because there are extra excursions or time off included with the program.
It can also just depend on the provider or program! Many providers structure their courses similarly, but there are oftentimes crucial differences that can extend or shorten how long you’re in-country. Keep in mind that while 120-hour courses may take less time to finish than heftier 150-hour+ courses, you may be sacrificing crucial classroom practice that you’ll wish you had later on.
120-hour+ TEFL courses that we recommend:
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3. Under 100 hours
100-hour TEFL courses will take about two weeks or less on-site. However, this can vary depending on whether they’re stand-alone courses or add-ons to lengthier courses. Oftentimes, 100-hour (or less) TEFL courses are introductory in nature, and don’t quite get into the meat of TEFL itself. Alternatively, they may just be “top-up” courses that grant you the opportunity to gain more in-classroom practice.
When choosing your TEFL course length, take into account your own skills and goals. Do you have teaching experience already? Then it’s possible that a shorter, more succinct TEFL course is all you need. If you’ve never set foot in a classroom though, you may require a course that’s more in-depth.
100-hour (or less) TEFL courses that we recommend:
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Make the most of your TEFL course abroad—it’s gonna be a busy 100+ hours!
4. 170 hours or more
If you’re looking at TEFL courses that are 170 hours or longer, you’ll most likely be on-site for one to two months or more. These heftier courses can also help you bypass certain requirements that may be preventing you from working in certain parts of the world that have stricter prerequisites for employment (like the United Arab Emirates, for example).
If you have absolutely no teaching experience but have big dreams for teaching abroad, these advanced courses can help propel you to where you want to be! Naturally, however, these courses would take quite a bit of time to complete if you’re not working on them full-time.
170-hour (or more) TEFL courses that we recommend:
Check out these locations:
5. Online
How long does it take to complete TEFL online? We’ve already touched on this, but one of the things that make online TEFL courses so great is that there’s no set amount of time for completing them! However, do keep in mind that it’s common for providers to limit the amount of time you have access to the materials. Before you purchase your online TEFL course, be sure to find out how long you’ll have access to the online portal.
If you only get a month of access, you’ll know you need to pick up the pace on how long you take to go through the course. DON’T buy a class, forget about it, and come back two years later expecting to complete it — your access will most likely have been revoked way before then.
It’s typical to have access to your materials for about six months, which should be plenty of time to complete your course and get your certification, even if you’re doing the course part-time. If you know you’ll need more time than that, shop around for a TEFL provider that will give you more time, or even better — lifetime access to your course materials.
Online TEFL courses that we recommend:
What’s the right TEFL course length for you?
Ready for your TEFL certification adventure?
How long it takes to do your TEFL course will depend on a lot of factors. Keep in mind that there’s overlap in TEFL course length depending on program and provider! For example, there are 150-hour courses and 120-hour courses that both take just four weeks. Shop around for the right course for your schedule and read all the fine course details prior to purchasing.
How long TEFL certification takes for you will come down to what you want included in your program, and how much classroom time you want for practice. Keep your goals, skills, and preferred country of employment in mind, and your choice will become infinitely easier!
View ALL Online and On-Site TEFL Courses
This article was written with help from The TEFL Academy. The TEFL Academy is one of the largest providers of TEFL courses, and they are the only provider to be certified by both the US government and UK government. They are running a Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deal from November 25 until December 3, 2019 with up to 60% off all TEFL courses and locations.
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