Search Associates, ISS, Schrole, Tes and Teacher Horizons are the five names most teachers meet when they look for international school jobs. They work in different ways. Search Associates is a paid membership agency with invitation-only fairs. ISS is a nonprofit with a free account, a paid premium plan and online fairs. Schrole is a job board with a free and a paid plan. Tes is a large job board where you apply with a free account. Teacher Horizons is free to join and works more like a recruiter, but its terms let it charge you if you back out of an accepted job.
This guide compares them on fees, who can join, fairs and the rules on offers. Every figure comes from the organisations’ own pages, checked in October 2026. Prices and plans change each season, so check the pages before you pay.
The five at a glance
| Search Associates | ISS | Schrole | Tes | Teacher Horizons | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Recruitment agency, since 1990 | Nonprofit, founded 1955 | Job board and school software | Job board and school software | Recruitment agency and job board |
| Size it states | 750+ member schools in 125+ countries | 1,200+ schools a year | 500+ schools in 100+ countries | 2,033 international jobs listed | Not stated on the pages we read |
| Cost to teachers | US$100 for the first year; free for UK-based candidates and interns | Free account; Premium US$75 a year | Free plan; full plan US$50 a year | Free account to apply | Free profile; optional subscription |
| Fairs | In person, by invitation, members only | Free in-person EDU Expos; online iFairs with Premium | Virtual and in-person events on the paid plan | None on the job pages | Not described on the pages we read |
| Personal adviser | A “dedicated Senior Associate” | Not described | Not described | No | “International Adviser” named in its terms |
Sources: Search Associates, Search Associates FAQ, ISS about, ISS jobs, ISS fairs, Schrole, Schrole plans, Tes international jobs, Teacher Horizons terms for teachers.
Search Associates
Search Associates has worked with international schools since 1990. It says it works with “750+” vetted schools in “more than 125 countries” and that “50,000+” educators have been hired through it (Search Associates).
Who can join. “All schools require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, or equivalent, in your home country.” You do not need a completed teaching qualification to become a member, and “some schools will consider newly qualified teachers”. You need at least four confidential references from leaders at assistant principal level or above who supervised you, and most schools want a background check (Search Associates FAQ). The Australia and New Zealand office says preferred candidates have “been teaching for at least 2 years” (Search Associates ANZ FAQ).
Fees. Search Associates says it never asks for payment to apply. Once you are accepted:
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| New member, first year | US$100 |
| Renewal for a second year, or returning member | US$75 |
| UK-based candidates | No registration fee |
| Interns | No membership fee |
| Each extra in-person fair | US$75, plus your own travel |
| Accepting a job | Nothing; the school pays any recruitment fee |
Membership runs for one year from activation, or until you accept a job. If you are not accepted, the fee is returned (Search Associates FAQ).
Fairs. Search Associates runs in-person fairs in cities such as Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, London, Cambridge (USA) and Toronto. They are by invitation, and only active members qualify (Search Associates schedule). Our recruitment fairs guide lists the 2026-27 dates.
Leadership. Search Associates also runs head of school and leadership searches. Leadership candidates need at least a bachelor’s degree, and many hold a master’s or doctorate.
Couples. Each partner applies, pays and is screened separately. “A teaching couple isn’t activated as a couple until both of you are accepted individually.” See our guide for teaching couples and teachers with children.
ISS (International Schools Services)
ISS describes itself as “a global nonprofit” founded in 1955. It works with more than 1,200 international schools each year, and it also “directly owns, operates, or manages international schools” (ISS).
How it works. You create a free ISS EDUrecruit account and a profile, then browse openings and school profiles. A Premium Membership costs US$75 a year and adds features such as Easy Apply and better job alerts (ISS). ISS does not publish minimum requirements; each job lists its own.
Fairs. ISS runs two kinds (ISS fairs):
- EDU Expos, in person. “Attendance is free for candidates”, with pre-registration. The page lists Shenzhen, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Shanghai and Atlanta for this season.
- iFairs, online. Candidates can join them “as part of their ISS EDUrecruit Premium membership ($75/year)”.
“How much do ISS teachers make?” ISS does not publish one pay scale. Each school, including the schools ISS manages, sets its own package. Our international school salaries by country guide shows the published figures we found.
Schrole
Schrole is an Australian company that runs a job board for international teachers and software for schools. It says members see “thousands of vacancies from more than 500 schools in over 100 countries” (Schrole). Schrole has been owned by Tes since 2024: its shares were transferred to TES on 30 September 2024 under a court-approved scheme (ASX announcement).
Plans. Schrole lists two plans for teachers (Schrole):
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free membership | US$0 | “Submission of three job applications” |
| Full access | US$50 a year | Applications plus “access to virtual and in-person recruitment events with school leaders and recruiters” |
Schrole Cover and Schrole Connect are different products. Schrole lists them under its HR software for schools, so they are not the international job board.
Tes
Tes is best known in the UK, but it also lists jobs abroad. Its international page showed 2,033 international teaching, lecturing and education jobs when we checked in October 2026 (Tes).
How you apply. Job adverts are public. To apply, you need a Tes account; if you are not logged in, Tes asks you to log in or register. With Quick Apply you fill in a standard form with your details, a supporting statement and a CV. Some schools send you to their own website instead (Tes help). The Tes job pages we read list no fee for applicants.
Tes does not run recruitment fairs or give you a personal adviser. It suits teachers who want to apply to many schools directly.
Teacher Horizons
Teacher Horizons is a recruitment agency and job board for international schools. Its terms for teachers say (Teacher Horizons terms):
- “Users may register a profile free of charge”, and a subscription is “entirely optional”.
- You must give referees who are not relatives, and disclose any past or current child safeguarding investigation.
- An accepted offer, verbal or written, is “deemed binding”.
- If you withdraw before you start, or within 12 weeks of starting, you can be charged a fee of up to US$1,000 for a teaching post or US$2,000 for a leadership post. Teacher Horizons can reduce or waive it if there is good evidence for your reason.
- You must contact your International Adviser before you back out of an agreement.
Read these terms before you accept an offer through any agency. Withdrawal fees are not common to all five: Search Associates says you pay nothing when you accept a job, although it expects you to honour your acceptance.
Which one should you use?
Most teachers use more than one. A simple way to choose:
| Your situation | Good fit |
|---|---|
| Qualified with 2+ years’ experience, open to many countries, want fairs | Search Associates, plus school career pages |
| Newly qualified or on a tight budget | ISS free account, Schrole free plan, Tes and school career pages |
| Want online fairs from home | ISS Premium (iFairs) |
| Want someone to put you forward to schools | Search Associates or Teacher Horizons |
| UK-based | Search Associates registration is free for you |
| Leadership role | Search Associates leadership searches, ISS and school career pages |
You can also apply to schools directly. On Teacher Jobs World on 16 October 2026 we listed 1,361 jobs from 45 schools and school groups, each linked to the school’s own careers page, including 109 school leadership jobs and 23 jobs open to applicants abroad. Applying directly costs nothing.
Rules that apply to every agency
- Never pay for a job offer. Membership fees are one thing; a fee to “secure” a job is a warning sign. See teacher recruitment scams.
- Do not accept two offers. Agencies share information with schools, and Search Associates and Teacher Horizons both treat acceptance as a commitment.
- Keep your references ready. Search Associates wants four from supervisors. Our guide on how to get your first international school job lists the other documents.
Fees and plans change each season. Check each organisation’s page before you pay or accept, and read the terms in full. This is general information, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Is Search Associates worth it?
It depends on your profile. Search Associates says it works with 750+ schools and runs invitation-only fairs, and it charges new members US$100 for the first year (free for UK-based candidates). It suits qualified teachers with experience who are open to several countries. Its ANZ office says over 60% of its teachers find jobs without a fair.
Is Teacher Horizons free for teachers?
Registering a profile is free, and its subscription is optional. But its terms say that if you withdraw from an accepted job before you start or within 12 weeks, you can be charged up to US$1,000 for a teaching post or US$2,000 for a leadership post. Read the terms before you accept.
What is the difference between Schrole and Tes?
Schrole is a job board for international teachers with a free plan (three applications) and a US$50 yearly plan that includes recruitment events. Tes is a larger general education job board where you apply with a free account. Tes has owned Schrole since 2024.
Can I use Search Associates and Teacher Horizons at the same time?
Nothing on their pages forbids it. Both expect you to honour an offer once you accept, and Teacher Horizons asks you to tell it when you sign a contract with a school. Keep track of where each school found you, and accept only one offer.
How much do ISS teachers make?
ISS does not publish a single salary scale. It is a nonprofit that recruits for many schools and manages some schools itself, and each school sets its own salary and benefits. Ask for the full package in writing before you accept.