Many English teaching jobs abroad ask for a “TEFL certificate”. Some ask for CELTA by name. Some governments set an exact number of hours. If you choose the wrong course, you may have to pay for a second one.
This guide explains the main certificates, what each one involves, and what five education systems ask for: Korea’s EPIK programme, schools in Taiwan, China’s work permit, Hong Kong’s NET Scheme and Abu Dhabi. All facts were checked on official pages in October 2026. We do not name or rank course sellers.
TEFL, TESOL and TESL: general names
TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language), TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) and TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) are general names. They are not one qualification. Many organisations sell courses with these names, and the courses differ a lot in:
- the number of hours,
- whether you teach real learners and are observed,
- who awards the certificate, and whether a regulator checks it.
CELTA, Trinity CertTESOL, DELTA and Trinity DipTESOL are specific qualifications from two UK awarding bodies, Cambridge English and Trinity College London. They are regulated by Ofqual, the qualifications regulator in England. You can look up a regulated qualification on Ofqual’s Find a regulated qualification service.
The main certificates compared
| Qualification | Awarding body | Ofqual level | Minimum course hours | Assessed teaching practice | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CELTA | Cambridge English | Level 5 | 120 contact hours, plus at least 80 hours of reading and assignments | 6 hours with real learners | New teachers |
| Trinity CertTESOL | Trinity College London | Level 5 | 130 guided learning hours (200 hours in total) | At least 6 hours with real learners | New teachers |
| DELTA | Cambridge English | Level 7 | Three modules, taken in any order | Yes, in Module 2 (“Developing professional practice”) | Teachers with at least 1 year of experience |
| Trinity DipTESOL | Trinity College London | Level 7 | Four units | Yes, in Unit 4 | Teachers with at least 2 academic years of experience |
Sources: CELTA syllabus (July 2024), Trinity CertTESOL, DELTA and its syllabus, Trinity DipTESOL. On the Regulated Qualifications Framework, level 5 is the level of a foundation degree or higher national diploma, and level 7 is the level of a master’s degree.
CELTA
CELTA is Cambridge English’s introductory course for people with little or no English teaching experience (Cambridge English).
- Entry: age 18 or over, English at a high C1 level or above, and education to the standard needed to enter higher education.
- Course: at least 120 contact hours. This includes input, lesson planning, 6 hours of assessed teaching practice and at least 6 hours of watching experienced teachers.
- Formats: full time (usually 4 to 5 weeks), part time, face to face, online or blended. All formats include teaching real learners.
- Assessment: your teaching and four written assignments. Grades are Pass A, Pass B, Pass or Fail.
Course fees are set by each centre, so they vary.
Trinity CertTESOL
Trinity CertTESOL is the other widely used level 5 certificate (Trinity College London).
- Entry: age 18 or over, qualifications good enough to enter higher education, and a high level of spoken and written English.
- Course: at least 130 guided learning hours, 200 hours in total, and at least 6 hours of teaching practice with real learners.
- Formats: full time, part time, online or blended.
- Units: teaching skills, language awareness, a learner profile, a materials assignment and an “unknown language” unit, where you learn a new language as a beginner.
Course providers set their own fees.
DELTA and DipTESOL
These are diplomas for experienced teachers who want senior roles, such as director of studies, head of department or teacher trainer.
- DELTA is regulated at level 7. Cambridge says it is for teachers with at least one year of experience and English at C1 or above. It has three modules that you can take in any order (Cambridge English).
- Trinity DipTESOL is regulated at level 7. You must have taught for at least two academic years at the time of interview and hold a degree or equivalent (Trinity College London).
What governments and regulators ask for
Many employers simply ask for “a TEFL certificate”. But in some countries, the government sets the rule. Each of these was checked in October 2026.
| Where | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| South Korea, EPIK programme | A TEFL, TESOL or CELTA certificate of at least 100 hours from an accredited programme. Not needed if you have a teaching licence or an education degree. | EPIK |
| Taiwan, foreign English teachers in schools | A home-country English teaching licence, or at least 1 year of English teaching abroad plus a TESOL, TEFL or CELTA certificate from a recognised university. That course must have 120 hours, and no more than two thirds may be online. | Taiwan Ministry of Education regulation, amended 30 June 2026 |
| China, work permit for foreign language teachers | A bachelor’s degree and 2 years of language teaching. The experience is waived with an education, language or teacher-training degree, a home-country teaching certificate, or an accepted international language-teaching certificate. Teachers should in principle teach their native language. | China work permit notice, 2017 |
| Hong Kong, NET Scheme | A TEFL or TESL qualification at least at certificate level, alongside an English degree and a PGDE. Accepted: CELTA, Trinity CertTESOL, a PGCE in TEFL or TESL, or a course with at least 100 contact hours and at least 6 hours of observed and assessed teaching practice. | EDB requirements |
| Abu Dhabi, EAL teachers | A bachelor’s degree in any subject plus a diploma-level qualification to teach English as an Additional Language, “e.g., TEFL/TESL/TESOL, CELTA/DELTA, Trinity, or equivalent”. IELTS 7 if your education was not in English. | ADEK Staff Eligibility Policy |
Some notes on these rules:
- Korea. EPIK’s page says “100 hours or more” but does not say whether online hours count in full. Check with EPIK before you choose an online-only course. EPIK also limits applicants to citizens of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, the US and South Africa, with an exception for some Indian teachers. Our Japan and Korea guide has the details.
- Taiwan. The certificate must come from a university that Taiwan’s education authority recognises. A short course from a company that is not a university may not count.
- China. The notice does not list which international certificates are “accepted”. Ask the employer before you rely on a certificate to replace the 2 years of experience. Our China guide explains the full work permit steps.
- Hong Kong. The 100-hour course must also cover language, methodology, resources, learners and teaching practice.
A TEFL certificate is not a school teaching qualification
A TEFL or CELTA certificate qualifies you to teach English as a foreign language, often to adults or in language schools. It does not make you a qualified school teacher.
For example, ADEK in Abu Dhabi treats an EAL teacher (a support teacher for students who need help with English) differently from an English teacher. An English subject teacher must meet the subject teacher rules, which ask for a teaching licence, a teaching diploma or an education degree (ADEK). Hong Kong’s NET Scheme asks for both a PGDE and a TEFL certificate (EDB).
If you want to teach a subject in an international school, read our guides to PGCE, iPGCE and international teaching qualifications and QTS for teachers trained abroad.
Online or in person?
Both CELTA and CertTESOL can be taken online, but both still include at least 6 hours of teaching practice with real learners. Some government rules care about how a course was delivered:
- Taiwan’s schools rule allows no more than two thirds of the 120 hours to be online.
- For a course that is not CELTA, CertTESOL or a PGCE in TEFL or TESL, Hong Kong asks for at least 6 hours of observed and assessed teaching practice.
A cheap online course with no observed teaching may not meet these rules.
Questions to ask before you pay for a course
- What does my target job or country ask for? Check the government rule (see the table above) and a few real job adverts.
- How many hours is the course? Look for the number of hours, not only the price.
- Will I teach real learners and be observed? Ask how many hours of assessed teaching practice the course includes.
- Who awards the certificate? Is it a university, a regulated awarding body, or only the company selling the course? You can check regulated UK qualifications on the Ofqual register.
- Will I need it attested? Some countries ask for certificates to be attested. For example, the UAE asks for attested certificates from teachers who studied outside the UAE (u.ae). Ask the course provider whether its certificate can be attested.
Be careful with any recruiter who says you must buy a course from them to get a job. Our guide to teacher recruitment scams lists warning signs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between TEFL and CELTA?
TEFL is a general name for English teaching certificates, and courses vary a lot in hours and quality. CELTA is one specific certificate from Cambridge English, regulated by Ofqual at level 5. It has at least 120 contact hours and 6 hours of assessed teaching practice with real learners.
How many TEFL hours do I need for EPIK in Korea?
EPIK asks for a TEFL, TESOL or CELTA certificate of at least 100 hours from an accredited programme. You do not need one if you have a teaching licence or a degree in education. EPIK’s page does not say whether online hours count in full, so check with EPIK first.
Is an online TEFL certificate accepted in Taiwan?
For foreign English teachers in Taiwan’s schools, the certificate must come from a recognised university and the course must have 120 hours. No more than two thirds of those hours may be online, under the Ministry of Education regulation amended on 30 June 2026. A fully online course does not meet this rule.
Do I need a TEFL certificate to teach English in China?
Not always. China’s work permit rules ask foreign language teachers for a bachelor’s degree and 2 years of language teaching experience. An accepted international language-teaching certificate, an education or language degree, or a home-country teaching certificate waives the experience rule. Ask the employer which certificates it accepts.
Is CELTA enough to teach English in an international school?
Usually not for a class or subject teacher. CELTA qualifies you to teach English as a foreign language. In Abu Dhabi, an English subject teacher must meet subject teacher rules, while a TEFL or CELTA certificate suits the separate EAL support teacher role. Hong Kong’s NET Scheme asks for a PGDE as well.