CELTA vs TEFL — what’s the difference, and which one should you choose? If you’re new to the world of ESL (English as a Second Language), the acronyms alone can feel like alphabet soup. This guide breaks down the key differences so you can pick the right path for your teaching career.
TEFL vs CELTA Overview
| CELTA | TEFL |
|---|---|
| Top-Tier ESL Certification: Cambridge-accredited and recognized globally by schools & universities | Widely Recognized Certification: Designed for teaching English abroad or online |
| Intensive Courses: 120 hours of instruction, written assignments, & supervised teaching practice | Flexible Courses: 40, 120, 150+ hour formats, often self-paced, offered online |
| High Cost: $2000+ | Low Cost: $100-$600 |
| BEST For: Career ESL Instructors targeting prestigious positions | BEST For: Beginners in English teaching seeking entry-level jobs abroad or online |
What Is ‘TEFL’?
TEFL stands for “Teaching English as a Foreign Language” and is the most widely recognized certification for teaching English abroad or online. Completing a TEFL course equips you with core skills like lesson planning, classroom management, and teaching reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
Courses typically come in 40, 120, or 150+ hour formats. A 120-hour TEFL certification—like TEFL Hero’s fully online, self-paced 120 hour course—is the industry standard for most teaching jobs. Shorter options (e.g., 40-hour) may work for some online roles, while longer ones are ideal for specialization.
To avoid scams, always choose a TEFL course accredited by trusted bodies like ACCREDITAT, IATEFL, the Teacher Training Council, or ACCET.
What Is ‘CELTA’?
CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) is a top-tier ESL certification, accredited by Cambridge University and recognized worldwide—especially by prestigious schools and higher education institutions.
CELTA courses are intensive, typically including 120 hours of instruction, written assignments, and 6 hours of supervised teaching practice. The curriculum covers core areas like teaching methods, language skills, lesson planning, and classroom management.
Traditionally offered as 4-week, in-person programs, CELTA is now also available in online and hybrid formats due to recent digital trends.
Get Certified to Teach Anywhere!
- 120hr Online Certificate with LIFETIME Access
- Valid Anywhere Online & Abroad
- Fully Accredited
- 24hr Tutor Support - Ask Us Anything!
CELTA vs TEFL: Finding the Best Option for You
There are several factors that you should consider when selecting the right type of course in terms of CELTA vs TEFL. These two types of ESL training are different in critical aspects. Our co-founder, Kristine, shares key differences in the CELTA vs TEFL vs TESOL debate here in this video:
CELTA vs TEFL: Career Path
While the image of a dedicated, lifelong teacher with a committed and passionate attachment to ESL work is the archetype of the “ideal teacher,” the reality is that teachers in the ESL industry do not always fit this mold.
Many, many teachers who enter the global ESL market are not, in fact, looking for a career path; teaching English to foreign learners is simply an exciting way to make traveling the world financially feasible, fill a year after university, or save a bit of money.
There is nothing wrong with this and most employers understand and accept this reality. They see teachers come and go on an annual (or sometimes even more frequent) basis.
At one school where I taught in Southern Thailand (for a very brief time myself), one of the only long-term foreign teachers there informed me that I was the 7th new teacher to enter the school in the past year.
If you fit into this category of ESL teacher that is more or less “getting your feet wet,” then TEFL certification is likely your best option because of its relatively lower cost (on average), its less-intense curriculum, and its shorter time commitment.
However, if you plan to make a career out of teaching English to foreign learners – and particularly if you plan to do so in elite schools at the highest levels of the pay scale – then you should probably consider biting the bullet and becoming CELTA-certified.
CELTA vs TEFL: Cost
On average, CELTA certification is significantly more expensive than TEFL certification. The chart below features a side-by-side comparison of the typical costs associated with each.
| TEFL vs CELTA Cost Comparison | |
| Average CELTA Cost | Average TEFL Cost |
| $2,000+ | $100-$600 |
The reasons for this disparity in cost are varied and include:
- CELTA’s higher-tier status as a teaching credential
- The more rigorous accreditation process for developing CELTA courses that Cambridge University is willing to approve
- The longer duration of CELTA courses
- The in-person nature of most CELTA courses compared to the online or hybrid format featured in many TEFL programs
CELTA vs TEFL: Course Requirements
The thresholds for qualifying for a TEFL course are generally laxer than those to qualify for acceptance into a CELTA course. For most TEFL courses, anyone who meets the following basic requirements is eligible for enrollment:
- High school diploma or equivalent
- 18 years old
- English proficiency
Occasionally, some upper-tier (and pricier) TEFL courses, particularly those hosted by universities (like in our list of TEFL courses in Atlanta and TEFL Certification in Portland), have more stringent admissions standards. However, if your goal is to find gainful ESL employment, you need not worry about this because a high-quality, accredited 120-hour online course will suffice.
The typical requirements to gain entry into a CELTA course are:
- At least 18 years old
- Proficient English language user (CEFR Level high C1 or above)
- Eligible for entry into higher education
In practice, due to the career-oriented candidates that CELTA attracts, the vast majority of enrollees into CELTA programs are working professionals with at least a bachelor’s degree – and often other teaching certifications such as a previously earned TEFL – under their belts.
On the other hand, TEFL program participants tend to be younger, less sure of their long-term career goals, and newer to the ESL field.
CELTA vs TEFL: Course Duration & Intensity
Course duration and intensity is an important consideration for those who are pressed for time – which is almost everyone in the modern world. This is the dealbreaker for many who are weighing the relative costs and benefits of TEFL vs CELTA.
More and more fully accredited, 100%-legitimate TEFL courses are offered entirely online and, even better, are self-paced – allowing for flexibility for workers and full-time students who benefit from the ability to work around their schedules.
Juggling a full-time job or full-time school with an intensive 4-week, in-person CELTA course (the historical standard) is impossible for many due to scheduling conflicts and the demanding curricula of these types of training programs.
Most, but not all, CELTA courses still operate on the full-time, in-person model. Trends in digitalization and COVID-19 social distancing guidelines are slowly changing the structure and design of CELTA courses. Part-time, hybrid (mix of in-person and online learning) CELTA courses that last 3 months are increasingly available.
CELTA vs TEFL: Which Is Right for You?
Based on the critical differences between CELTA and TEFL courses that we discussed above, the most important differentiating factors to weigh carefully in the final analysis are:
- Long-term career goals: CELTA is best-suited for teachers who want to make a career out of teaching and/or aim to reach the highest levels of the industry such as international schools, business training centers, and higher education.
- Budget: On balance, the vast majority of TEFL courses are significantly cheaper than their CELTA counterparts.
- Course requirements. While similar, CELTA courses generally have higher qualification thresholds for enrollees and are geared toward professionals already in the ESL field.
- Time commitment. CELTA courses are more intense both in the required time commitment inside the classroom as well as the work required to produce essays and teaching practice (teaching practicum). On the other hand, many online TEFL courses are entirely self-paced, allowing for greater flexibility in terms of working coursework into your schedule.
CELTA vs TEFL: FAQs
Let’s review a handful of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding the benefits of each type of certification, their utility in terms of accessing high-paying jobs in the global ESL industry, and their relative advantages and drawbacks.
Do I Need a CELTA or TEFL to Teach Abroad?
The short answer here is: no, not in every circumstance.
The more involved answer to this question depends on a number of factors: the requirements of the host country/destination you hope to teach in, your other personal qualifications such as advanced degrees or experience, your speaking status (native vs non-native), and the type of educational institution where you would like to work.
Some countries, for example, require foreign teachers to have either a TEFL or CELTA certification to obtain a visa/work permit required to legally teach in the country – with potentially hefty fines for those who skirt the rules and get caught.
To gain access to higher institutes of learning and elite schools that pay the highest salaries, you may need a CELTA certificate to get your foot in the door.
The bottom line is that, in the long run, having a TEFL or CELTA certification is an enormous asset that makes you much more attractive to employers by demonstrating your commitment to teaching. In terms of a cost-benefit analysis, these certifications nearly always pay off over time.
Do I Need a CELTA or TEFL to Teach Online?
In most cases, you will not need a TEFL, and certainly not a CELTA, to land an online teaching job. To attract the most candidates in order to compensate for high turnover rates, most online ESL companies have relatively lax policies regarding requirements.
The standard requirements for online teaching gigs are typically a 4-year degree of any type and native English-speaking status. A small (and increasing) percentage of online ESL platforms do require TEFL certification (like Magic Ears), so it certainly won’t hurt to get one.
An important consideration is that, in addition to making you more attractive to a hiring manager, having proper certification also gives you an advantage when you negotiate your salary. TEFL-certified teachers can demand higher pay than their non-certified peers.
Is a CELTA Certificate the Same as a TEFL Certificate?
No. Both are certifications to teach English as a foreign language (ESL) that demonstrate professionalism and commitment to language instruction. However, Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) is a more common and standard form of certification in the ESL industry, while Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA) is a higher-tier qualification designed for long-term teaching professionals.
What Are the Main Differences Between a CELTA and TEFL?
While CELTA and TEFL are both certification courses that train teachers in best practices to effectively teach English as a secondary language (ESL), they are not the same and have important differences:
- TEFL is better suited for newcomers to the ESL field and teachers who want to “get their feet” wet while earning a marketable, affordable certification. CELTA, on the other hand, is ideal for committed, long-term teachers.
- TEFL courses generally require less time commitment and offer greater flexibility schedule-wise than CELTA courses.
- TEFL programs have slightly less rigorous standards for acceptance into their programs compared to CELTA courses.
- TEFL courses are nearly always more affordable than CELTA courses.
Choosing between CELTA vs TEFL comes down to your goals, budget, and time. If you’re just starting out, looking to teach abroad or online with flexibility, a TEFL certification—like our fully accredited 120-hour online course—is your best bet. But if you’re aiming for top-tier teaching positions and long-term career advancement in the ESL world, CELTA could be worth the investment. Either way, getting certified is the first step toward teaching English anywhere in the world.
