The average online 120-hour TEFL certification cost is between $99 and $250 and is sufficient for most online or overseas teaching jobs requiring a TEFL certificate. Some students looking for a more robust TEFL certification of 180+ hours or university-level or in-person courses may expect to pay much more – starting from $1,500 and more.
A myriad of factors go into the pricing of the TEFL certification, including how it’s delivered, its length, and job placement assistance. We’ll get into these factors in further detail so that you can make the best choice for your needs.
Table of Contents
Factors That Influence TEFL Prices
The factors that affect a TEFL course cost and contribute to the disparity in the industry are:
Understanding TEFL Certification ‘Levels’ and Costs
Your chosen TEFL course will grant you certification – assuming that it is accredited — at one of eight proficiency levels (1-8) as laid out by the UK Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual).
- Levels 1-3: Minimal training, intended as “refresher” or introductory courses, limited marketability for ESL employment.
- Levels 3-4: The level of certification that most employers look for. Accredited 120-150-hour courses fall into the TEFL “sweet spot” of maximum cost-effectiveness in terms of future job prospects.
- Levels 5+: Generally intended for teachers with long-term career goals who want to break into the upper echelons of the industry – such as in higher education at the post-high school level.
If you are looking for a TEFL certificate that will qualify you for meaningful ESL employment without spending unnecessary time and money on certification that you don’t need, a level 3-4 course (120-150 hours) will suffice and this TEFL course cost won’t break the bank.
TEFL Certification Cost Breakdown
We’ve broken down the standard TEFL course costs below by hour commitment, level of instruction, and mode of instruction (online vs in-person). See more on how to get a TEFL certification online.
Average TEFL Course Cost
Additional (Hidden) Potential TEFL Costs
It’s worth keeping in mind any additional expenses that come with an in-person course that might include:
- Room and board (if the in-person course is not in your hometown)
- Any visa fees (if your in-person course is in a foreign country)
- Transportation costs
Many in-person TEFL courses, especially more expensive ones, offer accommodation packages – often in collaboration with an affiliated local hotel or hostel that will partner with the course provider to lend a discount to students. There are plenty of places worth visiting that can offer courses – you can consider getting your TEFL certification in Portland, Oregon, for example, for a taste of the Pacific Northwest.
Learn more on How to Get a TEFL Certification
Is Getting a TEFL Certificate Worth the Cost?
The short answer, with caveats, is “absolutely.”
If you take a look around at any leading ESL job boards, you will notice that a large majority of employers – from Thailand to Greece (and online as well) – list TEFL certification as either a requirement or a preference.
Especially at the higher end of the ESL pay scale, hiring managers will often not even consider a candidate that does not present at least a 120-hour TEFL certificate with his or her application.
Finding employment in the most competitive job markets without a TEFL certificate is virtually impossible (for international schools or universities often a CELTA is required).
A 120-hour TEFL course will open up the following job opportunities that you cannot access (or will have more difficulty accessing) without one:
- Private language centers
- Higher education (college level and above)
- Corporate training programs (often the most lucrative)
- International schools (among the highest-paying ESL jobs)
- More competitive job markets like the UAE (where some qualified teachers earn in excess of $5000 monthly), Saudi Arabia, South Korea, etc.
In addition to making yourself more attractive to employers, having a TEFL also gives you negotiating leverage in terms of pay – as in most professions, higher levels of certification translate (if you negotiate correctly) into higher pay.
Get Certified to Teach Anywhere!
- 120hr Online Certificate with LIFETIME Access
- Valid Anywhere Online & Abroad
- Fully Accredited
- 24hr Tutor Support - Ask Us Anything!
Where Can I Find TEFL Scholarships?
To make a TEFL certification course cheaper, some TEFL courses or online ESL providers offer TEFL scholarships. A few options include:
1. TEFL Course Providers
- The TEFL Org: Two fully funded TEFL certification courses are provided each year after applicants submit a 500-word essay. Learn More Here.
- Angloville International: Scholarship covers 90% of an accredited TEFL certification course as well as room and board in Europe – in exchange for you teaching about 50-100 hours as part of your “practicum.” Learn More Here.
- ITTT (International TEFL and TESOL Training): Offers various merit-based and need-based scholarships and grants.
2. Government Funded Programs
Some governments will offer scholarships to help promote English exchange and cultural education. These scholarships may cover partial or full costs of acquiring a TEFL certification, but often have specific requirements to qualify – such as a designated location where you will teach upon certification.
3. Corporate Scholarships
Some companies that are invested in education and global communication may offer sponsorship for TEFL certification.
What About Free TEFL Courses?
You can sometimes find free TEFL certification in exchange for teaching abroad for a company such as EF. You can learn more about these types of opportunities in our list of 5 cheap and free TEFL certification courses – some with no strings attached.
That said, we don’t recommend working for a company simply because they offer a free TEFL certification course. Because of the availability of options today, you can certainly find a budget-friendly TEFL course that will not require you to move overseas to qualify (unless you want to!)
What If I Don’t Have The Funds for a TEFL?
Many companies offering TEFL courses offer ways to enjoy the course without having all the funds available to purchase. Here are two ways that you can help fund your TEFL course:
- Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) lets you start a TEFL course immediately while spreading the cost into installments, often interest-free if payments are on time. It’s typically managed by providers like Klarna or Afterpay, making it accessible for those without upfront funds. However, late payments can incur fees, so reviewing terms carefully is essential.
- Split payment options make paying for a TEFL course more manageable by dividing the cost into smaller, interest-free installments. Unlike Buy Now Pay Later plans, split payments don’t involve credit checks or deferred payments, allowing you to start your certification without paying the full amount upfront. This flexible approach, offered by many providers like TEFL Hero, makes TEFL courses more accessible for those on a limited budget.
Are All TEFL Courses Accredited?
Not all TEFL certification courses are accredited, so it’s imperative to always look for proper TEFL accreditation from a recognized accrediting organization. Without such credentials, a TEFL certification will have little value in the international market.
A savvy hiring manager will check the accrediting organization that verifies the quality and legitimacy of an applicant’s TEFL certification. The leading TEFL-accrediting agencies that are most sought-after by ESL employers are:
- ACCREDITAT
- IATEFL (International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language)
- Teacher Training Council
- ACCET (Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training)
What Are the Components of a Standard TEFL Course?
TEFL certificates, depending on the length and the level, generally include the following components:
What Are TEFL Course Requirements?
Most TEFL courses require that their students:
- Are at least 16 years old
- Have a high level of English proficiency
- High earned a school diploma or equivalent
Some more exclusive TEFL courses have higher requirement thresholds such as:
- 4-year degree or equivalent
- Pre-course interview with facilitator
- Written application
TEFL Hero – which offers a 120-hour, online TEFL course designed by ESL teachers – is more flexible in its standard, which require that students:
- Are at least 16 years of age
- Have a reasonable competence in spoken and written English.
Which TEFL Certificate is the Best?
Ultimately, the ideal TEFL certificate for you will depend on a variety of factors that you should consider:
Why choose an accredited 120-hour online TEFL course?
Here are a few reasons:
- Sufficient to meet nearly every ESL employer and visa requirement globally
- More affordable than in-person options
- Allows greater flexibility time-wise than a course with a fixed schedule such as one with a live or in-person instruction component
Get Certified to Teach Anywhere!
- 120hr Online Certificate with LIFETIME Access
- Valid Anywhere Online & Abroad
- Fully Accredited
- 24hr Tutor Support - Ask Us Anything!
The Bottom Line on TEFL Certification Costs
For the most part, for the reasons described above, the cost-to-benefit ratio indicates that an accredited 120-hour online TEFL course is likely to deliver the biggest “bang for your buck.”
If you are keen on live instruction, tutor support, or a more robust qualification for finding work at the highest ends of the professional spectrum, then you should look at alternatives to the 120-hour format. For everyone else, an accredited 120-hour online course offers the training and certification that you need to get you where you want to go.
