What Are The Requirements to Teach English Online?

Teaching English online is your ticket to a flexible career!

There are a variety of different job opportunities for teaching online, the most popular of which are working for an online English teaching company, or private tutoring small groups or individuals. Some teachers even do a combination of both!

But what are the requirements to teach English online? Let’s first dive into some of the major perks of teaching English online, and then highlight the key requirements, such as equipment and qualifications, in order to get your career started.

Why teach English online?

Honestly, why not teach English online? You can truly choose your own adventure when it comes to teaching English online. Teaching online can be a side hustle, similar to driving Lyft or Uber, or it can be a full-time job.

Teachers and travelers alike love it so much because you can earn money from anywhere in the world. You can teach online from the safety of your home in the U.S. or elsewhere, or you can go live in Mexico, Spain, Thailand—anywhere!—and teach English online from there.

In addition to providing extreme flexibility, teaching English online is also a fantastic opportunity to boost your resume and gain experience in the field of online learning.

READ MORE: Why Teach English Online? 11 Unsung Benefits

What do I need to teach English online?

1. TEFL certification

TEFL certification is one of the most basic requirements to teach English online—and the most important! You would never apply for a job as a dentist if you didn’t go to dental school, right? The same rules apply in the field of teaching English online and abroad.

Employers aren’t just looking for fluent English speakers, they also expect every teacher to be trained on things like how to professionally run an online classroom and create engaging lesson plans and activities.

You need to invest in an accredited TEFL certification class, like International TEFL Academy’s part-time online class, which was named one of the best online classes of 2019. If you’re not TEFL certified yet, you’re not quite ready to start teaching English online.

2. Technology and device requirements

A reliable computer is required. Coffee is not (but we highly recommend it).

Yes, you can teach English from anywhere in the world, but you need to make sure you meet all the essential technological requirements to teach English online, like high-speed internet, a laptop or computer with a webcam, and a working headset with a microphone.

As we all know, internet glitches happen, so some online language schools require a hardwired internet connection instead of just using WiFi. Unfortunately, this may thwart your visions of teaching English online while at the beach, but hey—you’ll be setting your own hours, remember?

Every language school has its own unique requirements, so be sure to ask about the internet and equipment policies during your interview, in order to avoid any inconveniences for you or your students.

3. Distraction-free teaching space

One of the oft-overlooked requirements to teach English online successfully is a clutter-free, clean backdrop while you’re teaching online—even just a plain white wall behind you is acceptable. If you have people walking around behind you or any sort of background noise, your students will certainly pick up on it.

Do yourself and your students a favor and make sure you are providing a distraction-free learning environment. Even little things like having good lighting go a long way; your students want to be able to clearly see you!

If you really want to go for it, things like bulletin boards or whiteboards are great to use during your class, too. Putting effort into your surroundings can make your classes more engaging and enjoyable for your students.

4. Degree requirements

No degree? No problem! There are lots of companies that don’t have degree requirements.

A university degree is not always required to teach English online. There are some online teaching companies that require all of their teachers to have degrees, and there are others that do not.

So when you are vetting out potential online employers, be sure to check degree requirements. If you don’t have a degree, you can of course always teach online as a private tutor and earn money that way as well.

READ MORE: How to Start Teaching English Online ASAP

6 online teaching companies to get you started

If you meet all the requirements to teach English online, it’s time to start looking for job leads, right?

If you want to teach online to kids:

• VIPKID: If there’s any online teaching school you’ve heard of before, it’s very likely VIPKID. If you are interested in a more structured role teaching online and also looking to teach kids (4-12 years old), then VIPKID could be an option. 
• Preply: This platform caters to lots of different languages and all age ranges. The system with Preply is a bit unique in that in your first lesson with a new student, Preply takes a 100% commission fee; then the percentage Preply takes drops lower and lower the more lessons you teach. 

So if you have a lot of open time slots for students to book, you will be able to earn some good money. If you don’t plan to teach often, this would not be the platform for you.

If you want to teach online without a university degree:

• Cambly: If you are interested in teaching online but don’t have a university degree, then Cambly is a great place to start. It’s important to have an accredited TEFL certification when you’re applying for a job with Cambly to make your resume really stand out amongst the crowd.
• Lingoda: Lingoda is the top online language school in Europe and provides lessons to adults in a variety of languages including English, French, and Spanish. Teachers must have an accredited TEFL/CELTA certificate and at least 2 years of teaching experience to get hired with Lingoda. You choose how many hours you want to work; there are classes running 24/7. 

If you want to teach online to adults:

• English First: If you are looking to teach adults online, check out English First. Teachers are required to have a TEFL certification, a US or UK passport, and also a university degree.
• Open English: If you have U.S. citizenship and want to teach adults, Open English could be a great match. Teaching materials are provided to all instructors, so you won’t need to create lessons from scratch.

Get Matched with 5 Online English Teaching Jobs for FREE

Check that WiFi connection and start teaching!

Do you have what you need to teach English online?

You know why teaching English online is an excellent direction in which to pivot your career, and you know the requirements to teach English online that you need to meet in order to be as successful as possible. So...are you ready to get your career started as an online English teacher?

If you haven’t already, start researching TEFL providers, like International TEFL Academy, to get the credential you need to get your online teaching career started. Cheers to all the adventures to come!

Browse ALL English Teaching Jobs Online on GoAbroad.com

This article was written with help from International TEFL Academy. Founded in 2010, International TEFL Academy (ITA) is a world leader in TEFL certification for teaching English abroad and teaching English online. ITA offers accredited TEFL certification classes online and in 23 locations worldwide and has received multiple awards and widespread recognition as one of the best TEFL schools in the world. ITA provides all students and graduates with lifetime job search guidance and has certified more than 25,000 English teachers.