How Far in Advance Should I Get TEFL Certified?

Picture this: You’re in front of a classroom of kids in South Korea. Or maybe you’re helping business people in Japan hone their English-language presentation skills. Maybe you’re living the pura vida life in Costa Rica or exploring beer and jazz cellars in the Czech Republic after hours.

As an international English teacher, this could easily be your new home.

Whatever forms your daydreams take, you know that you belong abroad, lesson plans in hand, teaching English to eager students. But before you board a plane or start looking at jobs, you need to get your TEFL certification.

Figuring out when to get TEFL certified may seem complicated. If questions like how long does TEFL certification take? and how long does a TEFL certificate last? keep you up at night, it’s time to take the guesswork out of signing up for a TEFL course…because there’s no bad time to get certified.

With plenty of great places to get TEFL certification out there (and options to do it in-person or online), you can get TEFL certified at the point in your education and career trajectory that makes the most sense for your personal and professional goals. Whether that’s after high school, during college, after college, or even mid-career, your TEFL certification will give you the tools you need to succeed as a teacher—and a key qualification for landing a job.

How far in advance should I complete my TEFL course?

Hiring season will play a big part in securing a teaching job.

You’ll want to consider the hiring season for language schools in the location where you want to teach when you’re figuring out when to get TEFL certified.

Most students looking to start work right away opt to take a four-week TEFL class onsite just before the hiring season in the country where they take their course. If the online TEFL certification route is more your vibe, aim to complete your class two to three months before the hiring season begins to have enough time for your job search and travel arrangements.

Here’s what to expect depending on where you’re applying for teaching jobs abroad:

Asia

Because the demand for English teachers in Asia is so high, you can find private language schools hiring and recruiting year-round, with a few exceptions. The hiring seasons for teaching in Taiwan fall after the Chinese New Year and in July and August. If you want to teach English in Thailand, expect hiring seasons in May and November.

Public schools in places like South Korea recruit in spring and early summer as well as January, February, and March. If you’re applying for the JET program to teach in Japan, you’ll need to have your application complete by mid-November.

Central America

The primary hiring season is June to July. January to February offers a secondary possibility. However, schools in Costa Rica tend to interview candidates in December, and positions in Mexico are available throughout the year.

South America

Language schools primarily hire in February to March. The secondary season occurs in July and August.

Middle East

You’ll find positions open throughout the year at language schools in the Middle East. Some public schools, private schools for children, vocational schools, and colleges and universities recruit teachers in spring and early summer and then again in the fall.

Africa

Teaching jobs are available throughout the year. If you’re ready to apply for jobs during the summer or winter, you can get in during one of the busier hiring seasons.

Europe

The primary hiring season in Europe is September to October, with a secondary season in January. Exceptions include government assistantship positions, summer camps, and schools in Georgia, Russia, and Turkey, which often hire year-round.

How long does TEFL certification take?

The amount of time it takes to get TEFL certified is typically in your hands, but not always.

Whether you’re planning to get TEFL certified in-person or you’re looking for online TEFL courses you can take from anywhere in the world, you’ll have options for courses that last a few weeks to a few months.

A high quality, professional-level TEFL certification that meets international standards will incorporate a minimum of 100 hours of class time and academic coursework plus a minimum six-hour practicum. Some programs incorporate up to 20 hours for the practicum, or live teaching practice. 120 hours (100 hours of training and 20 hours of teaching practice) is the industry standard for obtaining TEFL certification.

You might feel tempted to go for a shorter course to start teaching sooner, but most employers look for TEFL-certified teachers who completed courses with those minimum hours. Remember, you’ll have the flexibility to find a course structure that fits your needs. TEFL certification takes as long as you want (and need) it to take.

Your TEFL certification might take the shape of a full-time, intensive program, translating to 30 to 40 hours per week for four weeks. Or it might look like a part-time course that you complete over a span of two to six months, letting you work, study, or take care of other obligations while getting certified.

How long does a TEFL certificate last?

One of the biggest benefits of having a TEFL certificate in hand? That certificate never expires.

That’s right. You don’t have to worry about renewing your TEFL certificate. You don’t have to plan ahead for additional training, and you won’t have to take additional coursework to renew your certification down the road. Once you earn a TEFL certificate, it’s valid for life.

You can also start working immediately after receiving your TEFL certificate, so there’s really no bad moment to get started. The best time to get TEFL certified is whenever you have the time to put those 100+ hours of work in. You’ll have lifelong credentials to build your career as an English teacher abroad once you do.

When to get TEFL certified

Consider your career goals and other obligations when figuring out the best time to get TEFL certified:

Getting TEFL certified after high school

Looking for a productive way to spend your days post-high school? Getting certified in TEFL after high school might just be the way to go.

Pros:

• You’re qualified! You don’t need a bachelor’s degree to start a TEFL course and get your certification. Many TEFL courses only require a high school degree or GED plus a high level of English proficiency, so you can use the time after high school to set yourself up for future success.
• You have time to do the work: Since most international employers will look for teachers with 120 TEFL training hours, you need to find a slice of life that lets you devote time to your training. You can get certified before you have to deal with college and career obligations—and have your certification for life.
• You’ll have access to teaching jobs without a four-year degree: Maybe you don’t have the time or financial resources to dive into a four-year teaching degree, but you know this is the career for you. A TEFL certificate means you can get a variety of teaching jobs abroad without a degree.

Cons:

• You’ll miss out on time with friends: The summer between high school and college often translates to time spent with friends before you all move on to the next stages of your lives. Getting TEFL certified means devoting more than 100 hours to your course, and you might want to spend the time before college taking a break from studying.
• You’re not sure of your path: You might think you want to teach English, but you still have years of life experience ahead of you. Although a TEFL certificate opens up possibilities you can lean on for the rest of your life, if you ultimately find a different calling, you may feel like you wasted the time and money you spend now.
• You won’t have the same experience: If you hold off on getting certified, you’ll have more time to gain experience teaching and figure out where you want to teach abroad. You’ll need teaching experience to get many jobs abroad, so you can spend this time volunteering or exploring teaching in other ways instead to bolster your future applications.

Getting TEFL certified during college

Check to see if your university offers TEFL courses on campus!

Even if you missed the chance to get certified in TEFL after high school, you still have time to earn your certification before college graduation.

Pros:

• You’ll get it done while you’re in the college mindset: You’re already in school mode, so it’s no big deal to add another course. Instead of putting off your plan to get TEFL certified, maximize your time in school with a part-time course or go for a full-time course between semesters. You’ll be glad you did when you don’t have another class to complete after graduation.
• You’ll have a head start on your job search: With your TEFL certificate in hand, you’re ready to jump right into a job when you graduate. Won’t it feel great to respond to the inevitable so what are you doing after graduation? questions with “well actually, I have a job lined up to teach English in Argentina” or “I have my flight booked to teach English in China, and you?”
• Three more words: Summer. Of. Adventure. There’s no better way to ensure an amazing summer in college than by traveling abroad, and you can give yourself a head start on your future by getting TEFL certified while you’re at it. Check your certification off your to-do list while exploring an amazing location like Barcelona, Chiang Mai, or Heredia.

Cons:

• You can’t just forget your regular class commitments: You already have plenty to do during regular semesters in college. Between major requirements, extracurriculars, and internships, it can be hard enough to find time for hanging out with friends—never mind taking a whole additional course.
• You want to rest and recharge between semesters: Sure, you could get TEFL certified when you’re on break instead, but you have breaks between college semesters for a reason. Committing to an intensive TEFL course in January or over the summer can mean your time to relax evaporates.
• You need semester breaks for other commitments: Whether you need down time between semesters to work and earn money, participate in an internship or research opportunity, take an extra class or two, or even study abroad over the summer, taking a TEFL course can steal time away from other important obligations.

Getting TEFL certified after college

In a post-grad funk? Try getting TEFL certified online or in person as part of a gap year.

If you want to teach English abroad after college and haven’t taken your TEFL course yet, now really is the best time to get TEFL certified.

Pros:

• You can test the teaching waters: If you just graduated and aren’t ready to go back to school for an education degree—or you’re not sure if teaching is the right path for you—a TEFL course offers an ideal test drive for a career in teaching. Your TEFL practicum will give you first-hand experience in the classroom and let you see if teaching is a good fit.
• You’ll earn a credential that will help you with your job search: You have your bachelor’s degree now. A TEFL certificate gives you an added credential that will go a long way in getting you hired if you’re hoping to teach English in a location like Japan where a four-year degree is non-negotiable.
• You can work, earn money, AND travel: Even if you’re planning to teach somewhere that doesn’t require TEFL certification, you’ll be considered more qualified if you do have a certificate. Teachers with a TEFL certificate typically earn a higher salary. Your salary as an English teacher will allow you to cover the cost of living abroad and maybe even save up, so you can earn money before grad school or other big life steps, all while seeing the world.

Cons:

• You’ll still have to do the work: Getting TEFL certified takes work. If you put off getting your certification until after college, you won’t be ready to start teaching immediately after graduating.
• You can fall behind in your job search: Graduation’s come and gone, and now you need to take the summer and possibly even the fall to get certified. This can mean falling behind schedule for the hiring seasons in certain parts of the world.
• Life comes at you fast: Life post-graduation means dealing with, well, life. From finding a job to paying back student loans to finding a place to live, you’ll need time and resources for plenty of other things beyond a TEFL course.

Getting TEFL certified mid-career

If you’re looking for a resume booster (or a fun sabbatical), TEFL certification can help!

It’s never too late to get TEFL certified! No matter if you have some teaching experience already and want to work abroad or you’ve found a new calling, you can still get your certification after you’ve started working.

Pros:

• You know what you want from life: It’s easy to dive into a job right out of college that ultimately doesn’t deliver the best fit or fulfillment you hoped to get out of working. You don’t have to commit to a years-long degree to make a switch to doing something you love. Whether you’re taking a break from your current job or looking to make a complete career change, you can get TEFL certified when you know what you really want.
• You’ll learn the ropes or add nuance to your teaching: A TEFL course provides valuable training if you’re new to the world of education. Already have teaching experience at home? TEFL certification means gaining a nuanced understanding of how to teach students from a different culture who speak a different language.
• You’ll become a better teacher: Becoming a TEFL teacher means learning how to teach students to speak, read, and write English. Different students have different needs—you won’t teach English to young learners the same way you’ll teach adults. A TEFL course will show you teaching methods that work for students of different ages, cultural backgrounds, and native languages.

Cons:

• Change is challenging: You know now that teaching English abroad is your dream. But if you’re already on another path, finding the momentum to change things up can be a real challenge.
• You’ll have less time: Mid-career inevitably means you have work obligations. You might find carving out time for a TEFL class tough when you’re dealing with the regular work grind.
• It’s harder to get away: Taking an in-person TEFL course abroad is a great perk of getting certified, but you might not be able to get away if you’re already working. Even if you’re taking a break from your job to get certified, you’ll likely have other obligations at this point of your life.

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No matter when you get TEFL certified, it’ll be worth it!

Launch a career while embarking on a memorable adventure—it’s a win-win!

Your TEFL certification is your ticket to teaching abroad. If you’re ready to land a job teaching English in a country where you’ve always dreamed of living, then the best time to get TEFL certified is now. This certification lasts for life, so take the first step to your ideal job while learning the skills that make you a great teacher.

This article was written with help from International TEFL Academy. With 40,000 alumni teaching English in 80 countries & online, ITA specializes in online and in-person TEFL courses worldwide. With almost 2000 positive reviews on GoAbroad, TEFL students can expect top-quality participant support at ITA, including lifetime job guidance.