The 12 Best Online TEFL Courses in 2023

Teaching English opens doors to a rewarding career that can take you all over the world. English is in demand and you'll find enthusiastic students of all ages just waiting to learn. Although some countries allow native speakers to teach without a degree or certificate, obtaining your TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification could enhance your job prospects and earning potential. Most importantly though, it can give you the tools to be a more effective teacher for your students.

You may be wondering if it's better to enroll in a TEFL course in person or online. Online TEFL courses provide the flexibility to study where and when is convenient for you. I teach English in Spain for a program that only requires a bachelor's degree in any subject. However, to give me more confidence, I decided to earn my TEFL certificate. I found the course really helpful for remembering grammar structures as well as generating new ideas for activities and games to use in the classroom. It was a small investment that I believe markedly enhanced my teaching skills.

In 2023, consider pursuing an online TEFL course. We have handpicked the best of the best for you and highlight their features below. Starting one of these courses could be the first step toward the adventure of a lifetime!

Before we dive in, let's go over criteria to consider when picking a TEFL program. You'll want to research and identify these key factors before you invest your time and money in a TEFL course!

• Accreditation: Opting for an accredited TEFL course will help verify that your class will meet industry standards, cover the required hours of training, and provide you with the necessary amount of instruction and teaching practice.
• Length of course: In order to ensure your chances of getting a teaching job after your course ends, your online TEFL certification course must cover at least 100 hours of class time and 20 hours of teaching practice.
• Cost: While it's important to pick an affordable TEFL course, you should also be wary of any super cheap classes. Online classes tend to already be less expensive, but be sure it includes practical teaching experience, otherwise you're potentially wasting money!
• Job placement assistance: You're taking this TEFL course to get a job after, right? So if you're going to invest your time, make sure this course can also provide you with important resources such as interview assistance, referrals, and job guidance.

Read more: How to Choose a TEFL Certification Program

According to the International TEFL Academy, their alumni work in 80 countries across the world, so it's no wonder why this world-renowned program tops our list. This part-time, 11-week 170-hour TEFL certification promises small class sizes (maximum of 20 students), teachers with a minimum of a master's degree, and interactive features such as live lectures, webinars, and chat sessions.

This course is comprised of 150 hours of learning coupled with a 20-hour hands-on teaching practicum. Throughout your studies you will be aided by a personal tutor who will be there to answer all your questions.

Graduates will benefit from lifetime job search assistance as well as a network of thousands of ITA graduates located all around the globe.

Pros:

• Provides students with 1:1 job search assistance after completing the course
• Offers a wide range of support resources, including teacher office hours, live instruction, and peer chat opportunities

Cons:

• Balancing assignments and heavy textbook reading can be challenging for some learners
• Leans on the pricier side, but covers lifetime job search support

TEFLPros offers a fully accredited 120-hour online TEFL course that combines high quality instruction with maximum flexibility. The course boasts more than 50 hours of real-life classroom and instructional videos so that you're sure to get the most bang for your buck.

This course offers preparation in important skills such as lesson planning, managing difficult classroom situations, and preparing classroom materials. And TEFLPros want to make sure you're happy with the course before you put any money into it; they offer a free full module to students so that you can "try before you buy." This kind of transparency is hard to beat!

Pros:

• Allows students to download videos, files, and guides, to learn materials at their own pace
• Students receive weekly live coaching calls twice a week

Cons:

• Doesn’t offer job placement guarantees
• The course focuses more on teaching in-person classes, compared to teaching online classes

Teach Away, world leaders in international teacher placement, has partnered with the University of Toronto to offer the OISE TEFL program. This comprehensive program is available as three different courses to suit the needs of everyone from recent university grads looking to start their career in teaching, to current ESL teachers hoping to boost their credentials.

With Teach Away, you can choose from 100-hour, 120-hour, and 150-hour course options, and you can also select specializations that cater to your personal interests and teaching goals. But beyond the course material, you'll also get a leg up when starting your career with a certificate from a globally recognized institution, as well as job assistance through Teach Away.

Pros:

• Backed by the University of Toronto, a recognized university
• Connects graduates with free job placement services

Cons:

• Longer length course and lectures may feel repetitive
• Tests are timed

UNI-Prep's 120-hour online TEFL certification is great for those hoping to jump into their teaching career quickly. The course covers classroom management, lesson planning, and language level testing in addition to the basics of reading, writing, and phonics.

Tutor support is available and job search assistance is included. While they don't screen participants, a high school diploma, and native level or advanced proficiency in English are required.

Past participants have rated this program highly and praise it for its value and level of instruction.

Pros:

• Suitable for all learners’ pace – according to their website, this course can be completed in 2-4 weeks, although students have up to a year to work through the materials
• Offers students the chance to review quiz errors and retake quizzes for a higher grade

Cons:

• Video quality and audio in modules could be improved
• Doesn’t offer as much job assistance support as other courses on the market

The TEFL Academy is truly committed to offering students a top-notch TEFL experience. Since TEFL is their specialty, they're able to offer well-crafted, accredited, and highly interactive courses which are all taught by experienced ESL teachers. Who better to learn from than those who are already experienced in the field?

Their Online Level 5 TEFL Course is a fully online TEFL option available to students around the globe. If taken full time, the course will take about 9 weeks to complete, but its flexible nature means that you can fit the course to your schedule. The course is composed of 11 mandatory units, plus a bonus unit about teaching young learners, which is perfect for folks who are hoping to teach English at primary schools abroad.

Pros:

• Tutors give detailed feedback on assignments
• Leads to a level 5 TEFL Certificate, equivalent to 168 hours, which will allow you to teach anywhere you want

Cons:

• Doesn’t offer video components
• Must be completed within 6 months

Whether you're looking to brush up on your teaching skills or to fulfill a job requirement, ITTT can meet your needs with their 60 to 250-hour TEFL/TESOL certificate. There are also specialized course options such as a 50-hour Teaching Business English and a 50-hour Teaching English to Young Learners. You can choose to complete your online TEFL courses on your own or with a tutor, so you get the proper support.

ITTT's diplomas are recognized all around the world, so you never have to worry if your credentials will be accepted when you move jobs or locations. Plus, after completing an ITTT TEFL course, you'll have lifetime access to job assistance services.

Pros:

• Course includes game resources and worksheets to help make learning more engaging
• A tutor is offered that will respond to any questions within one day, usually sooner

Cons:

• No practical experience component
• Students can only take quizzes once

Premier TEFL offers prospective English teachers a variety of options for undertaking their certification. Whether you go with the industry standard 120-hour online course or more intensive study, all programs include various perks. You can expect to learn all the basics through their new app, various eBooks, and even their podcast, which means you can learn wherever you are (even if you're on the go!).

In addition to the course materials, learners can expect to receive expert tutor support throughout the program. Most notably, on completion of your certification, Premier TEFL will provide you with a letter of reference which could come in handy when applying for your first job.

Feeling prepared but not yet confident to start the job search? Internship opportunities exist throughout Asia, Europe, and South America. These short-term teaching experiences will give you a taste of international teaching while helping to build your CV.

Pros:

• Offers a mobile app that can be used for on-the-go learning
• Provides guidance on where and how to find a job or internship and provides students with a letter of reference after course completion

Cons:

• Not as much video content as in other courses
• Must be completed within 6 months

If you want to go beyond the usual 120-hour course, i-to-i TEFL offers programs up to 420-hours. If you choose to study the courses consisting of 180 hours or more, your bundle will include additional modules such as teaching young learners, business English, grammar awareness, and advanced lesson planning.

These TEFL certifications can be completed solely online or taken as a hybrid option with two days of classroom experience with qualified and knowledgeable tutors. All courses provide a minimum of 120 hours of materials along with support and feedback from DELTA (diploma provided by Cambridge English) qualified tutors.

Once you are fully certified, i-to-i offers paid internship opportunities in Thailand, South Korea, and Vietnam and an unpaid placement in Thailand too. All programs include accommodation and range from 7 weeks to 5 months. This could be a good way to break into the international TEFL world without a year commitment.

Pros:

• Offers 1:1 contact hours with teachers
• Includes video observations of teachers at work and the practice of writing extended lesson plans

Cons:

• You have a limited time to complete the online course after it’s opened
• The assignments can be rigorous, but there is support for questions, and are quick at responding

Maximo Nivel offers a 150-hour completely online TEFL certification that includes live teaching practice. While other online courses require in-person teaching practice, with Maximo Nivel you can conduct your 6-hour practicum with real language learners live via Skype. These sessions will be observed by your trainer who will give you constructive feedback to improve your skills.

Maximo Nivel focuses on support and guarantees 10 hours of face-to-face personal tutor support via Skype or Zoom during your course. This will allow you to receive advice, hear critiques of your classwork and teaching, and ask any questions you may have. After successful completion of the course, students have access to lifetime job search support which means you always have someone in your corner throughout your teaching career.

Pros:

• Provides 10 hours of tutoring and coaching by Zoom with your TEFL Trainer
• Offers 5 hours of practical teaching

Cons:

• Must be completed within 6 months, but course extensions may be purchased
• Course material can be considered challenging for some students

Who said learning virtually had to be done alone?

For students who learn best through class discussions and opportunities for collaboration, you'll enjoy Teaching Nomad's Instructor Led Online TEFL Course.

In this course, you'll meet 3 times a week over a 4-week period, and participate in discussion based learning, while receiving personal feedback from your instructor. After the virtual course is completed, you'll even receive the opportunity to observe 10 days of teaching practice in popular teaching cities such as Shanghai, Buenos Aries, Hanoi, and more.

Pros:

• Classes are live, and students have the opportunity to meet and interact with other students in the class virtually through discussion groups
• After course completion, students are given the option to add on 10 days of in-person observed teaching practice abroad

Cons:

• Longer lecture times, lasting around two hours
• Requires a lot of time for studying, completing homework, and participating in discussions

Boasting a 100% satisfaction score from over 100 reviewers on Go Overseas, Vantage TEFL offers a 120-hour course for those pursuing an international career in teaching. Validated by Lamar University in the U.S., this course is the equivalent of three credit hours. Students will have six months to complete all the modules.

The unique thing about Vantage TEFL is the intensive, supervised 6-hour practicum which is conducted in Thailand. For those already interested in starting off in Asia, this can be a great jumping off point to network and get comfortable in your new surroundings. Some of the highest ESL salaries are offered in Asia so why not make the leap with Vantage TEFL?

Here's what past participants had to say about Vantage TEFL's course:

Pros:

• Provides students with personal coaching on topics such as interviewing techniques, resume crafting, and job search strategy
• Offers observed practice teaching sessions and a 6-hour practicum

Cons:

• The coursework can be intensive and challenging for some students
• It may not be a good fit if you’re looking for teaching opportunities outside of Thailand or China

OnTesol has been providing accredited online TEFL/TESL/TESOL certification courses for 20 years. Accredited by TESL Canada, their certifications are accepted worldwide, for both in-person and online teaching.

Their most popular program, the 120-hr Advanced TESOL Course: Online TESOL, allows students to master crafting their own lesson plans, through hands-on modules and a range of course materials, such as charts and videos. For aspiring teachers looking to learn in an engaging environment, OnTesol's unique 10-hour Lesson Planning Workshop gives students the chance to work on group activities, ask questions, and attend live Zoom lectures, while still being completely online.

Pros:

• Students are assigned a personal tutor to answer questions and provide direct feedback on assignments
• Offers free job assistance and an optional 20-hour practicum

Cons:

• Self-paced online courses can be difficult for beginner teachers, so it's recommended to add-on the live teaching workshops
• Past students expressed that video components could be improved to be more engaging

If you're still on the fence about applying for an online TEFL course (or just have a million questions buzzing in your head -- trust us, it's normal!) then take a peek at some of the top FAQs asked by aspiring teachers like you!

By taking an online program you’ll be able to complete your coursework from anywhere in the world -- so long as you have a computer and internet, there’s no need to spend time commuting.

Additionally, online programs also tend to be lower in cost (read: better for your wallet). The instruction itself online is more heavily focused on theory than classroom practice. This can be very beneficial for those who have limited teaching experience as understanding the theory and methodology behind teaching practices is fundamental in helping new teachers succeed in the classroom.

The regions where online TEFL certification it is most widely accepted or required are Latin America and Asia. However, no matter where in the world you are planning to teach, having a TEFL certification will be an asset. Not only will it help you stand out from other applicants, it will also better prepare you to be a more effective classroom teacher which will have a positive impact on your students -- no matter if they are in South Korea, Nepal, Brazil, Hungary or beyond.

The length of online TEFL certifications vary widely. The bare minimum is usually 20 hours, but some are up to 240 hours. Choosing which course level is right for you largely depends on your long-term teaching goals, as different teaching jobs require different levels of TEFL qualifications. For most new teachers a 100-hour course will open up the most job opportunities, as well as give you the confidence to teach effectively. You can always take more classes later should you choose to pursue TEFL as a serious career. Shorter courses are good for teachers who may only be exploring TEFL as a short-term career break.

Yes, an online TEFL certification will absolutely help prepare you for the classroom! It may seem strange that taking a course online can help you teach a classroom full of live students. However, what many people new to the teaching profession don’t realize is just how much theory and methodology is involved in effective teaching practices.

With an online program you’ll learn the basic principles of teaching English as a foreign language, lesson planning, and develop skills in teaching reading, writing, listening and speaking.

Read more: What Do You Learn in an Online TEFL Course?

If you have a positive attitude, thirst for adventure, and desire to help others, a career in English teaching might just be right for you. Teaching can be challenging but it is a rewarding and potentially lucrative way to travel the world while making a difference in the lives of children and adults. Making sure you have the right training is key, so sign up with one of these top courses and start dreaming of your next destination today!