Where Can I Teach with a TEFL Certificate? [TEFL Countries Explained] (2024)

TEFL job

Where can I work with a TEFL certificate? Which countries accept TESOL or TEFL? Let's explore the many TEFL countries where you can find jobs teaching English abroad with a TEFL certification.

Written By: International TEFL Academy|Updated: June 29, 2023

Where Can I Teach with a TEFL Certificate? [TEFL Countries Explained] (1)


If you're wondering where you can teach English with a TEFL certificate, you're in the right place! Let's start with answering a few commonly asked questions.

Where Can I Teach with a TEFL Certificate?

A native English speaker with a four-year degree and an accredited TEFL / TESOL Certification can find opportunities in as many as 100 countries around the world from Asia and Europe to the Middle East and Latin America.

Where Can I Teach with a TEFL Certificate If I Don't Have a Degree?

Even without a four-year degree, a native English speaker with an accredited TEFL / TESOL Certification can realistically find great opportunities in dozens of countries around the world including Spain, Russia, China, Argentina and many nations in Latin America and Eastern Europe.

Where Can I Teach with a TEFL Certificate If I'm a Non-Native English Speaker?

Non-native speakers who are fluent both in written and spoken English can also find opportunities in a wide variety of countries, particularly European Union (EU) citizens looking to work within Europe, and those who wish to teach in their home country.

What Countries Accept TEFL Certification?

There are jobs for TEFL-certified teachers in virtually all countries, including English-speaking nations, and for teaching English online. Just know that different schools and employers will maintain different hiring standards and not all are looking for a TEFL certification.



TEFL Countries Where You Can Teach English Abroad with a TEFL Certification

Now that we've answered your questions, let's look in more detail at the countries where you can teach in.

Teach English in dozens of countries in Europe

Major European cities like Madrid, Milan, Prague, Moscow, Rome and Istanbul are all home to dozens, if not hundreds of private language schools specializing in English instruction and as many of 3,000 – 5,000 English teachers work in such cities annually.

Primary job markets in Europe include Spain, Italy, Germany, Russia, Czech Republic, Turkey, and France. Portugal, Greece, Slovakia, Hungary, Ukraine, Poland and Romania also offer extensive job opportunities.

The strongest job markets for Americans teaching English in Europe are Spain, Italy, Germanyand Central and Eastern European countries like Russia, Poland and the Czech Republic. Some countries like France and Greece can be more challenging for Americans because of red tape and a strong preference for EU citizens. The exception to this is the French government's assistantship program, which recruits more than 1,000 qualified Americans to work as assistant English teachers in public schools. Spain operates a similar program.

Turkey has a huge demand for English teachers and a great job market, particularly for Americans who do not have to contend with a bias towards EU citizens as Turkey is not in the EU.

Read more: TEFL countries in Europe


',window.addEventListener("load",function(){setTimeout(function(){var e=document.createElement("script");e.async=!0,e.src="https://fast.wistia.com/embed/medias/xsag8hz69k.jsonp";var t=document.createElement("script");t.async=!0,t.src="https://fast.wistia.com/assets/external/E-v1.js",parentScript.parentNode.insertBefore(e,parentScript),parentScript.parentNode.insertBefore(t,parentScript)},3e3)});

Popular places to teach English in Latin America include Costa Rica; Santiago, Chile; Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the great cities of Brazil like Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. While salaries are not as high as they are in Asia or the Middle East, the low cost of living makes the region attractive from a financial perspective while affording a great cultural experience.

Central and South America also offer extensive opportunities to those who don’t have a four-year degree as well as fluent English speakers from non-native English-speaking countries.

As the driving force of the international economy and the world’s largest population center, Asia has become the largest market on the globe for English language instruction. More than 100,000 foreign English teachers teach in Asia and today, Japan, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand and other countries in Asia have developed a need for tens of thousands of new English teachers each year. In Korea and China alone, a thousand English teachers are hired each month.

A four-year degree is typically required in major Asian (though not always in China or in less developed countries like Cambodia), and teachers from native English-speaking countries are strongly preferred throughout the region.

Asia offers more opportunities to teach English to children than any other region.

Where Can I Teach with a TEFL Certificate? [TEFL Countries Explained] (2024)

FAQs

Where Can I Teach with a TEFL Certificate? [TEFL Countries Explained]? ›

Even without a four-year degree, a native English speaker with an accredited TEFL / TESOL Certification can realistically find great opportunities in dozens of countries around the world including Spain, Russia, China, Argentina and many nations in Latin America and Eastern Europe.

Where can I teach with a TEFL qualification? ›

A reputable TEFL certification allows you to teach in the majority of countries around the world - both English-speaking and not.In other words, you can teach in Thailand, Argentina and Turkey, but also Australia, the UK, and South Africa. With a TEFL certification you can also teach online.

Where can I teach English with only a TEFL certificate? ›

Countries That Do Not Require a Degree to Teach English Abroad. The best countries for where to teach English abroad without a college degree are Cambodia, Costa Rica, Spain, Argentina, Mexico and Myanmar. These countries do not require a college degree to teach in, and are popular among TEFL teachers.

Can I teach in the USA with a TEFL certificate? ›

Yes, you can teach English in the United States with your TEFL certification. There are millions of non-native English speakers living, working and studying in the United States and the demand for English language instruction is huge.

Which country needs TEFL teachers? ›

  • China. Great for job availability. ...
  • South Korea. Great for job benefits. ...
  • Japan. Great for professional development. ...
  • Vietnam. Great for teaching and traveling. ...
  • Thailand. Great for non-native English teachers. ...
  • Taiwan. Great for country infrastructure. ...
  • Spain. Great for work-life balance. ...
  • France. Great for language immersion.

Is there a demand for TEFL teachers? ›

Demand for TEFL teachers is currently high in China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. North Africa and Latin America are also worth exploring. It is anticipated that in the future demand in Europe will slow. The ease of finding work varies considerably according to the location.

Where can I use my TEFL qualification? ›

There are jobs for TEFL-certified teachers in virtually all countries, including English-speaking nations, and for teaching English online. Just know that different schools and employers will maintain different hiring standards and not all are looking for a TEFL certification.

Can you teach online with just a TEFL certificate? ›

Yes, you can teach online without a degree! Even though some online companies require you to have a degree to teach online, there are many companies that don't. As long as you have a TEFL certification, you can find a job teaching English online!

Can I teach English in Thailand with just a TEFL? ›

This temporary teaching license is legally required for everyone hoping to work as a teacher in Thailand unless you already hold a degree in education. TEFL certification alone won't do it.

How much does it cost to get a TEFL certificate? ›

An in-person TEFL course typically costs around $1,000-$2,500 USD. Similar to CELTA courses, these are more expensive forms of TEFL courses because they require more facilities and provide a higher level of interactive training with qualified teachers.

Can I teach in Europe as an American? ›

Yes, US teachers can teach in Europe. There are several Government-sponsored programs for this exact purpose, helping teachers move to Spain, France, Austria and other European nations. If you meet the requirements for jobs in Europe, of course you can teach there if you're American.

Can you teach in other countries with a US degree? ›

Every country has different requirement and every school has different preferences (which is why we are here to help!), but some basic requirements for international schools are: Bachelor's degree in your teaching subject. Teacher training such as a Bachelors or Masters of Education* Full US teacher certification*

Does TEFL expire? ›

A TEFL certificate is a lifetime qualification and doesn't require any additional training or coursework to renew it. It does not have an expiration date and you can start work immediately after receiving your TEFL certificate.

Where does TEFL pay the most? ›

Now that you know where the best places to make money with TEFL are, let's take a look at the teaching abroad salary by country:
  1. South Korea ($1,850-$2,650 USD a month) ...
  2. China ($1,200-$2,600 USD a month) ...
  3. Japan ($1,700-$2,600 USD a month) ...
  4. Taiwan ($2,000-$3,000 USD a month) ...
  5. Gulf Arab States ($2,000-$5,000 USD a month)
Jun 12, 2024

Where are ESL teachers most in demand? ›

This translates into demand for trained English teachers in nearly every nation from China to Costa Rica.
  • Kuwait. ...
  • Mexico. ...
  • Japan. ...
  • Hungary. ...
  • The Czech Republic. ...
  • Costa Rica. ...
  • Spain. ...
  • South Korea.
Jul 22, 2024

Am I too old to teach English abroad? ›

Age is just a number!

No one is ever too old or young to experience the transformational power of traveling abroad . Teaching English abroad is a great way to immerse yourself in a different culture, acquire new skills, and make a difference in the lives of your students.

Can you make a living as a TEFL teacher? ›

The pay to teach English abroad varies, but you can expect to earn a decent salary. In top-paying countries, teachers can get paid a salary of anywhere from $2,000 to over $5,000 USD per month. Your TEFL salary will depend on your position, qualifications and the country you teach in.

How can I be a TEFL teacher? ›

How to get TEFL certification?
  1. Research TEFL courses.
  2. Enroll in your chosen TEFL course.
  3. Complete your TEFL course.
  4. Apply & interview for TEFL jobs (during and after your TEFL course)
Jan 9, 2024

Can I teach adults with TEFL certificate? ›

Of course you can. Everyone has to start somewhere. Though a lot of jobs might prefer - or outright demand - previous teaching experience, there will be a litany of opportunities for first-time teachers. Jobs in private language schools are often more lenient in terms of entry requirements.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Domingo Moore

Last Updated:

Views: 6025

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (73 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Domingo Moore

Birthday: 1997-05-20

Address: 6485 Kohler Route, Antonioton, VT 77375-0299

Phone: +3213869077934

Job: Sales Analyst

Hobby: Kayaking, Roller skating, Cabaret, Rugby, Homebrewing, Creative writing, amateur radio

Introduction: My name is Domingo Moore, I am a attractive, gorgeous, funny, jolly, spotless, nice, fantastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.