Compare the Best CELTA Courses

Whether you’ve just left college, are thinking of taking a break or making a career change, teaching English can be a great way to see the world, meet people and build a career.

There are many options for getting certified as an English teacher, though CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Speakers of Other Languages) stands out from the rest due to its affiliation with Cambridge University and strict adherence to a unique teaching framework.

In a CELTA course, you can expect to be teaching in a real classroom within your first week of class. You’ll receive feedback from your students, fellow classmates, as well as instructors, and can expect a minimum of 120 contact hours split between class time and student teaching (practicum). While this might seem daunting, it’s instrumental in your development as a teacher and remains one of the reasons CELTA courses are so highly regarded in the world of English teaching.

Where can you take a CELTA course?

Trainee teachers like CELTA because it’s widely accessible -- with over 1,500 courses offered in 60+ countries around the world, as well as online. It's also flexible, with full-time study (usually 4 weeks), part-time study (around 6 months) or part-online options available.

While countries with English as the official language, such as Ireland, England, and Australia are popular destinations for CELTA courses, they can be found anywhere from Cambodia to Ecuador, and everywhere in between. CELTA courses are only available through Cambridge approved providers, so you can be sure that you’re getting a quality education regardless of where you choose to study.

CELTA courses can also be taken online, allowing you to be truly location-independent. This learning course will provide opportunities to train either full-time or part-time through an online platform. The online CELTA course still requires teaching practice with adult students online and video observations of classes, so you get the same training as an in-person CELTA course.

Each CELTA qualification includes a real-life teaching practice module and all courses are inspected by an external Cambridge assessor to ensure that standards across the world are equally high.

Teachers also appreciate the extra support provided by Cambridge English -- including a free one-year subscription to Cambridge English Teacher, the online professional development resource.

So whether you are looking for a gap-year adventure or a lifelong career, a CELTA course can help you get the most out of your opportunities for teaching English.

Read more: The Top 8 Countries to Earn Your CELTA Certificate

What do hiring schools look for?

Whether you call it TEFL, TESOL, ELT or any of the other myriad acronyms for English Language Teaching, getting the right qualification is essential to maximizing your chances of getting the right job in the best place. So, what do language schools and other employers look for?

Teaching English is a serious profession. As such, hiring schools want first of all to feel confident that, in addition to being fluent in English, you know how the language works. They want you to know teaching techniques that will allow you to plan and deliver inspiring lessons that meet students’ needs and turn them into confident communicators in English.

Secondly, they look for experience. Being a new teacher is not an obstacle to getting work, but employers won’t be impressed if you’ve never stood in front of a class before.

Having a CELTA certificate in hand demonstrates both of these qualifications. You've had time in a classroom with the practicum (practice teaching) component required of all CELTA courses, and you have learned the same teaching techniques that all CELTA graduates learn.

Read more: What's the Difference Between CELTA and TEFL?

Are CELTA's globally recognized?

A recent survey of TEFL recruitment found that 70% of jobs advertised globally required CELTA (91% in the U.K.). Employers trust CELTA because it is accredited by Cambridge English -- part of the University of Cambridge with over 100 years’ experience of English language learning and assessment. The course is widely respected for providing the core knowledge and skills for teaching English.

Basically, it's an easily recognizable name and institution. Several other TEFL course providers also carry the same clout but CELTA -- in the U.K. especially -- is immediately recognizable to employers.

What will you learn in a CELTA course?

Importantly, the CELTA course also includes 6 hours of practicum, teaching real students in real English language classes. Don’t accept teaching ‘practice’ classes on your peers as an alternative -- employers won’t and they know that CELTA graduates will have authentic teaching practice assessed by experienced, highly-qualified instructors. Employers know even new teachers with CELTA will have some practical experience.

How much does a CELTA course cost?

Though the tuition for a CELTA course does vary from location to location, they typically range between $1,500 to $4,000. Most certifications hover around $2,000. For example, the online CELTA course at Insight costs $2,000. However some on-site courses, like those at U.S. based TeachingHouse can run as high as $2,700 or more. However, the cost may be worth it when looking for a teaching job due to the reputation of the school, quality of teachers, and the network from the CELTA qualification.

In short, CELTA is definitely not a budget option, but rather a choice for teachers who want a quality and easily recognizable (by employers) certification.

Contributed by Jennie Tennant

Both CELTA (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) and TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) are popular certifications for teaching English to non-native speakers. However, there are some differences between the two that may make one a better choice than the other depending on your specific goals and circumstances.

CELTA is widely considered to be a more rigorous and prestigious certification than TEFL. CELTA courses are typically longer and more intensive, requiring around 120 hours of classroom time and an additional 80-120 hours of coursework and lesson planning. CELTA courses are also typically taught in-person, with hands-on teaching experience and observation. CELTA is recognized by many employers, particularly in Europe, and may be required for certain teaching positions.

TEFL courses, on the other hand, can vary widely in terms of length, quality, and content. Some courses can be completed online in just a few weeks, while others may require several months of in-person instruction. TEFL courses generally focus on the basics of teaching English as a foreign language, including grammar, vocabulary, and lesson planning. TEFL certifications can be useful for securing teaching positions in some parts of the world, particularly in Asia.

In general, if you are looking for a certification that is widely recognized and respected by employers, particularly in Europe, and are willing to invest more time and money into your training, then CELTA may be a better choice. However, if you are looking for a more flexible and affordable option and are willing to do more research to find reputable TEFL programs, then TEFL may be a better fit. Ultimately, the best choice will depend on your individual goals, preferences, and circumstances.