What are the Basic Requirements to Teach English Abroad?

The Top 5 Requirements to Teach English Abroad

The qualifications to teach English abroad vary region by region and country by country. But if you're wondering, what do I need to teach English abroad?, here are the 5 key requirements to teach English overseas no matter where in the world you plan to teach:

How to Teach English Abroad

How to Become an English Teacher Abroad

You will need an ESL teaching qualification, like a TEFL certificate and a valid passport to teach English abroad. Though some programs require a bachelor's degree, many countries hire English teachers without a degree or teaching experience as long as they speak English fluently and have a TEFL certification.

Read more: A 7-Step Plan for How to Teach English Abroad

Let's take a look at these TEFL requirements in detail:

1. Hold a TEFL Certification

First and foremost, you need to meet the TEFL certification requirements. Top employers across Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, expect to see this accredited training on your resume. Your TEFL certification shows that you're not only a native English speaker, but it shows that you're professionally trained to teach the English language. 

An accredited TEFL certification class will provide you the skills and confidence you need to successfully run a classroom and provide your students with a high-quality education. It is also required or highly preferred for most job opportunities. If you want to give yourself the best opportunity to get a great job location, a TEFL certification is key if you don't already have a degree in Education and an ESL endorsement/certification.

To learn more, check out Is TEFL Certification Required to Teach English Abroad? 

What are the TEFL Certification Requirements?

A legitimate and recognized TEFL certification course must have a minimum of 100 hours of coursework and 6-20+ hours of live practice teaching with non-native English learners. It must be accredited by a recognized body within the field, and university-level instructors must teach it.

Now that you've learned about the TEFL course requirements, check out how to evaluate a TEFL school and how to get certified to teach English abroad:  5 Key Tips to Help You Pick the Best TEFL Certification School (and Not Get Ripped Off)

Armed with an accredited TEFL certification, you are well on your way to securing a fantastic teaching job overseas or online.

2. Have a Valid Passport & Visa

You cannot meet the teaching abroad requirements if you don't have a valid passport. Your passport is key to leaving any country so make sure that it is valid. If you don't have a valid passport yet, make sure you give yourself enough time to apply for a new one. That being said your passport alone isn't enough for your move abroad. You will need a valid visa stamp inside of it. Learning about visa processes and knowing which visa you need to get is key to moving overseas. Before enrolling in your TEFL course, be sure to speak with your International TEFL Academy (ITA) Admissions Advisor about visas and get all of your questions answered. 

• What type of visa will I be working on?
• How long does it take to obtain this visa?
• How long is this visa valid and when does it need to be renewed?
• Does this visa cost money, if so, how much? 

If you're teaching English online from your home country then you don't need to worry about visas, but if you plan to teach English abroad then a visa is a key requirement. 

To learn more about visas, check out:

• What is a Visa & Do I Need a Visa to Teach English Abroad?
• Visa & Documents FAQs - Check out dozens of articles about getting visas for teaching English abroad in specific countries.

3. Be Financially Prepared

Next on our qualifications to teach English abroad list is money. It's important to be financially prepared before getting on a plane to teach English abroad. From initial start-up costs like your TEFL certification course and your flight to the local cost of living and your expected monthly salary, you need to be aware of these costs to successfully plan your move overseas. 

To learn more, check out: What are Start-Up Costs for Teaching English Abroad? 

Do you need to save money each month after living expenses or are you comfortable breaking even each month? Certain countries like, South Korea, Vietnam and China, allow English teachers to save between $600-$1000+ per month. These are ideal choices if you're looking to pay student loans or pay off debt while teaching abroad.

Read more: Top 5 Countries to Make the Most Money Teaching English Abroad.

While teachers in a lot of countries throughout Europe and Latin America, like Spain, Italy, and Costa Rica, typically break even financially. If you choose to teach English in a break-even country, you can boost your income by private tutoring or teaching English online. 

4. Understand the Hiring Processes

So you earned your accredited TEFL certification, understand the visa process for your desired teaching country, and are financially prepared to take the plunge and move overseas. But how do you actually get hired in a country like Japan or Germany?

Regarding requirements for teaching English abroad, you'll find that some countries require a 4-year university degree, while others will hire you with just your TEFL certification. Certain countries have strict citizenship requirements for English teachers while others will hire non-native English speakers with a TEFL certification.

Once you've determined specific countries of interest that meet your qualifications, you need to know the hiring process. 

• What is the best time of year to find a teaching job?
• What materials do I need to apply?
• Do I need to do an in-person interview or will I interview from home?  

Long story short, you want to set yourself up for success before you begin your job search, so be sure you're familiar with the hiring requirements and the hiring process in the respective country you're planning to teach.

Here are some great resources to get you started:

• What Are Hiring Seasons for Teaching English Abroad?
• No Degree?  No Problem: Top Job Markets for Teaching English Abroad without a Degree
• World Index of Country Profiles for Teaching English Abroad

5. Gather Your Country-Specific Documents

If you want to know how to teach English overseas, you must also determine what documents you must gather to make your move abroad possible. In most cases, you will need certain documents both to get a job and to live & work in foreign nations. Every country maintains its unique requirements when it comes to required documentation.

If you're planning to teach English in Latin America, you potentially don't need a whole lot other than your passport and TEFL certification. While teachers interested in Asia will potentially have a much longer list of required documents, ranging from a background check to college transcripts and/or a health check, for example. In limited cases, you may even have to provide a bank statement or some other proof of financial solvency and/or access to a certain amount of funds.

You'll find a variety of documentation requirements across Europe. Some countries like Germany and the Czech Republic have very detailed, specific processes. If you're considering a student visa program in Europe, then you definitely want to start the process at least 6 months in advance. 

Once you're enrolled in your ITA TEFL class, you'll work closely with your Student Affairs job search advisor to ensure you fully understand the required documentation for your respective country. 

Top FAQs About Requirements to Teach English Abroad

Do I need to know a foreign language to teach English abroad?

In most cases, you DO NOT NEED TO KNOW A FOREIGN LANGUAGE TO TEACH ENGLISH ABROAD. While there are exceptions, in most cases, schools will hire you because you are a native or fluent speaker who is trained to teach English (typically with an education-related degree or a TEFL certification, and usually, schools will want your classroom to promote an immersive English learning experience where the local language is not even spoken.

There are some exceptions, where schools seek to hire bilingual teachers.  Also, the famous TAPIF program in France requires a level of proficiency in French, and the NALCAP government program in Spain requires that participants meet a certain level of fluency in Spanish. 

Even when fluency in the local language is not required, learning at least some of the local language will enhance both your personal and professional experience as an English teacher abroad.  You will better understand where your students are coming from linguistically, and you will find it much easier to enjoy the ins and outs of daily life, like shopping, ordering in a restaurant, and meeting new friends.

Read More: I Don't Speak a Foreign Language - Can I Still Teach English Abroad?

Is a 4-year college degree required to teach English abroad?

No. If you attain an accredited TEFL certification, you can teach English abroad, even if you don't have a 4-year college or university degree. There are certainly some countries, like South Korea and Japan, for example, where holding an accredited 4-year degree is a legal requirement, but even without a degree, there are still approximately 50 countries where you can get paid to teach English abroad.

Top options for teaching English abroad without a degree, include Spain, Germany, and many countries in Latin America like Mexico and Costa Rica. In Asia, Cambodia is an excellent option. 

Read More: No Degree, No Problem! Top 6 Countries for Teaching English Abroad without a Degree

Do I need professional teaching experience or a degree in education to teach English abroad?

No. Certainly, holding a degree in education and possessing experience as a teacher will enhance your opportunities and open doors for teaching English abroad. However, with an accredited TEFL certification, as a native or fluent English speaker, you can get hired to teach English abroad in dozens of countries worldwide.  One key is to get an accredited TEFL certification that includes live practice teaching (practicum), which will provide you with live teaching experience.

In addition, you can gain experience during and after completing your TEFL certification course by teaching English online, volunteering in your community, and giving private lessons to English learners in your community. 

In addition, be sure to highlight any coaching or mentoring experience on your resume and in interviews for teaching jobs as they can enhance your job prospects, even if it's not in the field of teaching English

Read More: Can I Teach English Abroad without Teaching Experience?

I'm a certified teacher - do I still need a TEFL certification to teach English abroad?

As a certified teacher, you can get jobs teaching English abroad without a TEFL certification. However, unless you have specific training in teaching English as a foreign language, you will still benefit from taking a TEFL course. First, you will learn teaching methodologies and practices specific to the field of teaching English to non-native speakers. Second, you will gain a well-known qualification that many employers worldwide recognize and accept. Third, a top-tier TEFL school will provide the guidance and resources you need to navigate international job markets to find great and legitimate teaching positions that will enable you to reach your goals. 

Read More: Do Certified English Teachers Need a TEFL Certification to Teach English Abroad? 

So What Does It Take to Teach English Abroad?

Now that you know the basic requirements to teach abroad, here's what it takes to teach English abroad:

• TEFL certificate
• Valid passport
• Open mind
• Adventurous spirit
• Willingness to adapt

We hope that you found our list of requirements for teaching English abroad useful and that you can make teaching English abroad a reality! Remember, you can always get in touch with one of our advisors and we'll be happy to answer any questions you may have. Happy teaching!