What Are the Requirements for Teaching English in the Czech Republic?

Known as a nation of castles, poets, and beer, the Czech Republic provides a quintessential blend of classic and modern Europe. It represents one of the fastest-growing job markets for teaching English abroad in the region due to its low cost of living, accessibility to the rest of Europe, fantastic healthcare system, low crime rate, and thriving social scene with plenty of outdoor activities for one to enjoy.

If you are considering teaching English in the Czech Republic, you will need to ensure you meet the following qualifications:

What Qualifications Do You Need to Become an English Teacher in the Czech Republic?

To teach English in the Czech Republic, you will need a TEFL certificate. A 4-year college degree is also typically required. and native English proficiency is expected to find a TEFL job. The average salary for an English teacher in the Czech Republic is about $1,000 - $1,500 USD per month.

Requirements for Teaching English in the Czech Republic

Now let's look at the following requirements to teach English in the Czech Republic in detail:

1. Hold a TEFL certification

2. Have a Bachelor's degree in any field/major

3. Be a native-English speaker from the U.S., U.K., Ireland, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or South Africa (preferred)

4. Own a valid passport and visa

5. Possess a clean criminal background check

Let's expand on each of these Czech Republic ESL teaching requirements and qualifications below:

1. Hold a TEFL Certification

A TEFL (Teach English as a Foreign Language) certification is required to teach English in the Czech Republic. Getting TEFL certified will provide you with the relevant training and qualifications you need to get hired by a reputable school in the Czech Republic and should leave you feeling confident in your abilities to provide ESL lessons to your students. 

Which TEFL Course is Right for Me?

Most job interviews in the Czech Republic are conducted on the ground, in person. Therefore it is common for students to take our 4-Week In-Person TEFL Courses in Prague. Taking this course means you are already in the Czech Republic and can get a head start on your visa process. Another popular option is our 170-Hour Online TEFL Course which you can take online from home. This course is part-time, which means you can still work and save some extra money in anticipation of your departure to the Czech Republic, whenever that may be. 

2. Have a Bachelor's Degree in Any Field/Major

Can You Teach English in the Czech Republic Without a Degree?

A bachelor's degree is required to teach English in the Czech Republic. Your bachelor's degree does not need to be in education, it can be in any field (i.e.: Marketing, Psychology, Arts, etc). Any four-year diploma or bachelor's degree from an accredited university will satisfy this requirement (or three years if you studied in the UK, Australia, or New Zealand). 

Prior Teaching Experience

While prior teaching experience can help you stand out on your resume, you do not need it to teach English in the Czech Republic. Your TEFL certification training will provide you with the relevant qualifications you need to get hired by a school in the Czech Republic.

Any reputable TEFL certification course should include a mandatory practicum component to help gain firsthand experience practice teaching with real non-native English speakers. This will prepare you for the classroom and leave you feeling confident in your ability to deliver well-structured ESL lessons to your students. This practice teaching can count as teaching experience and should be highlighted on your resume. 

3. Be a native-English Speaker from the U.S., U.K., Ireland, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or South Africa (Preferred)

You do not need to be a native English speaker to get a visa to teach English in the Czech Republic, however, most schools require it. You will be expected to be fluent in English and speak at a native level to be considered for teaching jobs. Citizenship from the USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa is highly preferred.

*Please note - finding an English-teaching job in the Czech Republic for non-native English speakers will be extremely competitive and not always possible. If you are a non-native English speaker, we recommend contacting a visa agency in the Czech Republic to research your steps.

4. Own a Valid Passport and Visa

Work Visa

This type of visa is very uncommon for non-EU English teachers to receive in the Czech Republic as you need an employer to sponsor you in order to obtain one. If a teacher is able to find a school that will sponsor one, it will typically cost the teacher approximately 100 Euro. A downfall of this visa is that it usually takes a lot of convincing to make sure the school submits the necessary paperwork for a teacher to obtain the visa because it is expensive for schools to do. Teachers also need to make sure that they have their original university diploma apostilled and translated into Czech.

Visa Requirements for Teaching English in the Czech Republic

The most common visa type for American and other non-EU citizens wanting to teach English in the Czech Republic is the Zivnostensky Visa (Business Visa/Trade License). This visa is highly recommended for teachers to receive as it allows you to work legally at any school in the Czech Republic without having to depend on the school to sponsor it for you. Typically, to receive this type of visa, the teacher will need to work with a Relocation Service or Visa Help Service in the Czech Republic; paperwork and applications can be obtained from government zivnostensky offices. Visa assistance services can cost up to 1,000 euros for the teacher. It is recommended to start the process at least a few weeks before you are looking to be in the Czech Republic.

TEFL teachers applying for jobs in the Czech Republic should expect to have the following documents available to process their Zivno visa:

• A valid passport;
• Housing contract to prove residency;
• Proof of health insurance for one year. It is possible to purchase a plan known as Complex Insurance in the Czech Republic for approximately $800.00/year. The plan provides basic health, dental and vision insurance;
• Bank or Credit Card statement proving access to at least $8,000 USD, including an original bank statement on bank letterhead;
• Criminal Check Affidavit from your Embassy in Prague. Contact your national embassy or consulate in the Czech Republic to learn how to obtain this document;
• Forms – Typical paperwork that needs to be filled out in the Czech Republic and can be obtained from zivnostensky offices and visa assistance companies.

To apply for teaching jobs in the Czech Republic, you will also be required to have the following documents available:

• Valid passport
• International Resume and Cover Letter
• TEFL Certificate
• Zivnostensky Visa

Note: Teachers can apply for the Zivno visa and for jobs while they are still on a tourist visa. It usually takes 2-3 months to get the visa back. If a tourist visa expires while waiting on the Zivno, the teacher is still technically in the country legally because their visa is “in progress.”

Additional Reading: For a full list of required visa documents as well as a more in-depth explanation of the visa process, please read: Can Americans Get a Work Visa to Teach English in the Czech Republic?

5. Possess a Clean Criminal Background Check

A clean criminal background check must be provided to obtain your Zivno visa. You will need to contact your national embassy or consulate in the Czech Republic to learn how to obtain this document. 

Additional Information

Age Requirements

In some countries, a teacher's age can play a factor in the hiring process, but this is not the case for the Czech Republic. In fact, there are no age restrictions for receiving a Zivno visa which makes the Czech Republic a great option for teachers 40+ (or even nearing retirement age) looking to teach English abroad. We've seen International TEFL Academy alumni in their 60's successfully receive a Zivno visa and secure teaching jobs in Prague.

Physical Requirements

A health screening and/or drug test are not required to teach English in the Czech Republic.