Choosing a TEFL course can be confusing. Terms like “accreditation”, “hours”, and “teaching practice” are often used inconsistently, and not all courses are assessed to the same standard.
This page explains what actually matters when it comes to TEFL course quality, and how School of TEFL assesses in-person and hybrid courses before listing them.
1. What does “TEFL accreditation” mean?
There is no single global accrediting body for TEFL. Instead, recognition depends on who accredits the course and how the training is delivered.
When reviewing in-person and hybrid courses, we prioritise programmes that are:
- government-accredited, or
- regulated within a recognised national qualifications framework, or
- delivered by established training centres with external oversight.
This helps ensure certificates are credible, verifiable, and accepted by employers, rather than simply labelled as “accredited” without substance.
2. Course length and training hours
A widely accepted international benchmark for TEFL training is a minimum of 120 hours.
Courses that fall significantly below this – particularly those without assessed teaching practice – are unlikely to prepare new teachers for real classrooms.
For this reason, School of TEFL only works with partner centres whose in-person and hybrid courses meet or exceed this standard.
3. Teaching practice with real students
Observed teaching practice is one of the most important parts of a TEFL course.
When reviewing partner centres, we look for courses that include:
- teaching real learners (not role-play only),
- observation by experienced trainers, and
- structured feedback to help trainees improve.
This practical element is often what employers value most when hiring newly qualified teachers.
4. Trainer experience and course delivery
The quality of a TEFL course depends heavily on who delivers it.
When assessing partner centres, we look for:
- experienced teacher trainers,
- recognised teaching or training qualifications, and
- ongoing involvement in classroom teaching or teacher development.
This helps ensure training is practical, current, and grounded in real teaching contexts.
5. Job guidance and local knowledge
For in-person and hybrid courses, local job guidance matters.
We prioritise centres that provide:
- realistic advice about local job markets,
- support with CVs and interviews, and
- guidance based on current hiring conditions rather than guarantees.
No course can promise a job, but informed guidance can make a meaningful difference when starting out.
6. How this applies to School of TEFL
In-person and hybrid courses listed on School of TEFL are delivered by partner training centres.
We work with a small number of carefully selected providers and review courses against the criteria outlined above. School of TEFL supports trainees before and after enrolment, alongside the training and in-centre support provided by the partner centre.