Knowing whether you need a degree to become a TEFL teacher isn’t a simple enough matter to have a “yes” or “no” answer. It can be confusing. That’s why I’m here to tell you everything you need to know.
There is no official requirement for TEFL teachers to have a bachelor’s degree in any subject. However, many TEFL jobs require one. The main reason a degree is required is to comply with visa demands in foreign countries. Online and private TEFL teaching generally don’t require a degree.
The short answer is, “it depends”. If you have a bachelor’s degree, then you’re set to go. If you don’t have one, keep reading to learn your options.
If you’re thinking of becoming a TEFL teacher, I really recommend you take a look at my article Big Guide to Starting Out in TEFL: All you need to know. It takes you step-by-step through the whole process, from deciding if it’s right for you, all the way to getting your first job.
Do you need a degree in education to become a TEFL teacher?
A bachelor’s or master’s degree in education or teaching is not required for the majority of TEFL jobs.
If you’re seeking employment in most public or private/international schools, you’ll need a degree in education and a teaching license. Some Asian and Latin American countries might hire you without, but, for the most part, assume you need one.
Those jobs are generally better paid. But most TEFL teachers don’t become teachers in schools like that. Language academies are the biggest employers, and you don’t need a degree in education to get hired by them.
Of course, if you already have one, it’ll help enormously. But I wouldn’t spend 4 years of my life getting a degree which I don’t really need.
Instead, the only teaching qualification you need is a TEFL certificate. In some countries, a 120-hour course is enough, but getting a level 5 certificate, or a CELTA can boost your prospects.
If you’re looking for great value TEFL certificates, I recommend International TEFL and TESOL Training. Click the link for 15% off all courses (I receive compensation, so you’re supporting me, too). Not convinced? Read why I’d choose ITTT over other TEFL course providers.
Which countries require a bachelor’s degree, and which don’t?
We’ve established you don’t need a degree in education. However, a bachelor’s degree in any subject is a must to work in a lot of countries due to visa requirements.
Each country has its own regulations. In some, you can get a working visa without a bachelor’s degree, while in others, you must have one. Then there are the countries where it’s not strictly necessary, but employers demand one because it makes the process a lot easier.
Countries which require a degree to get a working visa
Almost all of East Asia. China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam are major TEFL destinations in East Asia which all require a degree to work as a TEFL teacher.
With the exception of Cambodia, pretty much every country in the region falls under this bracket.
Middle Eastern countries. Lucrative employment opportunities come with higher demands. Visas can be tough to get in the gulf states, so a bachelor’s degree is a must.
To be fair, not all require a degree to get a visa, but the vast majority of employers will demand one anyway.
If your dream country is in this category, don’t lose hope. Later in the article I talk about Working Holiday visas – click here to skip there right now.
Countries in which having a degree is mostly required
Many European nations fall into this category. When it comes to the EU, if you’re not from a member state, getting a working visa is much more difficult, if not impossible, without a degree. If you are from an EU country, then you can move and work freely withing the union.
Spain, Germany and the Czech Republic are known to have more opportunities for those without a bachelor’s.
Government-sponsored programs like the Auxiliares de Conversación in Spain, and France’s TAPIF require you to have finished your degree, or be in the process of doing it.
Countries in which having a degree is not required to get a visa
The bulk of Latin America and Africa falls under this category. Cambodia is unique as the only Asian country to not require one for TEFL teachers.
Latin American nations don’t pay particularly well, but have low barriers to entry. As a result, it’s quite easy to get a working visa without a university degree, as long as you find an employer.
Even without employment, some people work as freelancers on the sly. In places like Brazil and Colombia, the authorities are notoriously lax about this kind of work, although I wouldn’t risk it myself.
Searching for the perfect TEFL destination with the best earnings? Compare countries around the world with my free resource: How Much Do TEFL & TESL Teachers Make? Countries compared.
Countries which offer Working Holiday visas
A Working Holiday visa is one which allows young people to spend a certain amount of time travelling and working in a country without requiring a degree.
They’re common in Australia and New Zealand. You probably know or have heard of someone who went to one of those countries for a year and spent their time working in bars or beach cafés.
In the UK, these opportunities are called Youth Mobility visas. And that sums them up, really.
They’re not indefinite (6 months to 2 years) and they have an age limit (around 30). And they may not apply to where you want to work. Each country has its own agreements with other countries, so there’s no overarching set of rules and requirements.
Take a look at this document from International TEFL Academy to see if your home country has an agreement with the place you hope to teach in. You may be in luck.
Do you need a degree to teach TEFL online?
Teaching TEFL online means you can work from home. That eliminates the worries of moving to a new country and getting a working visa.
As a result, many options are open to you without needing a degree.
That said, some online class platforms do require a bachelor’s degree to get employed, though if you’re a native English speaker with a bit of experience, you might get away without one.
There are plenty of online companies which don’t require any such qualifications.
These include famous names like Cambly and LatinHire.
Beware of these types of companies, as they pay low rates and often treat their teachers unfairly. Do your research before signing up.
Alternatively, go independent and advertise your services on Tutoroo or another platform for finding students. You have to promote yourself, but you get to set your own terms and conditions.
Since you’re marketing yourself directly to the students, a degree isn’t necessary, especially if you have some good TEFL certificates and experience to your name. Just know that not having a degree makes you a little less competitive than someone who does.
Do you need a degree to be a private English tutor?
Just like independent online TEFL teaching, private English tutors advertise directly to their students.
You don’t need a degree.
In my experience as a private English tutor, nobody has ever asked me if I have a degree, and to be honest, they’ve never asked if I have a TEFL certificate.
What private students generally want is a native English speaker. If you’re not native, you can still do great business, as long as you’re extremely proficient.
A degree is nice to have. It can make you a little more appealing in the early days of acquiring students, but once you’re up and running, word of mouth and reputation are far more important.
If you want to know how to get more students for private classes, read my article on that exact subject – How to Get Private EFL/ESL Classes: Quickly find students. And for the complete guide on becoming an EFL/ESL tutor, read this: How to Get Started as an EFL/ESL Private Tutor.
Degree or not degree? That is the question
In summary, you don’t need a degree to be a TEFL teacher. Does it help to have one? Yes. That stamped piece of paper opens some doors which are closed to those who didn’t burden themselves with student debt.
Before getting too invested in the idea of teaching in a certain country, do your research. And, most of all, get yourself a TEFL certificate. This is an absolute minimum for almost every TEFL job, regardless of whether it demands a bachelor’s or not.
If you want to learn more about TEFL certificates and if they’re legit or not, ready my article: Is TEFL Legit? Guide to trustworthy certificates and jobs. And if you’re wondering how much you can earn in each country, check out my country comparison.
Remember, you can get a 15% discount on all online, in-person or hybrid courses by following this link International TEFL and TESOL Training (I receive compensation, so you’re supporting me, too). Not convinced? Read why I’d choose ITTT over other TEFL course providers.
