The College of Teachers accredits courses in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).

Your course must be validated by an academic body or other training body with the appropriate remit. All such institutions have their own systems of quality assurance. This ensures that criteria are set for academic standards of delivery and content as well as for quality and assessment of candidates’ work, and that these criteria are met.

The College of Teachers is a professional awarding body by Royal Charter and its qualifications stand in their own right; it offers flexibility and quality. A Royal Charter is issued to an organisation that the State feels contains the premier expertise in a field.

This means that the College of Teachers has the power to issue officially recognised qualifications in the UK which by definition gives them international currency.

Teaching English to non-native speakers can be an exciting and deeply rewarding experience. Teaching English as a second or foreign language to non-native speakers is also a way of developing your language skills and supporting yourself in the country where you are teaching.

If you are thinking of teaching English to non-native speakers and wondering which qualification you need, you should be aware that the English teaching requirements may vary from country to country. To teach you will be required to have some sort of formal TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) qualification.

Taster courses or short courses such as a Preliminary Certificate of Educational Studies in TESOL or a Certificate of Educational Studies (COES) TESOL are helpful as an introduction to teaching to non-native speakers. A short course is considered anything less than 100 hours. These types of courses are a valuable way to improve your personal and professional development skills. This will further ensure you are updated on the latest teaching techniques. This is not considered a teaching qualification.

Distance-learning courses may suit you if you enjoy working in the privacy of your home. Online courses or distance-learning such as some Associateship courses are another way to study. An online or distance-learning qualification will give you access to a range of teaching posts and sound instruction in the theory and knowledge of teaching English.

Face-to-face courses that include a Teaching Practice element, such as the Associateship with Teaching Practice or Advanced Diploma with Teaching Practice, will include lectures, workshops, tutorials, directed group work, private study with easy access to a tutor and other tasks which are directly under the control of the training institution. A typical face-to-face course would include at least 120 to 150 contact hours. Hybrid courses at Associatship with Teaching Practice level are a combination of distance-learning courses with a face-to-face element which include a teaching practice element.

Irrespective of what qualification you choose to pursue, you are encouraged to attend seminars and other courses to improve and update your teaching skills throughout your career.

Infomation on changes to TESOL qualifications.

*From 30 July 2010 the above changes will be reflected in certification and all publications. Candidates currently holding the Advanced Certificate at Level 4 are advised to print a copy of this statement to attach to their certificate when seeking employment and/or further training opportunities.  Former candidates who have lost their Level 4 certificates will have to follow the usual procedures in applying for a replacement, and this will state Level 4 as this was the original level of their certificate.  All certificates for candidates whose courses ended on or after 30 July 2010 will receive Level 5 certificates. Diploma and Advanced Diploma candidates are not affected.