:: Teaching English - Qualifications Required

In order to take a TEFL course you need to be at least 18 years old (though some schools prefer you to be at least 20).

For native speakers of English, you ideally need to have the qualifications which would allow you to access a degree course, i.e. A-levels or an equivalent. Having said that, certain schools may require you to hold a degree, whilst others will consider your application if you just have relevant life experience - so it's always worth checking.

If you are a non-native speaker, you will also need to be able to demonstrate your ability to use English to a very high standard - ideally you will need to hold something like Cambridge Advanced English (CAE), Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) or IELTS level 7. If you don't have an external qualification, the school will be able to test the level of your English, often by providing you with an additional language task to complete.