As an online ESL teacher, you almost always will need a TESOL certification. Since China passed a new law requiring all foreign English teachers to have an ESL certification, it’s likely your company requires it as well!
Luckily, there is a quick, cheap, and informative option when it comes to the best online TESOL certification! I use the International Open Academy’s TESOL certificate for both VIPKID and Gogokid. It is accepted by every major online ESL company that I’ve heard of so far.
This post is all about what online TESOL certification I recommend as an online ESL teacher of 3.5 years!
[This post contains affiliate links. I receive a commission if you use some of the links below at no extra cost to you!]
How Much is a TESOL Certification?
Prices can vary from cheap to VERY expensive. If you are looking to teach English overseas and you need a TESOL course that includes in-class instruction and lesson planning, then courses will usually be in the hundreds and sometimes even the thousands! Eeek!
Luckily, I have partnered with the International Open Academy to offer my readers and followers their 120-hour course for just $19! I know that sounds crazy, but I use this course for both VIPKID and Gogokid! It’s a great course, and I was able to finish it quite fast!
Before the IOA approached me to be an affiliate of their program, I’d actually already taken their course and was using it for VIPKID, because I saw they had an IOA TESOL Certification Online Groupon deal! They offer Groupon deals now and then, and so if you don’t want to use my referral link, you can always try to find it on Groupon for $19 as well.
How Long Does it Take to Complete?
The International Open Academy’s TESOL certificate is a 120-hour course, however, I didn’t find that to be the case! I was able to complete the course and get my certificate in just a day. My other teacher friends said they were all able to finish the IOA’s online 120-hour TESOL course in less than a day!
This is the most cost effective and quick TESOL course I have found to date.
Do I Need a TESOL to Teach ESL Online?
Odds are yes, and you will need to make sure that it comes with a certificate number, of which the course I recommend does!
TEFL vs TESOL – What’s the Difference?
Essentially, there is no difference between a TEFL and TESOL course other than the name. If you were to buy the IOA’s TEFL course it would be the same as the TESOL course–your certificate would just say “TEFL” on it. I know that because I asked an employee at the IOA, and that was her response! Lol! Kind of crazy!
TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language, while TESOL stands for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. Generally, most online ESL companies will accept any ESL teaching certificate–so both a TEFL and TESOL will do!
Nowadays, most people use the term TESOL, and so that’s the course I recommend you buy.
Is the International Open Academy’s Course Legit?
Yes! I wondered the same thing, because the price is just TOO good! The International Open Academy is accredited! According to the International Open Academy’s website: “International Open Academy courses are independently accredited. All of our courses are accredited by the International Council for Online Educational Standards (www.icoes.org). This gives our students assurance that our courses meet the highest standards for online education.”
Interested in Teaching ESL with Gogokid?
If you’d like more information on Gogokid and my experience teaching ESL with Gogokid, then click here to learn more!
This post was all about the best online TESOL certification for ESL teachers!
