Do I Need A TEFL To Work In Thailand?

What qualifications do you need to teach English in Thailand? 

1. A degree is a legal requirement.
2. A TEFL qualification is preferred but not required.

There is no question that Thailand is one of the dream TEFL destinations. It’s a picture-perfect holiday destination with gorgeous white-sand beaches, incredibly beautiful cultural attractions, to-die-for food, and arguably the friendliest people you’ll ever meet, so living and working there is a dream come true for most of us. Fortunately, there are loads of TEFL jobs available as the demand for English is high and the current general level of English is low. But is it really as easy as jumping on a plane and walking into a job? Do I need a TEFL to work in Thailand? Let’s look at what you need to work in Thailand.

Read more: How To Live And Work In Thailand As A Foreigner

Are teachers in demand in Thailand?

Yes, there is a huge demand for TEFL teachers in Thailand. According to the latest EF English Proficiency Index, Thailand ranks 116 out of 123 countries, meaning it has a very low English proficiency level. Because of this, there is a need for English teachers to teach English in kindergartens, public and private schools, international schools, universities and language schools.

Read more: Teach English In Thailand

Now let’s look at the requirements to teach English in Thailand.

Do I need a TEFL to teach in Thailand?

A TEFL is not a legal requirement, so officially you don’t need a TEFL to teach English in Thailand. But it all boils down to your employer and whether they are willing to hire someone without any formal teacher training.

 If you have a degree in education or teaching, there is every chance you will get a job without a TEFL, but if your degree is in something totally unrelated to teaching then your chances of securing a TEFL position are actually quite low without a TEFL qualification.

The thing is, contrary to popular belief, not everyone who can speak English can teach English as a Foreign Language. It takes knowledge, skill and practice to be able to teach effectively. A TEFL certificate gives you everything you need to be able to teach. This is why a school will be hesitant to employ a teacher who does not have a TEFL or a teaching track record. 

Read more: Common TEFL Myths Busted

Do I need a degree to teach in Thailand?

Yes, a degree is needed to get a Work Visa for Thailand. A 4-year degree or equivalent Bachelor’s degree is needed to get a Non-Immigrant B Visa and a Work Visa. This is a requirement from the Thai government; without a degree you cannot get a work permit. You might still be able to get a job but this will mean working illegally on a tourist visa and having to do the infamous border runs every 30 days, which we don’t recommend. 

If you don’t have a degree but are interested in teaching in Thailand, have a look at available internship and volunteer opportunities that you might be suitable for. Or you could look further afield in the region and check out teaching jobs in Cambodia, which doesn’t require a degree.

Read more: What Is A TEFL Internship Abroad?

Do I need to be a native speaker to teach in Thailand?

No, you don’t need to be a native speaker. Generally speaking, employers in Thailand “prefer” teachers from Canada, the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa but it shouldn’t be a problem if you’re not from one of these countries or if English is not your first language. 

However, if you are not a native speaker or you come from a country where English is not an official language you will need to prove your English proficiency with an IELTS score of 5.5 or above. 

Do I need experience to teach in Thailand?

No, you don’t need experience to teach English in Thailand. Some employers may express a preference for teachers with experience but by and large Thailand is very welcoming to new teachers. Because of this, as well as its easygoing lifestyle, Thailand is a great choice for a first destination for TEFL teachers after qualifying.

Is it easy to get a teaching job in Thailand?

It’s relatively easy to get a teaching job in Thailand, provided you have a Bachelor’s degree, a TEFL certificate and a high level of English proficiency. 

How much do you get paid as a TEFL teacher in Thailand?

Starting salaries in Thailand for TEFL teachers are generally around ฿30,000 – ฿35,000 ($915 – $1,065). For these positions, you’ll be working around 20 to 30 hours a week. 

International schools offer higher salaries – up to  ฿120,000 ($3,650) – but these positions require teaching experience and possibly higher teaching qualifications.

How much money do you need to live comfortably in Thailand for a month?

How much money you need to live comfortably in Thailand depends on your lifestyle. Living in Thailand can easily be done on a budget, but it’s also possible to live extravagantly and splurge your entire paycheque in one week.

The TEFL Academy alum Brendan is currently living and teaching in Thailand. To find out more about teaching salaries and the cost of living, read his story here.

Final thoughts

In order to get a work visa, you will need:

• your original degree and university transcripts,
• copies of the above documents,
• passport photos,
• a valid passport,
• a certified criminal background check, and
• a medical certificate from a Thai doctor (which your school will organise for you on arrival).

Your employer will help you with your visa application. 

Just FYI: it’s normal to enter Thailand on a tourist visa and apply for a work visa when you’ve been given a job. Unless you have a job before you leave your home country, you won’t be able to apply for a work visa. In other words, you need a job before you can get a work visa. If you arrive on a tourist visa, you will need to exit and enter the country once you have applied for your work visa but this is easily done and totally acceptable.

To sum up, while you do need a degree to teach English in Thailand, you don’t officially need a TEFL certificate. Having said that, a TEFL certificate is largely for your own benefit. You wouldn’t walk into a law court and be comfortable acting as a lawyer without a legal degree, would you? And so you probably won’t feel comfortable teaching English as a Foreign Language without a TEFL. 

But don’t worry – we’ve got your back! Contact us to find out about our internationally recognised TEFL course, and soon you could be sipping on coconut water on a beautiful Thai beach.