Is the course accredited?
The Level 3 and Level 5 versions of our TEFL course are regulated by Ofqual (UK government department) and awarded by Qualifi, a UK government-recognised awarding body. Our Level 5 TEFL Course is DEAC-approved as meeting the criteria for Approved Quality Curriculum (AQC) status. The DEAC is a U.S. Department of Education National Accreditor.
Who are Qualifi?
The TEFL Academy is fully accredited by Qualifi, an Ofqual (The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation, a UK government department) regulated awarding body. Qualifi has robust quality assurance systems and procedures in place which all course providers must successfully pass in order to be accredited under the scheme.
Potential TEFL course students should remember that their prospective employers are likely to be based outside the UK. This means that accreditation bodies based solely in the UK may not be recognised by employers abroad. This is why The TEFL Academy has chosen Qualifi, as they offer international accreditation for training course providers.
You can find out more about Qualifi on their website: https://qualifi.net
Who are Ofqual ?
The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) regulates qualifications, examinations and assessments in England and vocational qualifications in Northern Ireland.
Ofqual is a non-ministerial UK government department.
You can verify our qualification on the Ofqual Register of Regulated Qualifications Level 5 here.
Ofqual recognises Awarding Organisations like Qualifi and regulates qualifications like ours. An Ofqual-regulated TEFL qualification will be recognised worldwide and is highly respected by employers.
Who are the DEAC?
The Distance Education Accrediting Commission was founded in 1926 and is a U.S. Department of Education National Accreditor. DEAC's goal is to ensure a high standard of educational quality in the distance education institutions it approves by requiring compliance with its published standards, policies and procedures.
The Level 5 version of our TEFL Course is DEAC-approved as meeting the criteria for Approved Quality Curriculum (AQC) status.
You can find out more about the DEAC on their website: https://www.deac.org/
What is a Level 5 TEFL qualification?
The different “levels” refer to the UK government’s framework for qualifications. This framework allows learners studying UK government regulated qualifications to understand where their qualification sits in comparison to other qualifications. A regulated level 5 qualification means that Ofqual (UK government) has approved the qualification to be at a recognised level of achievement. Our Level 5 TEFL Certificate (168hrs) is the same level as the following qualifications: a diploma of higher education (DipHE), a foundation degree and the CELTA and Trinity CertTESOL qualifications.
What does "regulated" mean ?
A regulated qualification means that it is officially recognised by government and sits on the Ofqual Register of Regulated Qualifications. You can view our qualification on the Ofqual register
here. What benefits does studying a regulated qualification offer learners?
Choosing to study a regulated qualification is your guarantee of quality. Course providers offering regulated qualifications must comply with very tough quality assurance rules and procedures. This ensures that:
- The staff delivering and assisting students are suitably qualified
- The course provider has the resources to effectively deliver the qualification
- The course itself effectively teaches and assesses the qualifications aims
- The contents of the course have been written and designed by industry professionals and peer-reviewed
- The feedback and grades given to learners are fair, moderated and meets modern academic standards
- The course is officially regulated by the UK government, therefore the qualification will be internationally recognised by schools, employers, foreign embassies and governments of most other countries.
How do I know if a qualification is regulated ?
Any qualification that is officially recognised by the UK government will sit on the Ofqual Register of Regulated Qualifications. Make sure to ask your course provider to provide a link to the register for their qualification.
You can view our qualification on the Ofqual Register of Regulated Qualifications here.
What is the difference between a Level 3 and Level 5 TEFL qualification?
The different “levels” refer to the UK government’s framework for qualifications. This framework allows learners studying UK government regulated qualifications to understand where their qualification sits in comparison to other qualifications. The level of qualification you choose entirely depends on your needs, situation and teaching plans. Our TEFL course can be studied at two different levels, either Level 3 or Level 5. The Level 3 version of the course is an online-only 120-hour introduction to TEFL. This option is a good choice if you wish to gain casual work teaching English, such as volunteering, backpacking, or finding work “in-country”, and some online teaching roles. On successful completion, you are awarded an internationally recognised Level 3 TEFL Certificate (120 hrs).
The Level 5 version of our course is a more in-depth overview of TEFL, includes a slightly longer commitment of 168 hours and gives you the opportunity to study the course completely online or as a combined course with 20 hours in the classroom and 148 hours of online study. Our Level 5 course is a good choice if you wish to gain formal employment teaching English, such as the contracted roles on our jobs board, or government teaching programmes, which usually include accommodation, flight reimbursements and help in gaining a work visa. On successful completion, you are awarded an internationally recognised Level 5 TEFL Certificate (168 hrs).
Why do other providers offer so many course options and different levels?
The simple answer is, we just don't know! We offer one TEFL course, with the option to study it at two different levels, Level 3 or Level 5. These are the only two levels you need and the level you choose depends entirely on your situation, needs and teaching plans.
We know that navigating your way through the TEFL web of courses is very confusing. This is why we offer just one course, exactly what you need to get the best jobs around the world!
What's the difference between TEFL and TESOL?
TEFL and TESOL are both acronyms for teaching English to non-native English speakers. Both acronyms can be used to describe qualifications which certify you to teach English as a foreign language. To a large extent, "TEFL" and "TESOL" are used interchangeably.
- TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language
- TESOL - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Is a Level 5 course always a Level 5 course?
You may see cheap TEFL courses advertised online that claim to be a “level”, such as “Level 5 140-Hour TEFL Course” (often advertised on daily deal websites). Unfortunately, these courses are not the level they claim to be and are highly misleading.
The level of a course tells learners where the qualification sits on the UK’s Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). If a course is not listed on the Register of Regulated Qualifications, then it is not really a level at all. You can find our qualification on the register here.
Make sure you ask any TEFL training provider that claims to be offering a “level” of TEFL course to provide a link to the Register of Regulated Qualifications. If they cannot provide this, then the qualification is not the level they claim it to be and will not be accepted by foreign embassies and employers.
Do I need a "Diploma" to get the best jobs?
Absolutely not! The highest level of TEFL qualification you will see asked for on job advertisements is a Level 5 TEFL Certificate. We have NEVER seen a single employer ask for a Diploma or more than 168hrs of TEFL training (most Level 5 TEFL courses are 150+hrs in length). Our 168hr Level 5 TEFL Course is the only qualification you need to get the best jobs around the world!
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