In addition to Canadian TESL certification, most provinces have their own TESL certification – but you do not have to have both the national and provincial; either one will enable you to apply for most TEFL jobs in Canada. When it comes to the studying required before being able to teach, Canadian standards require a minimum of 100 hours of coursework in addition to the standard 20 hours’ practice. However, it should be noted that national teaching opportunities require 250 hours of coursework along with 50 practice hours, which includes the minimum of 20 hours in the classroom.

Salaries will vary depending on the institution and the location where you have settled, but the average hourly rate for TEFL-certified ESL and EFL teachers, as of September 2015, was CAD $20. Annual salaries range from CAD $28,000 to $73,000, with an average salary of CAD $42,000. Many ESL teachers find it difficult to make ends meet and take on private students and teach online to supplement their income.

Teachers with a TESL qualification and searching for a TEFL job in Canada typically find employment through Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC), private schools, community centre programmes, colleges and universities, private tutoring companies, summer programmes, language camps, corporate ESL training programs and online tutoring.

You will have to find your own accommodation, which can be quite expensive depending on the city and location you choose. Downtown apartment rent can be over CAD $1000 but cheaper accommodation can be found if you are willing to share. Health care is available through provincial health services and is fairly low cost, with some provinces offering free health care. The income tax rate is Canada is quite high, so don’t be surprised when you see the size of the tax deduction on your first paycheque. Dining out can be as cheap or as expensive as you are willing to pay – from a burger in a fast-food joint to a sumptuous meal in a very upscale restaurant.