Assuring Accreditation

TEFL Accreditation

You’re thinking about taking your first TEFL course, but there are so many options available to you that you aren’t sure which one you should enroll in. One of the first things you should look for in a class is one that has gained accreditation. With accreditation TEFL courses, you can be sure that you’re getting a high quality education that meets the standards set forth by a TEFL accreditation organization. Courses that aren’t accredited may not get you as many job prospects once you become an abroad English teacher, and there’s also a chance that you won’t receive the best salary possible.

There are several TEFL accreditation organizations, all of which that provide guidance on how a TEFL course should be organized and delivered. Some examples of the accreditation TEFL organizations include the SQA, Scottish Qualifications Authority, the QCA, Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and the ODLQC, Open and Distance Learning Quality Council. These accreditation bodies govern Scotland, Wales and England. Other organizations include ACTDEC, Accreditation Council for TESOL Distance Education Courses, and ACCREDITAT, which is a new and privately-owned body.

If you see that the instructor for the course is part of a member accreditation TEFL messenger board, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the professor has also been accredited. All it means is that the professor paid their dues in order to be part of the membership organization. Depending on the school, it’s entirely possible for them to have a combination of awards and professional affiliations. It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with some of the more popular affiliations and awards so that you’ll be able to immediately tell whether your future teacher or learning institution is worth your time, effort and money.

Accreditation variety is something else to keep an eye out for when you’re looking at TEFL courses and schools. School and courses that only have membership credentials may not be as highly qualified as courses and schools that have endured the accreditation TEFL process. The reason for this is that being part of a membership organization only requires that you pay membership feels while being truly accredited means that you had to go through a tough accrediting process.

After you’ve made sure that a course has been properly accredited, you’ll next want to check the course length, that the teacher is highly qualified, if the school will help you find a job/write a resume/build your interviewing skills and if you’ll have a chance to practice your teaching skills before completing the course. Paying close attention to the course that you choose now could save you the trouble of looking for a better class later on TEFL accrediting body.