Does a TEFL Certification Expire?

TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification is a popular qualification for those who want to teach English abroad or online. However, many people wonder if their TEFL certification expires, and if they need to renew it to continue teaching. Whether you are a current or aspiring TEFL teacher, this article will provide you with the information you need to understand the validity of your TEFL certification.

So let's answer your most common questions:

How Long Does TEFL Certification Last?

A TEFL certification does not expire. Once earned, a TEFL certificate is valid for life and lasts a lifetime.

Do TEFL Certificates Expire?

A TEFL certificate is a lifetime qualification and doesn't require any additional training or coursework to renew it. It does not have an expiration date and you can start work immediately after receiving your TEFL certificate.

Read more: How to Get Your TEFL Certification in 4 Steps

Completing your TEFL certification, either in person or online, should be the first thing on your list before you teach English abroad. Once it's done, it's done. You have the freedom and flexibility to put it to use immediately teaching English overseas or to simply check it off on your to-do list as the first step towards your adventure.

Read more: What Can I Do With a TEFL Certification?

In other words, you can teach English in Mediterranean Europe in your twenties and then retire as an English teacher in a coastal city in Southeast Asia in your fifties. It is your golden ticket to use for the rest of your life whenever you wish to teach English abroad. 

Read more: 7 Key Tips for Choosing the Best TEFL School

Do Your TEFL Certification Perks Expire?

First off, your TEFL certification should come with extensive job search assistance and support. At International TEFL Academy specifically, you enjoy access to lifelong job search guidance or assistance. This means that if you teach in one country and then in one year, three years or five years, you decide that you wish to teach in a different country, you will be able to count on the resources, contacts and expertise of ITA's job search guidance to assist you in finding opportunities teaching English abroad all over the globe.

Read more: 10 Questions You Need to Ask Any TEFL School Before Enrolling in Their TEFL Class

As a graduate of International TEFL Academy, you will enjoy lifelong access to the following resources:

Personal guidance from an experienced Job Search Advisor

Our expert Job Search Advisors are available to speak with you and correspond by email to address all of your questions and to assist you with every aspect of your job search from writing your resume/CV and cover letter, to coaching you on the interview process in different markets, to helping you assess which destinations might be the best fit for you.

ESL job search manual

All of our graduates receive a manual detailing all relevant information for major job markets around the world, including hiring seasons, academic standards, and the interview process as well as templates for resumes and cover letters.  This manual also incorporates extensive listings of online resources, including nearly 100 ESL international job boards listing thousands of teaching opportunities around the world.

ESL worldwide school directory

We will send you a directory of more than 20,000 schools worldwide that you can contact directly regarding employment opportunities.

Referrals to preferred recruiters, placement agencies, and language schools

International TEFL Academy enjoys strong relationships with schools, recruiters, and placement agencies throughout the world.   

Going further: How Can Student Affairs Assist Me With My Job Search?

Note: For those seeking the adventure of teaching English abroad without the hassles of navigating international job markets and confusing visa regulations, International TEFL Academy now offers guaranteed job placements for teaching English in Thailand, Korea, or Japan.