TEACH ABROAD PROGRAM IN COSTA RICA 
with Guaranteed Job Placement ✅

Job Security & Peace of Mind

Our Guarantee to You: You will secure a teaching position at a carefully vetted school in Costa Rica that best aligns with your preferences regarding location, school type, and start date based on what is realistically possible. 

Eliminating the Stress of Job Hunting Abroad: Rest assured, we'll manage the entire job search process on your behalf, from refining your resume to negotiating contract terms, ensuring you receive a fair agreement with competitive salary and benefits. In fact, with this program, you will get your job set up before you even arrive in Costa Rica.

Optimal Working Conditions: We meticulously evaluate our partner schools to ensure they provide top-notch working environments for our teachers. If a school doesn't meet our standards, we won't collaborate with them.

Working in Your Best Interest: Unlike many recruiters and agencies, we don't receive commissions from the schools we cooperate with, so our allegiance is solely to you. We're fully dedicated to advocating for your best interests.

Cultural Immersion: Through our cultural orientation, you'll be able to fast-track and more effectively assimilate to the cultural nuances of life in Costa Rica - both at work and in your day-to-day personal life and travels.

Post-Placement Support:Our seasoned team of experts is available 24/7, even after you commence your teaching position, to address any concerns or issues that may arise during your placement.

Pre-Departure Support

• Comprehensive guidance on gathering all necessary documents for your job application, visa and work permit application, including:
  
  - Cover Letter and Resume
  - Professional-looking photograph
  - Introductory video
  - Background check
  - Travel Insurance / Medical documents (if necessary)
  - And more
  
  
• Setting up virtual interviews for potential jobs
• Interview coaching & prep, including a mock interview
• Guidance for packing and budgeting
• Personalized assistance from a dedicated staff member to address all your inquiries and assist with your relocation preparations.

In-Country Support

• Airport pickup service (extra cost)
• Assistance with securing long-term accommodations & setting up a bank account
• Two-day cultural orientation to help you acclimate to your new environment
• 24-hour emergency support team and hotline available to assist with any urgent matters
• Regular social gatherings and meetups with other teachers in your area to foster connections (for those placed in the Central Valley)
• Regular social meetup events with fellow teachers in your town and surrounding areas.

Job Placement Process & Timeline

Teaching Positions in Language Institutes & Private Elementary and High Schools

The vast majority of teaching positions available through our Job Placement Program are in either private language institutes or private high schools and grade schools.  Here's a brief overview of what teaching in each type of institution entails. 

Private Language Institutes

Teaching at a private language institute in Costa Rica presents a uniquely rewarding opportunity for ESL teachers. Engage with a diverse array of students from various age groups and cultural backgrounds, with a notable prevalence of young adults. The environment at these institutions is vibrant and rich in cultural diversity, offering ample opportunities for meaningful interactions with both local and international students.

With typically smaller class sizes, teachers enjoy the benefit of providing more personalized teaching and developing deeper connections with their students. Teachers should anticipate a mix of in-person and virtual teaching formats within these institutions.

Most of the language institutes we collaborate with are situated in the Central Valley, but we also offer placements near the Pacific Coast. Saturdays are a common working day. 

• Salary range: $12- 15 per teaching hour.  Average monthly salary $900-$1200 (Prep time not paid)
• Average age range students: 15-40 years old
• TEFL certificate required
• Type of classes: In-person, virtual, hybrid 
• Hiring Seasons: All year round
• Contract length: 6-12 months
• No teaching experience required
• Schedule: 
  • 30 hours per week (18-20 hrs of teaching) Monday through Saturday
  • Part-time also available if preferred: 20 hours per week (8-10 hrs of teaching) 
• The dress code is business casual. Teachers should look and act professionally while working. Excessive piercings and tattoos are usually not acceptable if they cannot be covered up.

Private Elementary and High Schools

Educating in Costa Rica's private elementary and high schools offers a rewarding and varied career experience for teachers. Within these settings, educators are met with eager students and supportive parents, all within environments that typically boast more resources than their public counterparts. The advantage of smaller class sizes in private institutions means teachers can adopt a more tailored teaching style, effectively addressing the unique learning preferences and requirements of each student.

In these settings, educators are bestowed with the chance to craft a wide-ranging curriculum. This curriculum not only embraces progressive teaching strategies and cross-disciplinary studies but also thrives on the support of cutting-edge facilities and technology. Such an enriching atmosphere propels the all-round growth of students, weaving together academic excellence with a range of extracurricular pursuits that nurture creativity, sportsmanship, and a sense of community.

Open to degree holders only.

• Salary Range: $1200-$1800
• Average range of students: 7-17 years old
• TEFL certificate + BA University degree required (preferably in education)
• Type of classes: In person
• Hiring Seasons: January, February, June and July
• Contract length: 12 months 
• No teaching experience is required, but it is preferred 
• Schedule: Full-time, 30-40 hrs per week. Monday through Friday
• The dress code is typically business casual. Teachers should look and act professionally while working. Excessive piercings and tattoos are usually not acceptable if they cannot be covered up.

Online & In-Country TEFL Certification

An accredited TEFL certification with at least 120 hours of theory and 10 hours of practicum is required to participate in this placement program.  

If you still need to be TEFL certified, ITA offers award-winning TEFL classes that will best prepare you for success in teaching English in Costa Rica. We strongly recommend these options for participating in this Teach English in Costa Rica Program.

Hot Tip! Save up to $400 when you bundle and sign up for your TEFL class and Teach English in Costa Rica Program!

ITA Online TEFL Course Options

• 4-Week Full-Time & 11-Week Part-Time options
• Study From Home or From Anywhere
• OFQUAL Level 5 Accreditation From TQUK
• University-Level Instructors
• 10 to 20 Hours of Live Practice Teaching
• Most cost-effective option - Payment Plan Options Available
• Hot tip! If you're looking to get certified while working or going to school, the 11-week part-time choice is ideal!

Check out Your Online Course Options here!

In-person Course in Heredia, Costa Rica

• 4-Week intensive TEFL course in Costa Rica
• Internationally accredited & taught by highly experienced instructors
• Get acclimated to Costa Rica, see the country & make some friends before your teaching placement.

Learn more bout the Costa Rica TEFL Course here!

Are you already TEFL certified?

If you hold an internationally accredited TEFL certification, which is at least 120 hours (with 10 hours of practicum) through one of our approved TEFL providers, you will qualify for our TEFL Jobs Programs in Costa Rica. Please note that ITA’s alumni network and lifetime job search guidance are only available to ITA online and in-person TEFL course graduates.

Two-Day Cultural Orientation Program

Cultural Workshop: Participate in workshops designed to familiarize you with Costa Rica's rich history, customs, traditions, and social norms.

Language Training: Acquire basic language skills to facilitate communication with locals and enrich your teaching experience. Learning some local phrases can help establish rapport and enhance interactions both inside and outside the classroom.

Teaching in Costa Rica: Receive training on effective teaching methodologies & practices tailored to the Costa Rican context. Learn strategies for engaging students, managing diverse classrooms, and adapting to different learning styles. Also, gain an understanding of what your school and students will expect from you.

Budgeting & Finances: Learn how to live and shop like a local and how to organize your budget best when living on a teacher's salary in Costa Rica.

Safety and Logistics: Receive comprehensive information on safety measures, transportation options, and emergency protocols to ensure you're well-prepared for any situation.

Traveling & Getting Around in Costa Rica: Get insider tips on exploring Costa Rica's innumerable attractions, including suggestions for top places to visit and how to use local transportation.

Support Network: Connect with fellow program participants, mentors, and coordinators who will serve as your support system throughout your teaching journey.

Q&A Sessions: Engage in open discussions and Q&A sessions to address any concerns, clarify expectations, and share experiences with program staff and fellow participants.

Extended Social Network & Alumni Community

International TEFL Academy does everything we can to ensure you have access to the support you need and opportunities to meet others like yourself who are going through the adventure of living and teaching English in Costa Rica.

• Full-time access to our support team who can assist in managing issues like homesickness & culture shock.
• Regular social events & meet-ups for English teachers in Costa Rica.
  
  

ITA Alumni Community

Note: This feature is only available to those who enroll in one of ITA’s online or in-person courses.

Those who take their TEFL certification course through International TEFL Academy can take advantage of ITA's worldwide alumni network of 45,000+ graduates teaching English in 80 countries.

• Join up to 100 exclusive Facebook groups - including one just for Costa Rica! - where you can network, meet folks, share job tips, and more.
• Virtual and in-person meet-ups are arranged in select locations worldwide.
• Expand your knowledge by tuning into exclusive webinars, panel discussions and podcasts.
• Make extra $$$ participating in ITA's alumni referral program.
• Tell your story - we publish hundreds of alumni videos, articles, and Q&As on our website.

Lifetime Job Search Guidance

Note: This feature is only available to those who enroll in one of ITA’s online or in-person courses.

Not only will we guarantee you a job in Costa Rica, but you will also receive access to ITA’s exclusive Student Affairs team to provide you with Lifetime Job Search Guidance:

• Personal Support from an experienced Job Search Advisor. We have a full-time Student Affairs department whose sole purpose is to help you find the best TEFL job for you in 80+ countries;
• Access to a worldwide school directory of over 20,000 schools;
• Access to ITA's exclusive 400-page job search manual;
• Access to regular webinars on the job process;
• Referrals to preferred recruiters, placement agencies, language schools, and online teaching companies.