Do TESOL / TEFL certificates expire? How long do they last?

Teaching English as a foreign language is a passion-driven profession that enables people to launch a new life, connect with other cultures, and make a positive impact on the world.

A TESOL / TEFL course gives you all of the skills and training needed to start teaching English abroad. Many look at this opportunity as a way to get a great certification in a professional field, find a job with a good income, or as their golden ticket to explore the world while teaching.

But do TEFL certificates expire? The knowledge obtained to teach English abroad will certainly stay with you for a lifetime, but what about the certification? Let’s dig deeper into this subject to discover the answer.

Do TESOL / TEFL Certificates Expire?

As a general rule, TESOL / TEFL certificates do not expire. Your certificate is valid from the moment you complete your course, and it does not have an “expiration date.”

In general, TEFL certifications do not require further renewals and are valid for life. The teaching skills, lesson planning knowledge, classroom management skills, and certification acquired after getting TEFL certified are valid indefinitely to teach English around the world, provided that the certificate is accredited by a recognized international institution. 

This means that the certificate acquired by completing a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certificate will still be valid even after several years pass.

This also applies to our 60-hour TEYL, 70-hour TEAL, and 80-hour TEOL certificates.

Does Your TESOL / TEFL Course Access Expire?

Your certificate will remain valid for life, but your course access will vary. When enrolling in our accredited 120-hour TESOL/TEFL course you’ll have two options to choose from – the standard “4 months” or “lifetime” access.

4 months of access means that you have 4 months to complete the course within. If you finish the course within 1 month, you’ll still have 3 more months to access the materials within.

Lifetime access means that you keep access to the course materials for life. You’ll be able to return anytime you wish and revise the lessons, retry any of the assessments, and browse any new lessons that might have been added.

Aside from the access to your course, you’ll also be able to reach out to us any time in the future to get feedback on your resume/introduction videos, and to get tips on your next steps into employment.

Building on Your TESOL / TEFL Certificate

Although TEFL certificates never expire, you can build on them with additional certifications and more training. This can help you to boost your resume, increase your teaching opportunities, and access higher wages.

Additional certifications

There are many different kinds of English language learners. Adapting to teach multiple age groups and proficiency levels is a great way to become a valuable asset while teaching English abroad.

You could do this by exploring certifications in TEYL (Teaching English to Young Learners), TEAL (Teaching English to Adult Learners), and TEOL (Teaching English to Online Learners).

For more details, you can browse the courses here: Teacher training courses.

Gaining experience

Gaining some initial teaching experience can be very useful. This could come in several forms – either through a practicum, private tutoring, or volunteer teaching.

Volunteer teaching in particular could be a great way to build on your TESOL / TEFL certificate while getting hands-on experience with students. There are many programs online that could be explored, or local charities that you could reach out to.

Networking

Participating in ESL groups online can also be a great way to build up your presence as a teacher. There are communities on Facebook and forums online that you could join. By doing this you’ll be able to share your insight, learn tips from other teachers, and watch out for any interesting job opportunities.

FAQ

How Do I Know if My TEFL Certificate is Valid?

Most TEFL certification providers will display your name, date of completion, and a unique ID number to demonstrate that the certificate has been completed and is, therefore, valid. As mentioned above, there is no expiration date on any TEFL course.