Quick answer: No – you can start teaching English online without a TESOL. Conversation platforms such as Cambly and italki’s community-tutor route take unqualified speakers, and Preply sets no formal requirement. But the better-paying employers and the ‘professional teacher’ listings almost all ask for an accredited 120-hour TEFL/TESOL, and qualified teachers charge more everywhere. So: you can start without one; you’ll earn more and unlock far more doors with one.
If you want to get into the lucrative market for teaching English online, but don’t have a TEFL or TESOL qualification, then this is for you.
Of course, as a TESOL course provider, we are always going to recommend you do some training. However, when it comes to the growing online English teaching market, while most employers expect a TESOL qualification, many others don’t. So if you don’t have a TEFL/TESOL, or are part way through a course but haven’t completed, read on…
The honest answer: when you can teach online without a certificate
You can teach online today, uncertified, if you stick to conversation practice. Apps built around informal speaking practice hire fluent speakers on manner and reliability rather than paperwork, and independent marketplaces let you list yourself as a tutor without formal qualifications. What you give up is choice and pay: the uncertified end of the market is the lowest-paid, most crowded end, and you’ll be limited to conversational classes rather than the structured (and better-paid) exam, business and kids’ work.
If you have started a course, say so. Some companies will take you on the strength of having commenced a formal TESOL, but may want you to complete within a certain time. At Global English TESOL we support our trainees with a course confirmation letter on headed paper if needed. This can really help.
Which online platforms require a TEFL/TESOL?
Requirements vary more than most new teachers expect. Here is the picture at a glance – always check the platform’s current teacher page before applying, as criteria move:
| Platform / employer | Certificate required? | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Cambly | No | Drop-in conversation practice from your phone or laptop; flexible but modest pay |
| italki – community tutor | No | The ‘professional teacher’ listing – which charges more – requires a recognised teaching qualification |
| Verbling | Teaching experience expected | Positions itself at the professional end of the marketplace |
| Preply | No formal requirement | Qualified profiles rank higher and convert better; you set your own rate |
| Online schools and companies | Usually a 120-hour TEFL/TESOL, often plus a degree | The better the pay, the firmer the requirement |
Where do I start?
Firstly, you’ll need to make the most of any qualifications or experience you have. So put together a clear, coherent CV. We show you how here. Ensure relevant qualifications and skills are highlighted. Fluent, confident English is what platforms are really screening for, and a degree in any subject is also highly valued.
For teaching more independently and perhaps to adults, you may want to try the more conversation-based Cambly – thirty minute conversation chats from your mobile via their app. Or, why not set yourself up as an independent tutor on italki or verbling? For these you’ll need to be prepared to offer some free trial lessons to find new students. Again, we can help. Look at this great video of how to conduct an online trial English lesson to adults.
Where are the jobs?
I’d recommend heading over to the Goodairlanguage 'hiring now' list. Please note, we can't vouch for the integrity of all the companies on it but it is a great place to start and you’ll also find a summary of the main companies. Recruitment needs change quickly so this list is regularly updated. Come back weekly and refresh the page.
In terms of companies we know, PalFish’s free talk option could be a good start – one of our trainees has written about working for Palfish. And if English isn’t your first language, don’t be put off: here’s our guide to online jobs for non-native English teachers.
A word on how this market has changed: when this post was first written, teaching English online to Chinese kids was by far the biggest sector, with companies paying $16–30 USD per hour. China’s 2021 private-tutoring regulations closed that market to overseas teachers almost overnight. Today the growth is with adult learners – conversation, business English and exam preparation – and with independent teaching, where you set your own rates. Platform pay for new teachers typically runs $10–25 USD per hour, with specialists earning more.
What does a certificate change about your pay and options?
Quite simply, a lot. A good 120 hour industry standard TESOL will give you vital teaching skills and confidence, lead to more online teaching job options and potentially better pay.
Our TESOL course graduates are teaching with some of the biggest names in the industry, thanks to their Global English TESOL qualification. The market is huge but recruitment criteria keeps tightening: if you want the structured, better-paying work – business classes, exam preparation, young learners – a 120-hour TESOL is now the de facto entry ticket, and on the marketplaces a qualification lets you list (and price) yourself as a professional teacher rather than a conversation partner.
If 1-1 online teaching is your goal specifically, the 20-hour Teaching English Online specialist course covers the video-call craft – trials, retention, lesson structure – that generic courses skip.
OK, where can I get a recommended TESOL course for teaching English online?
Right here on the TESOL Premier course 120 hours – it includes sections training you to teach English online, which most other 120 hour courses ignore.
Frequently asked questions
Can I teach English online without a qualification?
Yes – conversation-practice platforms such as Cambly and italki’s community-tutor route accept fluent speakers without a certificate, and Preply has no formal requirement. Expect lower pay and conversational (rather than structured) teaching until you certify.
Which online platforms don’t require a TEFL?
Cambly, italki (community tutor listing), Preply and PalFish’s free-talk option all accept uncertified tutors at the time of writing. Requirements change often, so check each platform’s teacher application page – and note that the professional listings and better-paying employers on the same platforms do ask for a recognised qualification.
Does a TESOL certificate increase online earnings?
Generally, yes. A 120-hour accredited TESOL unlocks the professional-teacher tiers on marketplaces, the structured business/exam/kids work that pays above conversation practice, and the employers with the firmest requirements – which tend to be the ones paying the most. It also gives you the teaching skills to keep students longer, which is where online income really compounds.
So, can you teach online without a TESOL?
Yes, but for better skills, confidence, job prospects and pay, a small investment in a quality, accredited TESOL course can yield the best results. Why not start learning and earning today? For the bigger picture – equipment, routes and rates – see our full guide to teaching English online.