For many first teaching jobs - online platforms and language schools in Asia and Latin America - a 120-hour accredited TEFL is the qualification employers ask for, and yes, it's enough. Some government assistant programmes don't ask for a TEFL at all (Spain's auxiliares de conversación and France's language-assistant programme set degree or study, age and language conditions instead), though a TEFL still helps you prepare. It stops being enough where competition or specialisation raise the bar: shortlists in the Gulf, business-English and exam-prep niches, and any market where every applicant already has the 120. Then the question isn't hours - it's what you can teach that others can't.
Where 120 hours fully qualifies you
Job ads that say "TEFL required" usually mean the 120-hour standard. VUS in Vietnam, for example, asks for a bachelor's degree plus a 120-hour+ CELTA, TESOL or TEFL certificate. Visa and permit rules are separate and set by each country: Thailand's temporary teaching permit, for instance, is based on your degree or a teaching licence, not a TEFL certificate, so check the official rules for your destination. Where the job ad asks for 120 hours, adding more hours doesn't change the screen you pass - the certificate line item is satisfied.
Where it stops being the differentiator
- Crowded shortlists: when everyone has the 120, employers sort by extras - a Level 4/5 qualification, a specialism, experience, or a verifiable certificate they can trust.
- Money niches: business English and IELTS preparation clients pay for demonstrated capability - a dedicated specialist certificate is the credible evidence.
- Long-term careers: Director of Studies and senior-teacher tracks expect deeper study (Level 5 diplomas, then DELTA/MA territory).
The upgrade logic (spend where it pays)
Don't buy hours for their own sake - buy the thing that changes your next application. If you're targeting corporate clients, a 30-hour Business English specialist course beats 130 generic extra hours. If you're aiming at competitive markets, step up to the 150-hour Level 4 or 250-hour Level 5 Professional. Our upgrade courses exist precisely so you can add the difference later without repaying for what you've done.
Should I just start with a Level 5 course?
If you already know you're aiming at competitive or specialist markets, starting at Level 5 is cheaper than upgrading later. If you're testing the water, start at 120 hours - it gets you working - and upgrade once the career direction is real.
Do employers count course hours beyond 120?
They notice levels and specialisms more than raw hours: "Level 5" or "Business English certified" reads as a capability; "180 hours" reads as a bigger number. Choose upgrades that name a skill.
Does teaching practice matter more than extra hours?
For classroom confidence, absolutely - which is why our 20-hour Teaching Practice Certificate (real lessons, real feedback) is the single most useful add-on for new teachers who feel qualified on paper but untested in front of learners.
Want the shortcut? Our 2-minute course quiz asks these questions interactively and recommends a course at the end.