Quick answer: TEFL/TESOL accreditation means an independent body has inspected a course against published standards for curriculum, marking and tutor quality – it is how an employer who has never heard of your course provider can still trust your certificate. In the UK, ACTDEC specialises in accrediting distance TEFL/TESOL courses, while Ofqual regulates formal “regulated qualifications.” Always check you can verify an accreditation claim directly with the awarding body, and be wary of self-awarded “badges.” Here's how the system works and how to check a provider.
Confused by the number of different TEFL / TESOL courses?
If you type 'TESOL Courses' into Google you'll find a vast array of course providers all over the world offering online TEFL, weekend TEFL, 4 week CELTAs, part-time Trinity qualification, 4 week non-CELTAs, university courses (pause for breath) and exciting combinations of the above. If I was looking now, with an outsider's head on, I have to admit that I probably wouldn't know where to start. How would I choose a 'good' course? They all say they are 'accredited' so what does that mean? Is one accreditation better than another?
These questions didn't bother me much when I was looking to get started in TEFL many moons ago. Why? Because it was either CELTA, Trinity, or CELTA or Trinity. It was pretty much your 4 week standard intensive or nothing. There was no way I wanted to wing it around the world without a qualification, trading on my English native speaker status alone. So, a CELTA it was. No worries over accreditation, recognition or acceptance worldwide. Oh, life was so much easier then.
My, how things have changed. When considering a TEFL course, where do you start? First you might want to read our guide on online TESOL vs CELTA, and our practical checklist on how to choose the best online TEFL course. This will give you an idea of the different options available today and which is the best choice for you.
Who actually accredits TEFL courses?
Then, I suggest working backwards to ensure that the course you take will get you where you want to go. If you want to work in the UK and need the security of working for an English language school year-round, then I'd suggest a CELTA. However, there is much more to the UK than working in a language school, as many successful freelancers will tell you. For many others, especially those with a degree and flexibility, an online TEFL course will often suffice. For many, the CELTA vs online question is purely academic since they can neither afford the money nor the time to invest in a CELTA.
If it's an online course you want, how do you choose a good one and how does your employer know it's a good one? Here is the case for external accreditation. There's every chance your prospective TEFL employer will not have heard of the school you did your course with. Even the biggest online schools have little or no international reputation with most TEFL employers. How, then, does an employer satisfy themselves that your qualification has any merit and that you have the necessary methodology to conduct a class? The only reliable way is for the provider to be independently inspected and accredited – with the option for the successful trainee to gain certification awarded direct from the accrediting body.
ACTDEC, Ofqual and awarding bodies: what each one covers
While there is a wealth of online course providers, it was difficult to find a UK-based, well-established, independent accrediting body that specialised in online TESOL only. After much investigation, ACTDEC (the Accreditation Council for TESOL Distance Education Courses) seemed the perfect solution. ACTDEC sets specific TESOL qualifying criteria, course levels and strict codes of conduct. As a non-profit body, ACTDEC's sole responsibility is to 'maintain professional standards in TESOL distance programmes'. The table below shows how the main players fit together.
| Body | What it does | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| ACTDEC | Independently accredits distance TEFL/TESOL courses and sets course levels | Provider listed by ACTDEC; option of a certificate from ACTDEC direct |
| Ofqual | Regulates formal “regulated qualifications” (e.g. Level 5 diplomas) in England | Qualification appears on the Ofqual register |
| Cambridge / Trinity | Awarding bodies for their own brand qualifications (CELTA, CertTESOL) | Course delivered at an approved centre |
How to verify a course's accreditation claim
In the anonymous world of online TESOL provision, don't just take a badge at face value. Follow these steps:
- Identify the accreditor by name. A genuine provider states clearly who accredits it. If the accrediting body is vague or unnamed, be cautious.
- Check the accreditor is independent. It should be a separate organisation from the school, such as ACTDEC, not an in-house or self-created “association.”
- Confirm the listing with the awarding body. Visit the accreditor's own website (for example ACTDEC) or the Ofqual register and confirm the provider or qualification actually appears.
- Look for a certificate awarded direct. The strongest sign of quality is being able to receive a certificate issued by the accrediting body itself, not only by the school.
- Discount biased sources. Treat comparison sites, affiliate deals and anonymous forum praise with caution – they often have a commercial axe to grind.
Well, you could visit a comparison site, but often they either have (a) an axe to grind or (b) get commission, either overtly from sponsoring schools or less obviously through affiliate marketing. Even blogs and forums have to be treated with a pinch of salt; it's well known that schools sometimes respond to forum questions posing as happy graduates.
Accreditation red flags to avoid
- An accreditor you can't find or verify anywhere outside the provider's own site.
- Impressive-sounding “councils” or “associations” that turn out to be run by the school itself.
- No option to receive a certificate from the awarding body direct.
- Glowing reviews only on the provider's pages, with nothing independent.
Why we chose ACTDEC accreditation
Deciding to obtain ACTDEC accreditation some years ago was a big decision for us at Global English TESOL. Time-consuming and expensive, we had to submit our courses, marking papers, marketing and tutor biographies for investigation. We had to justify and in some cases amend our material to ensure it met the tough qualifying criteria. By the end, we knew we had courses of quality that would prepare our students for the TEFL classroom. The good news for students and employers is, it's not just us that says so.
Find out more about Global English accreditation here.
Louisa Walsh
Course Director, Global English TESOL courses
TEFL accreditation FAQs
What does an accredited TEFL course mean?
It means an independent body has inspected the course against published standards for curriculum, assessment and tutor quality – and continues to monitor it – rather than the provider simply awarding itself a logo. Accreditation is what lets an employer trust a certificate from a provider they've never heard of.
Is ACTDEC accreditation recognised?
Yes. ACTDEC (the Accreditation Council for TESOL Distance Education Courses) is a long-established, non-profit UK body that specialises in accrediting distance TEFL/TESOL courses, and it is well known to employers who recruit qualified English teachers. With an ACTDEC-accredited provider you can also opt for a certificate awarded by ACTDEC direct.
Are “regulated Level 5” TEFL courses different from accredited ones?
They overlap but aren't identical. “Accredited” means an independent body like ACTDEC has quality-assured the course; “regulated” means a formal qualification (such as a Level 5 diploma) appears on the Ofqual register. A strong course can be both. Check the specific claim rather than assuming one word implies the other.
How do I check if a TEFL provider is accredited?
Find the named accreditor on the provider's site, then confirm the listing on the accreditor's own website (for example ACTDEC) or, for regulated qualifications, on the Ofqual register. If you can't independently verify the claim, or the “accreditor” turns out to be the school itself, treat it as a red flag.