Quick answer: Choose a CELTA (or Trinity CertTESOL) if you want an intensive, classroom-based course with observed teaching practice and you plan to work in UK or other English-speaking language schools that specifically ask for it – budget around £1,000–£1,500 and four to five weeks full-time. Choose a good accredited online TESOL if you want flexibility, lower cost, optional specialisms and you're heading for Asia, online teaching or much of Europe, where a 120-hour accredited course plus a degree is usually enough. For most teachers, if you're flexible about where you go, there's little practical difference in employability.
Online TEFL or CELTA? It is a key question for the thousands of new entrants to the TEFL profession each year and one we are asked a lot at Global English. As an online TESOL provider you can probably guess which way we lean, although you may be a little surprised at the outcome if you read on… and I promise I will try to be objective! I do have experience of both training routes, having originally completed a CELTA and subsequently being heavily involved in writing and delivering online courses.
What is a CELTA / Trinity CertTESOL?
A CELTA is the Certificate in Teaching English Language to Adults run by the Cambridge exam group. Typically the CELTA is completed in class over 4 intensive weeks. A key component is that trainees teach 6–8 hours while being observed and critiqued. You can do a CELTA in approved centres across the world, often in a workshop atmosphere with other trainees. According to Cambridge, around 10,000 people take this qualification each year. You can now take a CELTA fully or partly online in certain locations, though the observed teaching element is still required.
The Trinity CertTESOL is a similar intensive taught course – classroom based, only available at approved centres, with observed teaching as a core component. Years ago the CELTA/Trinity courses were about the only way to enter the TEFL profession.
CELTA vs online TEFL: cost, time and format compared
| Feature | CELTA / Trinity CertTESOL | Accredited online TESOL |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Intensive, classroom-based (some online options) | Flexible, self-paced, fully online |
| Length | 4–5 weeks full-time | 120–250 hours over weeks or months |
| Typical cost | £1,000–£1,500 (often giving up work too) | From the low hundreds of £ |
| Observed teaching practice | Core component (6–8 hours) | Optional add-on |
| Specialisms | Not included | Business English, young learners, online teaching |
| Most in demand | UK / English-speaking language schools | Asia, online, much of Europe |
What are the pros and cons of the CELTA/Trinity?
CELTA/Trinity positives:
- Both are well-known across the world.
- Courses are likely to be of a similar standard wherever you take them.
- The course is usually completed in one month or 5 weeks.
- Teaching practice is helpful.
CELTA/Trinity negatives:
- They can be expensive: £1000–£1500 depending on where/how you take them. Plus you will usually need to give up work to complete them. A substantial online course will cost much less.
- They can be very intense, which isn't ideal if you need longer to consolidate information, don't react well under pressure, or a significant life event means you can't complete the course.
- They don't necessarily lead to more money. Whether you have a CELTA or a good online course, your earnings are unlikely to be greatly different.
- In English-speaking countries which tend to prefer the CELTA/Trinity, much of the work is seasonal, so this qualification won't guarantee year-round teaching work.
What are the online alternatives to the CELTA?
The last few years have seen an explosion in online options to get TESOL qualified. These courses offer alternative, less expensive ways to study, with the flexibility of studying when you want, from home. You can also add young learner or business elements, making your training more customised, and increasingly there are specialised areas such as teaching English online. None of that is available within the strict confines of the CELTA or Trinity TESOL courses.
But what about their status compared to the CELTA? How can you be assured of quality if you choose an alternative?
How can you be sure an online course is good quality?
This is where the online industry can let itself down. Whatever online course you choose, you want to be sure you have the skills, methodology and confidence to take money for your teaching services. In an unregulated online market it is not always clear which courses are good and which offer poor value. That might have you running for the CELTA were it not for a few UK organisations seeking to raise standards in the distance TEFL industry.
The most well-established organisation that accredits TEFL/TESOL courses is ACTDEC. Any UK-based distance TEFL organisation with this accreditation has had to meet strict external criteria, so employers can be much more confident of course quality. With ACTDEC-accredited institutions, you can also purchase a certificate awarded by the accrediting body direct upon completion – extra proof of quality. For more on this, read our explainer on online TEFL/TESOL accreditation. Professional bodies such as IATEFL are also a good sign of an industry that takes standards seriously.
For a premium online course, the Global English TESOL Professional course, accredited by ACTDEC to their Level 5 standard, is one of the most advanced accredited entry-level courses available online. While it is not a CELTA, in some areas it goes further – covering phonetics, phonology and linguistics, teaching English online and teaching business people. For much of Asia and online teaching, employers want a good accredited TESOL of 120 hours minimum, and a CELTA is usually not necessary. For such markets the Global English 120-hour TESOL Premier course is recommended and most popular.
Where can you teach with a good online TESOL?
As well as private language schools, many online TEFL graduates are freelancing, teaching immigrants, hosting and teaching English in their own home, and teaching English online. Most of these positions won't require a CELTA. A good online TESOL provider will assist with links to TESOL jobs with international schools and agencies. At Global English TESOL, our newly trained teachers are in great demand by international employers across the globe.
While some employers may still ask for a CELTA and accept no other (more so in English-speaking countries), the truth is that demand for qualified English language teachers abroad has always been huge. There are different geographical preferences, but if you have English as your native tongue and a good-quality TESOL plus a degree, much of the non-English-speaking world is open to you. Hold your arms out wide: that's your employability worldwide with a CELTA + degree as a native speaker. Narrow your reach slightly, and that's your chances with a good online TESOL + degree. In short, if you're flexible about where you go, there's not much in it.
A final word
The CELTA certainly has its place if you can afford both the time and expense. If you want every possible work guarantee and can learn intensively, it could be a good choice. But if you prefer more flexibility in the way you study, an in-depth online course – with an accredited certificate and possibly customised specialisms – can suit your pocket and get you where you want to go. An advanced online certificate of good length and verifiable quality should stand up well to employer scrutiny.
Next… you might also like:
- TEFL or TESOL – what do employers want?
- TEFL vs TESOL: what's the difference?
- An innovative, cost-effective teaching practice option
Watch the video with Global English TESOL tutor and CELTA trainer Steve Button on the differences between taking a CELTA or a Global English TESOL course.
Need more advice on TESOL/TEFL? Contact us direct: info@global-english.com or phone +44 1392 411 999.
Online TESOL vs CELTA FAQs
Is CELTA better than TEFL?
Neither is simply “better.” CELTA is a specific, intensive course with observed teaching practice that some English-speaking language schools insist on; a good accredited online TEFL/TESOL is more flexible and cheaper and is accepted for most jobs in Asia, online and much of Europe. The right choice depends on where you want to teach and how you like to study.
Is CELTA worth the money?
It can be, if you want to work in UK or other English-speaking language schools that specify it, or if you learn best in an intensive classroom setting. But it doesn't usually lead to higher pay than a strong online TESOL, and much of that work is seasonal. If budget or time is tight, an accredited online course is often the more practical investment.
Do language schools accept online TEFL certificates?
The great majority do, provided the course is independently accredited (for example by ACTDEC) and at least 120 hours. A minority of employers, mostly in English-speaking countries, still ask specifically for a CELTA or Trinity. Check the requirements of your target employers, but for most of the world an accredited online certificate is fine.
Can you do CELTA online now?
Yes, in part. Cambridge now offers CELTA in fully online and blended formats in certain locations, and during the pandemic live teaching practice was even conducted online. The observed teaching-practice element remains central, so a CELTA is still more structured and time-intensive than a self-paced online TESOL.