The terms TEFL, TESL and TESOL refer to similar, but distinct, ESL teaching qualifications. For more on these distinctions please visit our What’s the difference between TEFL, TESL and TESOL blog for more information on these commonly used acronyms.

Anytime you choose! There are no fixed enrollment dates for the course and you can begin the course as soon as you enroll.

Students enrolled in the Altus ITE TEFL course will learn how to effectively teach in a foreign language classroom to students whose first language is not English.

There are no prerequisites to enroll in the Altus ITE TEFL course. Enrollment can be completed at anytime and you can begin the course instantly. To start the course, visit our Enrollment Page.

Yes.  The Altus ITE TEFL course is 100% online and can therefore be completed from any country in the world.

Please consult our Enrollment Page for more information on the differences between the 100-hour and 150-hour courses.

If you are enrolled in the 150-hour  course, you are required to complete two elective specializations. If you have specific career goals in mind (for example, teaching English in the Middle East or Korea or China) you may want to tailor your certification to become a stronger candidate for those positions.

If you’re interested in using your TEFL certificate as a way to travel the world, you may wish to choose specializations that prepare you to adapt to a variety of working environments such as Teaching English to Young Learners or Teaching Business English.

Before beginning specialization units, all teachers will develop a foundation in ESL pedagogy and teaching techniques from the units in the core curriculum.

Note: Specializations can be added at anytime during the course, and you do not need to decide your specializations when you enroll.

On average, the 120-hour AITE TEFL course takes approximately 6-8 weeks to complete, the 150-hour course takes around 10-12 weeks. You will have a maximum of one year to complete the course.

TEFL courses are not accredited. Institutions or universities can be accredited, but there is no official external accrediting or evaluation body to govern the standards of Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) courses. The Altus ITE TEFL course was designed by internationally recognized educators hailing from the top teaching programs in the world. Upon completion of the course, graduates receive a certificate issued by the Altus ITE.

No. Books and physical materials are not required for the course. All materials needed to complete the Altus ITE TEFL course will be available online through the course webpage.

Assessments consist of written assignments and tests. There will be a written assignment, called a reflection journal, and a final test for you to complete in each unit. Reflection journals are written responses to questions posed throughout a unit.

At the end of each unit, there is a multiple choice test covering all material in the unit. After all units have been completed there is a final exam testing on all materials. The passing grade for all assignments and tests is 70%. In the event that you fail a test or assignment you can re-attempt it as many times as needed to achieve a passing grade. All tests and the final exam are multiple choice and completed 100% online.

No. There are no live or in-class components to the Altus ITE TEFL course and no teaching practicum. A practicum is not a requirement for all TEFL jobs. Teaching practice completed as part of a TEFL course does not count towards years of full-time teaching experience when applying to jobs.

Students will have a maximum of one year to complete the course from the day you enroll after which you will not be able to access the course materials. However, there are a multitude of pdf documents and reflective activities available for each lesson that you are encouraged to download. If you are currently enrolled and have a question concerning your course please contact the TEFL Support team at support@altusu.com.

You will receive your certificate electronically by email and physically by mail. After you complete the Altus ITE TEFL course you can expect to receive a scanned copy of your certificate by email in approximately two weeks. Your physical certificate copy will arrive according to standard mailing times after course completion. Certificates are sent via regular mail and mailing times vary according to your proximity to our main office.

No. A TEFL certification is a lifetime certificate and never expires.

A TEFL certificate is a requirement for most international teaching jobs abroad. Even in cases where a TEFL certificate is not specified as a requirement, it is always noticed by international employers and could be the distinguishing factor between you and other teach-abroad candidates.

Yes. A TEFL certificate prepares teachers to adapt their teaching across different subjects (not just English) for instruction to English Language Learners (ELLs). What is commonly referred to as “academic English” is becoming a requirement for foreign language students looking to attend English-speaking colleges and universities.

A TEFL certification is not a teaching license. A teaching license is issued to teachers by their state or provincial issuing body and certifies them to teach in schools in their home country. A TEFL certificate prepares individuals of all experience levels to instruct students in English in the foreign language classroom.

The 120-hour TEFL course is $995 USD while the 150-hour course is $1295 USD. To start the course, visit our Enrollment Page.

Computers/Devices

The Altus ITE TEFL course is in full compliance with mobile and desktop web standards. Users can complete the certificate using any web-enabled device. PCs using Windows 7 or later, Macs using OSx 10.6 or later, iPads running iOS 6 or later, Android tablets running Android 4.0 or later

Browsers

The Altus ITE TEFL course is optimized for use in Chrome, Safari and Firefox browsers

Other technical requirements

A steady high-speed internet connection Adobe Reader Microsoft Word (or the ability to open .docx documents) The course may work on other devices, browsers, and with a data connection however this will limit the amount of help and support the Altus ITE can offer students. Students currently residing in China, Vietnam or other countries with restrictions on internet access may experience difficulties while taking the course. This will limit the amount of help and support the Altus ITE can offer students.

The Altus ITE TEFL course is compatible with most electronic devices. The recommended device is a laptop or desktop, but the course can be accessed via a browser on most smartphones and tablets. A word processor (software or cloud-based) is a requirement to complete the course as you will need to download materials and submit assignments throughout. Please ensure the device you plan to use is equipped to download documents.