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What is the difference between CELTA, TEFL, TESL and TESOL?

The CELTA certificate is the world’s most widely recognised English language teaching qualification, accredited internationally by the University of Cambridge. You earn the certificate by successfully completing the CELTA course. In contrast, many other so-called "TEFL or TESOL certificates"—whether online or face-to-face—lack proper monitoring or accreditation from major independent organisations. When you enter the job market, you’ll quickly see that those courses aren’t globally recognised.

TESL, TEFL, TESOL, it’s all the same… TESL, TEFL and TESOL are all generic terms.

TEFL is not the name of any one specific course, in fact, it’s a concept. It stands for "Teaching English as a Foreign Language". You’ll also see similar terms like TESOL ("Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages") and TESL ("Teaching English as a Second Language").

Also, in English teaching, ESL refers to English as a Second Language, while EFL means English as a Foreign Language.

CELTA is the leading TEFL qualification and the one most employers request in their job advertisements worldwide.

Candidates take CELTA courses because the CELTA is the most highly recognised TEFL course in the world. This is a certificate that is sought by reputable English language schools around the world. Find out more about the CELTA here.

What are the entry requirements for the CELTA?

The basic entry requirements for the CELTA course are that you are over 18 (although most schools prefer that you are at least 20 years old), have enough education to enter higher education (i.e. a high school diploma, A-levels or equivalent) and that you can show a native or near-native grasp of the English language (i.e. a strong C1 or IELTS 7.5). You would not need to have previous teaching experience to take the CELTA. During the free application process, we will check your English level and knowledge through several steps: the initial application, a pre-interview task, and an interview with a course tutor at your chosen location.

Officially, you don’t need a university degree to take the CELTA. Candidates who have completed education, such as secondary school, that would allow them to embark on a university degree are eligible.

You can also take our eligibility test (www.studycelta.com/am-i-eligible) to check if you can apply for a CELTA course.

How are the online CELTA and the face-to-face CELTA different?

The only difference between the online CELTA and the face-to-face CELTA is the format in which you take the course. The online CELTA has exactly the same content, with the format allowing you to take it from home.  For the face-to-face CELTA you will need to be physically present in the location where you are taking the course.

The online CELTA holds exactly the same weight as a face-to-face course. On the CELTA certificate that you would receive after successfully completing the CELTA, there would be no mention of the course being online. The Teaching Practice will also be done online with a class of students from around the world. For the face-to-face CELTA the Teaching Practice will be done in a physical classroom. The certificate that you receive after successfully completing the CELTA is exactly the same whether you have done an online CELTA or a face-to-face CELTA.

See the course dates, times, fees and more information on all online CELTA course details as well as applying via our online CELTA dates page. Through this page you can also see information on which days of the week you will need to be available for with regard to the different courses.

What is the difference between a full-time (intensive) and a part-time CELTA?

The full-time (intensive) CELTA course is four to six weeks, while the part-time CELTA course can vary between seven weeks to around 24 weeks part-time study.

The full-time CELTA will allow you to get qualified in a relatively short period of time, but will rely on a full-time commitment to the course. You’ll have very little time for outside interests or commitments, so we strongly recommend not working during the course. It is usually a four-week, weekday, nine-to-five intensive course, with significant additional work outside of these hours.

The part-time CELTA runs at a more relaxed pace, so you can keep up with other commitments like work, family, or friends. However, the course will still require a significant level of commitment and dedication. The teaching practice element will be the time you MUST be available for. This for example, could consist of with two afternoons a week and half a day on Saturday morning.

What is the DELTA?

The Cambridge DELTA diploma helps experienced English teachers advance careers—becoming directors, trainers, publishers, or more versatile instructors.

The course has three modules: the first includes an exam, the second combines classwork, tasks, and teaching practice with continuous assessment, and the third requires a written assignment.

DELTA is an advanced qualification for experienced teachers seeking senior roles or aiming to refine and enhance teaching skills. It is also a key step in becoming a teacher trainer (e.g. a CELTA tutor). The DELTA approximates to a Master’s level in terms of content.

What are the entry requirements for the DELTA?

The entry criteria for taking the DELTA are that you:

• Have some formal, certificated ELT training (e.g. a CELTA)
• Have an equivalent of 1 year of full-time English teaching experience (i.e. 1,200 hours) in the last 5 years
• Have a level of English good enough to teach at a range of levels – you should have an equivalent English level of high C1 on the CEFR. If you’re a non-native speaker, you don’t need to provide an English certificate. We’ll assess your level during the free application process
• Have a range of teaching experience involving work in different teaching contexts
• Have experience of teaching learners at different language levels and ages.

You can join a DELTA course without CELTA if you prove you’re likely to complete it successfully. You could demonstrate this via successful previous examples of study.

If you match the above criteria, you are eligible to take the DELTA.

Acceptance onto a DELTA module depends on the course tutor’s discretion at your chosen location.

You can also take our DELTA eligibility test