Step by step guide to enrolling in your CELTA course 

Want to gain the CELTA but you don’t know where to start?  Embarking on a career Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) starts with enrolling in a great course which will impress employers and prepare you well for teaching real students. This is where the CELTA qualification comes in.  

Cambridge CELTA courses are accredited by Cambridge Assessment English which is a department of Cambridge University. Gaining this qualification will open doors that many other TEFL certifications simply cannot do. This qualification is in high demand and employers are actively seeking out CELTA-qualified teachers. So, all applicants need to be assessed on their suitability for the course.  

If you have already decided that the CELTA is the best option for you, follow this step-by-step guide to enrolling in your CELTA course. 

Not sure if you meet the criteria to enrol in a CELTA course? Keep reading to find out if you may have what it takes.  

Step 1: Visit the CELTA course page 

You can visit the main CELTA course page to read general information about the course, what you will learn and the different modalities.  

We offer:  

100% Online Full-Time CELTA courses 

100% Online Part-Time CELTA courses 

CELTA courses in sunny Barcelona 

The modality you choose will depend on factors such as: 

• Your location and whether you can travel to Barcelona / study online.
• Your availability and whether you can commit to a full-time course (45-55 hours a week) or a part-time course (15-20 hours per week).
• Your budget and payment preferences (you can pay in instalments for the online part-time CELTA course).
• Your plans for work after the course (if you are planning to teach at least some classes online after graduation it may be more beneficial to take an online CELTA course).

Step 2: Select Your CELTA Course Start Date and Schedule 

Once you have chosen whether you will study with us online or in Barcelona, you will need to choose the start date and schedule which suits you. We offer courses all year round and in a variety of schedules to suit all time zones. So, wherever you are in the world, if you have chosen an online course, we will have a schedule that suits you.  

All the times displayed on our website are times in Spain. So, you would just need to check the schedule in your local time to be sure you can commit to a schedule.  

Unsure which modality, date or schedule to choose? Don’t worry, you can still apply, selecting your best guess, and you can change this later. 

Once you have chosen your preferred CELTA course, click on the “Apply now” button on the top right of the course page. From here, a new page will open for the application form. 

Step 3: How to complete the application form 

We love to find out about our CELTA course applicants. The application form will be used throughout the application process to help us understand your needs and measure your suitability for the course. On the application form, we will check: 

• Your preferred start date / schedule 
• Your background 
• Your level of written English 
• Your reasons for wanting to teach English as a foreign language 

We recommend completing the application form on a PC or laptop. This will make writing much easier and will avoid needing to switch devices later. 

When choosing your start date / schedule, be sure to select which is most suitable for you and your time zone. We will also advise you of the deadline to secure your place. This will help avoid disappointment later if you miss a deadline. 

Consider the application form as an introduction to yourself.

You should be honest and open and let us know if there may be any challenges for you as a participant of the CELTA course. This will enable us to find out more about how we could support you through the course, even if you feel there may be something holding you back. This unique level of support means we have achieved a 96% pass rate on the CELTA course. 

If you need to temporarily stop completing the form at any moment, at the bottom of each page, you will be able to save the form and come back to it later. In this case, you will receive a link to your form in your email account with your saved answers. 

Once you have completed and submitted the form, you will receive an automatic email confirming that it has been received. You are one step closer to achieving your dream of teaching English! 

Step 4: Complete the pre-interview task 

As mentioned, the Cambridge CELTA is a highly respected and demanding course. Therefore, applicants are evaluated on many factors before being offered a place on the course. One of these factors is your knowledge of grammar and language awareness. This is why we ask you to complete a short online task (20-60 minutes depending on your prior knowledge of English grammar). 

We don’t expect you to know everything about English grammar – we will teach you a lot about this on the course. However, we do expect you to be able to complete a simple task to show us how much you know and whether you are able to find the answers to the task yourself. You will need at least 65% correct on this task. Don’t worry, you can use the useful links we include in the task to find the answers and you can retry the task if you don’t pass the first time. 

If you submit the task with at least 65% correct, you will automatically receive a link to schedule your online interview with a member of our team. Our team of interviewers are excited to meet you in the next step! 

Step 5: Scheduling and attending your online CELTA interview 

The next step is to schedule your online interview. This is done easily though a tool which enables you to select from a variety of days and times to suits your availability and time zone. Simply select the day / time and enter your name / email to confirm your interview! 

Although you will be sent a reminder of your interview the day before, we also recommend saving it in your personal agenda to avoid missing it. If you need to cancel / reschedule your interview at any time, you can do so using the buttons at the bottom of your confirmation email. 

Excited about your interview but unsure how to prepare for it? Read our blog post 10 Tips to Help you Prepare for your CELTA Interview.  

Step 6: Attend your CELTA interview 

The online CELTA interview is around 30 minutes and is really a conversation which will help us both decide if the course is a good fit for you. This is also a great opportunity for you to ask us any questions you have about the course and the benefits of gaining the CELTA qualification. 

To connect to the interview, you simply need to click on the Zoom link which you received when booking your interview or find this in your online agenda. We recommend connecting 5 minutes early to ensure you can be on time and that there are no technical issues. If you need assistance with anything, email us at [email protected] and we will help you. 

During the online interview, we will: 

1. Check your equipment and internet connection. 
2. Check your Official ID 
3. Check your knowledge of the course. 
4. Answer any questions you have about the course. 
5. Go over your answers to the pre-interview task. 
6. Find out more about you, and vice versa. 

We are a friendly team, so there is nothing to worry about. We are just keen to meet you and make sure the course is right for your goals. Meet some of our interviewers: 

At the end of the interview, your interviewer will let you know whether you have been accepted onto the course. If you have, they will show you the place offer that we will send you by email and explain the process for securing your place. Now, you are almost ready for the next step – your training! 

Step 7: Securing your place on the course 

We recommend securing your place on the course as soon as possible for three reasons: 

• Occasionally our courses fill in certain schedules. To avoid disappointment, we recommend reserving your place with either the deposit or the full fee as soon as possible. 

• You will be able to get a head start with your preparatory materials or meeting your peers. 

• €75 discount: Take advantage of our discount to save €75 off your course fees when paying within 7 days of receiving your place offer! 

The payment options are as follows: 

100% Online Full-Time CELTA courses €425 deposit to reserve your place + €1200 at least 5 days before the course starts 

100% Online Part-Time CELTA courses €425 deposit to reserve your place + €1200 at least 5 days before the course starts OR €425 deposit to reserve your place + 3 instalments of €425 during the course in month 1,2 and 3 

CELTA courses in sunny Barcelona €425 deposit to reserve your place + €1200 at least 5 days before the course starts 

Your course fee includes: 

• All your training with our expert team – learn from the best 

• Comprehensive, lifelong careers service – get a great job after graduation 

• Your assessment – no extra exam fees 

• Your materials and access to Zoom / learning platforms – no hidden fees for course participation 

• Your CELTA certificate – impress employers 

On the Place Offer email received after your interview, you will find a summary of the course and a link to make payment. You can either select to make payment for the deposit or the full fee. You will also see options to add on extras such as specialised workshops, accommodation or visa service, for example.

We accept payment by card, Paypal, bank transfer, Wise or Western Union. Once you have selected your preferred payment method, you can follow the instructions to finalise the payment.  

We will automatically receive a notification that your payment has been made, and we will contact you within one working day to confirm your place and send you some materials to help you get prepared for the course. 

Investing in a CELTA course is an investment in yourself and your career. Now that you have secured your place, you can now look forward to learning new and highly valuable skills that can change your life. 

Step 7: Starting your course 

A few days before your course begins, you will receive an email from your course director with instructions on how to get started and login details for our online platform (Moodle for part-time courses and Teams for intensive courses). 

Here, you will be able to do the following: 

• Meet your tutors and peers 
• Browse the course materials and find useful resources 
• Become accustomed to the syllabus and what you will learn 

Taking advantage of our Careers Service  

Once you have enrolled in the CELTA course, you will be put in touch with Diana, our Careers Advisor. Diana will provide you with a dedicated live session on how to find a great job after graduation, help you prepare a CV, put you in touch with schools/ partners, and provide email support. This service is lifelong, so you can come back to us any time.   

Our goal is to support you in your first steps as an English as a Foreign Language teacher. In fact, one of the things we love about our job is watching our graduates blossom into successful teachers. Our job begins from the day you enrol and our promise to you is that we will provide everything you need to be the best teacher possible. 

Unsure whether you meet the requirements for the CELTA?  

Did you know: 

It is not necessary to have a university degree.

It is not necessary to be a native speaker of English.

It is not necessary to provide any official certificates proving your level of English.

It is not necessary to speak a foreign language.

It is not necessary to have any previous teaching experience.

To be considered for the CELTA course, you will need to: 
 

• Be at least 18 years old. 
• Be educated to the standard required for entry into higher education (e.g., “A-levels” in the UK, a high school diploma). 
• Be in good enough health to deal with the demands of an intensive training course. 
• Demonstrate your ability to cope with the academic demands of the course (assessed via the application process). 
• Have the basic computer skills required for online study (e.g., sharing files using cloud storage, preparing a PowerPoint presentation, taking a screenshot, etc.). 
• Have a high advanced level of English. 

Ready to Start Teaching English as a Foreign Language? 

Do you think you have what it takes to be a great English as a foreign language teacher? Why not apply and find out for yourself where the CELTA qualification can take you? 

If you would like to find out more, get in touch with us at [email protected], chat with us on WhatsApp +34 670017861, or apply now. 

More readings:

• Still need guidance on getting started in TEFL? Read our guide on how to become an English teacher.
• How to become a successful online TEFL teacher
• We answer your questions: 100% Online CELTA FAQs with tutor Rubens
• 10 tips to help you prepare for your CELTA course interview