Cambridge CELTA
(100% online, part-time)

The Cambridge CELTA is one of only two TEFL qualifications that are listed by the British Council as an acceptable teaching qualification that meets their standards and requirements. Around 75% of employers request the Cambridge CELTA certification. So, being a qualified CELTA teacher immediately puts you at an advantage to many other teachers worldwide.

If you would like to teach English abroad, this is possibly the best way you can start. We have been training teachers since 1998 and we are ready to help you gain your internationally recognised TEFL certification too.

Whether you are working full time, have a family at home or just have other commitments, this flexible study option could be for you. The part-time online CELTA course is delivered via the Cambridge learning platform, and you will work through the content week-by-week. You will receive a total of 90 hours of contact time with your tutor, completing your teaching practice or observing other teachers. The rest of the time, you will be able to work through the content on the platform or self-study.

On Mon/Wed, Tues/Thurs, Fridays only, Saturdays only, or Sundays only (depending on the schedule you have chosen), you will attend live lessons, complete your teaching practice and observe other teachers. Trainees are required to attend all timetabled sessions, every week, for the full 14 weeks.

Input is flexible and you will be able to access the online content on a day and time which suits you. You can expect to spend around 10–15 hours each week reading content, watching videos, participating in the forum, and completing assignments. Each week you will complete different modules including (but not limited to): lesson planning, classroom management, checking understanding, pronunciation, and error correction.

In total, you will need to dedicate around 15–20 hours per week, including the teaching practice. We do not record and share any sessions externally or with other trainees (unless prior permission has been granted) meaning your privacy is guaranteed.

At the start of the part-time online CELTA course, you will be divided into small teaching practice groups (4–6 trainees) and assigned an experienced tutor to guide you during your teaching practice. You will receive one-to-one support planning your classes, and your tutor will observe you and give you feedback on the classes you teach. You will also have the opportunity to observe your peers and give them feedback on their classes. You will teach a minimum of 6 hours in total to groups of between 6 and 12 students from all over the world. Our CELTA trainees find the teaching practice challenging and also very rewarding.

All classes will be delivered via our online platform, Zoom, and you will teach a minimum of two levels. We also provide training on teaching in a face to face context through video observations and discussion. This means that by the end of the course you will be prepared for teaching both online and face to face classes. Find out more in our our article about how the teaching practice works on our 100% online CELTA course.

During your chosen teaching practice schedule, you will complete your online teaching practice with real adult students. You will either be teaching on this day or observing a peer.

The schedule will vary depending on the day(s) of your course and the timetable you choose:

Schedule for Mon/Wed OR Tues/Thurs course

Schedule for Friday OR Saturday OR Sunday course

It is not necessary to have a university degree, to be a native speaker of English, to speak a foreign language, or to have any previous teaching experience. To be considered for the part-time online 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 in the US/Canada). 
• 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 computer skills required for online study (e.g., sharing files using cloud storage, preparing a PowerPoint presentation, taking a screenshot, etc.).
• Have a C1.2 (high C1) or C2 level of English.

While we do not require any certificates, we have included a table below showing what score would be required to achieve a C1.2 level of English on different exams:

Your English level will be assessed throughout the application process.

Some prior knowledge of English grammar is beneficial and will increase your chances of being accepted onto the course and passing your assessments.

We will provide you with a free 20-hour pre-course task which will help you familiarise yourself with English grammar and get prepared for the course.

During the part-time online CELTA course, you will also learn more about English grammar. We believe in learning through involvement and in your grammar and language awareness sessions you will mostly experience a workshop approach, where your tutor acts as a “facilitator/animator” rather than as a lecturer. 

First, complete the application form. We will check your application and get in touch within one working day to send you a pre-interview task (grammar and language awareness).

Once you have completed the pre-interview task, you will be able to select the day and time of your online interview.

During the online interview, we will ask you about the pre-interview task, your background and reasons for wanting to take the course. We will make sure that the course is a good fit for you and vice versa. 

If accepted, you will receive a full place offer and information about how to secure your place on the course via email.

To find out more about how to apply for a CELTA course:  read out our Step by step guide.

No. The official CELTA certificate does not mention the modality of your course. 

Graduates of our CELTA courses typically go on to work in private language schools or private tuition. You will be able to teach adult or young learner students online or around the world. One of the great things about the CELTA qualification is that once you have it, you can work anywhere (visa permitting). The qualification does not expire, it is for life.