Is a level 6 TESOL course worth doing?

Around the world there are a large number of countries and individual cities where the market for TESOL qualified teachers is particularly strong. In these areas it is common to find that the best jobs are oversubscribed with applicants, seriously reducing your chances of getting the jobs you really want. One of the best ways to combat this competition for jobs is to complete a higher level of training than the majority of the other contenders.

What are the different levels of TESOL certification?

Firstly, it is important to point out that there is no universal course level framework that covers the whole of the ESL teaching community. Many countries such as the USA, the UK, and Australia have designed their own unique systems, as have many other teaching related organizations and TESOL course providers. However, all of these individual frameworks are loosely based on a few common factors such as the type of certification being offered, the study hours involved, whether it is a full-time or part-time course, and whether any practical training is included. At ITTT we have also developed our own course level framework based on these factors that should allow you to compare all our options and ensure you make the right choice to suit your needs.

Take a look at our course levels page for full details.

What level of TESOL is required to teach English?

Note: The ITTT level framework runs from level 3 to level 7.

Although there are no official standards, it is widely accepted among employers of ESL teachers that a level 4 TESOL certification is the minimum requirement for most entry-level teaching jobs. Courses at this level must have at least 100 hours of study time, covering a wide selection of subjects such as English grammar, teaching methodologies, evaluation and testing, classroom management, etc. Courses that are rated at less than level 4 are typically aimed at trainees who are interested in working as a teaching assistant or in voluntary roles.

One of our most popular courses is the level 4, 120-hour TESOL certification course that includes everything you need to get your teaching journey started.

Is it worth completing a level 6 TESOL course?

While our 120-hour TESOL certificate course would be enough to allow you to apply for the majority of entry-level teaching jobs, a higher level qualification will always give you a distinct advantage in the job market. With a level 6 qualification, such as our Diploma in TESOL, you will be able to stand out from the crowd and avoid being dumped at the bottom of the pile of applications. The other major benefit of completing a higher level course is that it will give you a much more rounded understanding of ESL teaching that will certainly help you during the interview process and also help your future students to reach their goals. Because of this increase in teaching knowledge and the obvious advantages to be gained in the job market, we are quite confident that a level 6 TESOL course is well worth doing.