Best TEFL programs with job placements

Many people dream of living abroad and teaching English as a foreign language. Yet, one of the big concerns is how to get a job after graduating from a TEFL course.

Most TEFL course providers offer assistance via career services. But while this certainly goes some way towards helping launch a career as a TEFL teacher, it doesn’t guarantee you employment once you have your TEFL certification.

Thankfully, there are now several top TEFL providers that run specialist TEFL programmes with job placements, meaning you’re guaranteed a job after you graduate. 

Here’s our pick of the best.   

Top TEFL programs with job placements

1. TEFL Iberia

TEFL Iberia’s TEFL & Work Placement programme is recognised as one of the best in Spain. Providing a comprehensive teaching experience for new English teachers from the school’s campus in Barcelona, the course consists of 160 hours of tuition over four weeks.

The school’s extensive network of partners and collaborators ensures that you’ll find work straight after you graduate, with various teaching destinations including Barcelona, South Korea and Thailand.

Key features

• Internationally recognised qualification – the CertTESOL (accredited by Trinity College London) is one of the most highly-regarded TEFL certifications in the world.
• Placements available all year round.
• Orientation week with Spanish tuition and cultural immersion.
• Guaranteed job placement globally, with destinations including Barcelona, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, Myanmar, Cambodia and Costa Rica.
• Expert career support with local job market guidance, CV workshops and job interview coaching. 
• Accommodation included during your training in Barcelona.
• Airport transfers in Barcelona.
• Spanish relocation service with visa and bureaucracy support during your time studying in Barcelona.
• Ongoing support from TEFL Iberia staff.
• No degree required for some countries, and certain entry requirements apply.

Price

€4,600 full price, with €4,550 early-bird discount if paid four weeks in advance.

Google reviews

4.9 stars from 169 reviews.

2. International TEFL Academy 

A worldwide TEFL franchise, International TEFL Academy offers a fully-accredited, four-week TEFL certificate at various destinations around the world. 

These include in-person TEFL courses throughout Asia, as well as a well-respected TEFl course in Barcelona and an online TEFL course.

Key features

• Internationally accredited TEFL qualification – Level 5 Certificate in TEFL (CELTA/Trinity equivalent), awarded by TQUK.
• Guaranteed job placements for teaching English in Thailand, Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, Japan or Costa Rica. 
• Most teaching contracts in Asia are for one year. However, ITA can often arrange shorter teaching contracts in Thailand. Teaching contracts in Costa Rica can be either one year or six months.
• Ongoing career support.
• Bachelor’s degree required.

Price

Between €1,230 and €1,850 across different campuses in various countries. Click here for more details.

Google reviews

4.8 stars from 105 reviews.

3. Máximo Nivel

One of Latin America’s most highly-regarded TEFL schools, Máximo Nivel’s Job Placement programme is one of the best options for those looking to learn to teach TEFL in South America and then stay in the continent to teach English.  

An accredited provider with campuses in Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Peru, Máximo Nivel offers a 150-hour programme over the course of four weeks.

Key features

• Locally accredited TEFL qualification.
• Guaranteed job placement teaching English in Costa Rica, Antigua, Guatemala, and Cusco, Peru.
• Work placement contract teaching for 30 hours a week.
• Teach a range of English speaking levels from basic to advanced, mostly young adults  between 18 and 30 years of age.
• Ongoing career support.
• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Native English proficiency (C2 CEFR) and pass rate of Pass-Good or higher required.

Price

€1,395 for Peru and Guatemala campuses and €1,595 for Costa Rica campus.

Google reviews

4.6 stars from 271 reviews.

4. TEFL Worldwide Prague

A leading TEFL course provider based in the Czech Republic’s capital, TEFL Worldwide Prague provides an accredited 130-hour TEFL certificate, carried out at their campus in the heart of Prague.

The course comes with a job guarantee teaching English at their school in Prague. However, certain terms and conditions apply – see below. 

Key features

• Globally accredited TEFL qualification.
• Guaranteed job placement for top students, teaching English at the TEFL Worldwide Prague school.
• If you don’t get offered a job at TEFL Worldwide Prague after graduating, they will guarantee you will find an English teaching job in Prague within two months of completing the course. 
• If, for whatever reason, you still can’t find work within this time period, they promise to refund you half of the TEFL course fee. Again, certain terms and conditions apply, so be sure to check here.
• Ongoing career support.
• Bachelor’s degree not required.
• Native English proficiency (C2 CEFR) or a C1 level of English required.

Price

€1,370

Google reviews

4.9 stars from 167 reviews.

Other places to look for TEFL job placements

Aside from the TEFL job programmes listed above, you can search TEFL job placements on the following platforms:

GoAbroad.com 

A good resource for budding TEFL teachers, GoAbroad.com offers TEFL job search advice and extra information on job placement programmes.

Teachaway

Another excellent TEFL jobs platform, Teach Away also provides guidance on how to be an effective TEFL teacher.

TEFL.com

The TEFL.com jobs platform showcases a range of TEFL jobs from all over the world. 

TEFL.org

Search for English teaching positions around the world with TEFL.org’s Job Centre.

North American Language and Culture Assistants Program (NALCAP)

An initiative run by the Spanish Government, the NALCAP places North American citizens in elementary or secondary schools in Spain to work as assistant language teachers.

Teaching Assistant Programme in France (TAPIF)

Like its Spanish counterpart, TAPIF is a government-run programme that places TEFL teachers into French state schools to work as teaching assistants.

TEFL job placement FAQs

What’s the difference between a TEFL job placement and a TEFL career service? 

A TEFL job placement is when your TEFL course provider secures you employment after you’ve graduated from the TEFL course. On the other hand, a TEFL career service is assistance given by your TEFL provider to help you find work after graduation.

Simply put, a TEFL job placement programme guarantees you work, while a TEFL career service helps you find work.

Why choose a TEFL program with a job placement?

If you’re looking to gain an internationally recognised TEFL qualification, live abroad and experience a new culture, and get support with accommodation and local bureaucracy, a job placement TEFL program is for you.

What does a ‘guaranteed TEFL job placement’ mean?

TEFL programmes that offer a guaranteed job placement effectively promise that they will provide work for you after you’ve finished and passed their TEFL programme. There may be certain entry requirements, and terms and conditions that apply, so be sure to check carefully and, if in any doubt, contact the TEFL provider in question. 

What’s the best country to get a TEFL job placement?

Many new TEFL teachers consider Spain the best country to teach English as a foreign language, due to high demand for English teachers, great weather and fabulous culture. 

At TEFL Iberia, based in Barcelona, we offer a TEFL & Work Placement programme to our highest performing students. We also have a dedicated careers service that helps our students find work teaching English in Barcelona after they graduate.

How do I know a TEFL course offering guaranteed job placements is legit?

There are a few things to look out for when it comes to making sure a TEFL program that promises guaranteed job placements is legitimate:

• The TEFL provider should have a professional website with information available on the background of the organisation, the profile of the teachers and course information.
• They should be fully accredited by a respected educational body. Check out our guidelines on accredited TEFL courses.
• Check review sites like TEFL Course Review. If they are not listed, chances are they are not a respected TEFL school.
• Ensure that there is plenty of information regarding the terms and conditions of the TEFL job placement programme. You should contact the school if you’re in any doubt.

Can I make a career out of TEFL?

Absolutely! 

Once you’ve graduated from an internationally recognised, fully accredited TEFL course, you are qualified to teach English anywhere in the world. Your TEFL career could involve working in a language academy, a local school or college, teaching business English to companies or even working as a freelance TEFL tutor offering private tuition.

Is a TEFL job placement worth it?

If you’re looking to become a fully-certified TEFL teacher while guaranteeing paid work once you graduate, a TEFL programme with job placement is ideal.

You’ll finish the course with the skills, experience and confidence you need to teach English as a foreign language. And instead of stressing about how to find a job, you’ll launch your career as a TEFL teacher immediately.

Get world-class training in Barcelona and guaranteed job placement globally with TEFL Iberia’s TEFL and Work Placement.