Certificates in ESL

If you want to work in some backwater country for a shady school and low pay, you don't have to worry about any kind of certification to teach ESL. I know people who went to Thailand or something with just a highschool diploma or a BA in Psychology, but it didn't work out well for them.

However, if you want some decent pay, in a decent school and county, I would suggest getting some kind of certification. I would heed this advice even if you hold some sort of (advance)degree in a related field. I know a few friends with MATEFLs (which is a Masters degree in TEFL), whom admit it was largely theoretical and did not prepare them adequately to actually teach (think theoretical mathematics vs engineering). 

That being said, there is a difference between a degree and a certification. A degree is usually a lot broader and theoretical, earned over a long(er) period of time. A certifications is usually very intense and practical and shows a potential employer you have the motivation and specific skills to teach ESL. 

The good news is that a related degree without a certification will most certainly get you a job, but a certification will surely give you a pay raise as well as an advantage over the competition. It may even qualify you for an admin position.

But I just keep saying 'certification' which is pretty vague and not very helpful to you. So I am going to give a quick rundown of the different certifications in ESL you can get... or stay away from. 

Let's start with what you should stay away from. 

Anything online. No. Just no. This includes pure online courses as well as hybrid courses. These are not reputable, even though they have sparkly websites with tons of completely 'valid' testimonials. Some will promise that they are 120 credits or hours or guaranteed job placement. Don't fall for it. Some examples are Oxford Seminar, and TEFLonline. 

100% in-person courses are usually reputable. The best certifications are usually administered by well known universities that are at least 120 hours programs with 6 hours of observed teaching practice. They are usually labeled as certificates in TEFL or TESOL. Some vocational or county schools offer these, but I would try to stay away from them and look for a "name brand" university that offers a cert. If you find a program through one of these options, make sure it has at least 6 hours of observed teaching practice. Employers will want to see this, and it is usually listed on the certificate. 

The best, and I use "best" to say that they are the most reputable certifications, are both from England. They are the CELTA (Certification in English Language Teaching to Adults) and the Trinity CertTESOL. 

The CELTA is administered through University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES) and in my opinion is the best entry level ESL certificate. You can take the course at Cambridge, but that can be very expensive. In North America, it is most commonly administered through private language institutes. To my knowledge there is only one US university that offers the CELTA -The University of Texas at Austin, which is where I earned my CELTA. Its a great program. Upon completion, you will also receive a TEFL cert. from the University of Texas for the price of just the CELTA. Check out the program here.  

The CELTA cost about $2,000-$2,500 and takes 4 weeks to complete, 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. Its very intense and you will live, eat, and breathe the CELTA for the 4 weeks. There is however, a less intense course that usually takes 8 weeks to complete, but these are less common. 

The Trinity CertTESOL is in my opinion the second best entry level certification you can get. It is administered through the Trinity College of London. It is very similar to the CELTA; it is an intensive 4 weeks course and cost about the same. Why I say its second best then is because it lacks some 'street cred' and the Cambridge name. Some people claim it is inferior to the CELTA because it does not include a input session of identifying learning styles, but from everything I have heard and read, it is equally as reputable, at least in Europe. The reason I say equal in Europe is because the CertTESOL is only offered in a few locations, namely; Barcelona, Prague, Kerala (India), London, and Cadiz, and has not been approved/accredited by any other TEFL organizations outside of Europe like the CELTA has. 

There are a host of other more advanced certifications you can get after you get the CELTA or CertTESOL, but they require a pre-requisite of one of the two to enroll in. 

My suggestion, get the CELTA, or at least a university certificate in TEFL/TESOL before you begin teaching.