How to Get a TESOL Certification: 5 Easy Steps

As an ESL teacher that is just starting out, there is a very important certification that you need in order to be considered for employment by employers.  And that is a TESOL Certification. The full meaning of this is Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. It is usually requested alongside TEFL / TESL certifications by employers. You might be wondering how you can go about obtaining your own certification. The steps to do so are very easy and are outlined below.

Find what works for you

Before deciding what institute to take your course at, you need to know what learning method works for you, you need to know how much you are willing to spend on a course and many other factors that will influence your decision on what institute to study at. You need to decide if you prefer the online mode of teaching or if you are more of an in-class learner. 

There are many online institutes that offer TESOL classes and these online classes have been found to be cheaper compared to in person classes. You are even able to save money as you won’t have to commute from home to your class.  

You also need to have a budget and be able to search for institutes that charge fees within your budgeted price. 

Research Institutes

After making a list of all your preferences, you can begin to research institutes that offer the classes. You should browse on google for reviews on any institute you find and ensure that there are many positive validations before considering any institute. 

There are many scam institutes online now, so it is best to be on the safe side and go with positive public reviews so as not to fall victim to scams.

Make a decision

Once you have done all your research, it is time for you to make your decision and pick the institute that works best for you and fits all your set criteria. You need to ensure that you check that every information ticks off and that the institute is all that it says it is on the official website. You can even contact the customer service of the institute to be clear on any questions you may have. 

Register

You have made your final decision, the next thing to do is to register in the course so that you can start learning. It is best to take advantage of any discounts that are on and get yourself registered in your course. 

Finish your course and get Certified

It's time to actually learn and put in the work. You need to take the course very seriously. The whole purpose of a TESOL Certification is to gain the skills needed to teach effectively. And you need to take the course you paid for as seriously as a university degree. After completing the course, you will receive a softcopy or hardcopy of your certificate. You might even get both of them depending on the institute you get certified by. 

It is all worth it in the end, having this certificate opens up a lot of opportunities to you both online and abroad.