CELTA Frequently Asked Questions

There are many TEFL certificate programs available. However, CELTA is the most widely recognized English teaching qualification in the world. It’s also the qualification most often requested by employers as it is standardized and closely monitored by Cambridge University.

The CELTA also includes supervised teaching practice with real ESL students as part of the course. This valuable practical experience is not provided with all TEFL certificate programs, leaving trainees to find suitable practice teaching situations on their own.

Demand for English language education remains strong worldwide and opportunities for teachers continue to grow. See the "Finding a Job" section of our Resources page for more details. 

There is no set deadline, but we encourage you to apply early to get the course that best fits your schedule. Enrollment for each session is evaluated one month prior to the start date of the course and a session will be cancelled if the minimum enrollment of 6 is not met at that time.

Having the CELTA in addition to a master's degree gives you an advantage over job candidates who have a master’s alone. Because CELTA training is standardized, closely monitored by Cambridge, and highly regarded internationally, employers will know exactly what standard of teaching to expect from a job candidate holding a CELTA qualification.

Having a CELTA itself does not qualify you to teach in public schools in the U.S. However, private language institutions, organizations providing services to immigrants, and other community programs hire teachers with the CELTA qualification.

Yes, CELTA training counts as professional development credit for current public school teachers and the UT English Language Center is approved by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) as a Continuing Professional Education provider. Teachers just need to let us know that they wish to apply their training hours towards CPE so that we can properly document their attendance for the TEA.

Teaching experience is not required to take the CELTA course. Some candidates are unsure if they will be good teachers, particularly if their concept of teaching is lecturing in front of a class. Language teaching is different from other types of teaching to adults. While some lecturing is required to explain new terms and concepts, language teaching largely involves working in pairs or small groups on activities in which the teacher is not the center of attention.

Having a CELTA certificate could enhance your job prospects, even if you have prior teaching experience. In addition, experienced teachers can benefit from taking the CELTA, as it provides an opportunity to fine tune their teaching skills with feedback from our Cambridge certified tutors during the course.

The CELTA has a worldwide pass rate of over 95%, so failing the course is quite rare. We look carefully at application materials and conduct interviews with each candidate to ensure that they will do well on the course. If we don't think they have the ability to pass the course, we do not accept them. The low trainer to trainee ratio (1:6 maximum) also provides a supportive learning environment.

However, candidates may get sick or have other emergency situations that could negatively affect their performance on the course. In these situations, we recommend that students notify the tutors immediately and withdraw from the course to avoid being given a failing grade. They may retake the course at a later date if there is space available.

Knowledge of grammar is definitely beneficial when studying to become an English teacher, but it is not necessary to know everything about grammar to take the CELTA course. We provide successful applicants with pre-course tasks, including a grammar booster, to help you understand key concepts in preparation for the course. Keep in mind that most English teachers do not know everything about English grammar.

Yes, we gladly accept Segal AmeriCorps Education Award scholarships. You can use your award to cover the cost of tuition and living expenses during the course. Contact us for instructions on how to use your scholarship to fund your CELTA.

CELTA trainees are responsible for arranging their own accommodations. There are hotels, hostels, Airbnb homes, and other short-term accommodations available near the UT campus. Consult our housing guide for options. You will be able to ride the Capital Metro bus and rail system for free with your valid UT ID card, so keep that in mind when choosing where to stay.