TEFL certification cost
How can we afford to sell accredited TEFL certification for $39?
Because we're a small team of practising English teachers who have spent years building an efficient, honest business model. We're not a large corporation with expensive offices and sales teams. We still teach in classrooms and online, so we see how TEFL methods and real teaching problems change, and we run everything fully online.
What students say
- Go Overseas67 reviews4.94/5
- GoAbroad69 reviews4.8/5
- Trustpilot49 reviews4.7/5
- Go Overseas 2025Community Choice Awards#1 Value
How much does TEFL certification cost?
Most TEFL courses cost $300 to $3,000. Ours is $39.
The price depends mainly on how the course is delivered and who awards it. Here are typical prices in 2026, so you can see where StudyTEFL sits.
| Course type | Typical price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free or very short courses | $0 to $30 | Often under 120 hours, and some charge for the certificate. Many employers will not accept them. |
| StudyTEFL 120-hour online | $39 | 120 hours, OTCAC-accredited core, digital QR-verifiable certificate included. |
| Typical 120-hour online course | $300 to $500 | Similar hours online. The price often includes more tutor time or larger marketing budgets. |
| In-person 4-week course | $1,500 to $3,000 | Full-time classroom training with observed teaching practice, plus travel and living costs. |
| CELTA (Cambridge) | £1,750 to £1,950 (UK) | A Cambridge-regulated qualification with assessed teaching practice. Some employers ask for it by name. |
If a job asks specifically for CELTA, Trinity CertTESOL or an Ofqual Level 5, take that qualification. For most entry-level jobs abroad and online, a 120-hour accredited TEFL certificate is the usual requirement.
TEFL certification cost, in full
What you pay, and what's already included.
Many online TEFL courses cost several hundred dollars, and some charge extra for the certificate itself. Here is every cost at StudyTEFL, including the optional ones.
| Item | Cost | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 120-hour TEFL-TESOL | $39 | Our main course. One payment, 12 months of access. |
| 168-hour TEFL-TESOL | $49 | Adds 48 hours on young learners and adults. 18 months of access. |
| 200-hour TEFL-TESOL | $59 | Adds Business English on top of 168 hours. 24 months of access. |
| Digital certificate | Included | PDF certificates to download and self-print. No upgrade needed. |
| QR verification | Included | Employers scan the code to check your certificate online. |
| Demo lessons | +$30 | Optional, on any course. Plan and record two demo lessons, with individual tutor feedback. |
| Extra time | $10 | Only if you need it: 3 more months of access. |
| Apostille | £80 | Only if an employer or visa office asks. Paid to our UK partner. |
How We Keep Our TEFL Certification Affordable
Cheap TEFL online, without cutting quality.
- Every course has an OTCAC-accredited core
- Full video and audio for the text lessons, from the $39 course up
- Teacher-made text that is clear and full of practical “how-to”
- Self-paced, with tutor support when you need it
- 12 to 24 months of access, extendable if you need more time
- QR-verifiable certificates that employers can check online
- 120-hour TEFL course$39
- 168-hour TEFL course$49
- 200-hour TEFL course$59
Same accreditation. Same comprehensive curriculum. Better price.
Why our TEFL certification is so cheap
Six reasons the price stays low.
Zero Marketing Waste
Many TEFL providers spend a large share of student fees on Google and Facebook ads. We put that money into the course instead, and rely on word of mouth and organic search. Our students are our best marketers, which is why Go Overseas named us #1 for Value in its 2025 Community Choice Awards.
Smart Automation
We've automated much of our grading, partly because some students were using AI to write short answers and essays. Smart practical tasks simulate real teaching problems to solve, and for some newer content, AI narration lets us update lessons quickly without expensive video production.
Students-First Model
This isn't a get-rich-quick scheme. We're educators first and business owners second. We price our courses to cover costs and keep quality high, not to maximise profit, so they stay within reach of new teachers worldwide.
Efficient Course Design
The course is built so you understand it clearly and need less one-to-one help: clear video lessons, interactive modules and instant quiz feedback. When you do need help, a team of experienced teachers answers, without the cost of a large full-time staff.
Proven Track Record
We've been refining our online TEFL course since 2020. Years of student feedback mean our materials are tested and effective. We strengthen what works instead of starting again, and pass the savings on. Our reviews are high, though no course pleases everyone.
Experience Talks
Because we're active teachers, we keep up with teaching trends without paying consultants. When teaching methods or tools change, we update the course at no extra cost to you. We use a reliable, affordable private accreditor that actually examines course content.
Accredited TEFL certification
A low price, with proper accreditation.
TEFL Course Accreditation
Our course accreditation is with OTCAC (ref. 20201216A), an independent accreditor with open, public standards and pricing.
Accreditation details →Course Provider Accreditation
We have worked with other CPD accreditors in the past. We are now CPD-verified (ref. 002965), whose framework fits our principles best.
About CPD-verified →UK Government-Registered
We are an official learning provider on the UK Register of Learning Providers (UKPRN 10089401).
About StudyTEFL →Notarize & Apostille
StudyTEFL certificates can be certified and apostilled for use abroad through our UK partner, Apostille.org.uk, for £80.
Apostille guide →The Best Online TEFL Courses
The Best TEFL Course Online: $39–$59
Every course includes scenario-based lesson flows, quizzes and a QR-verifiable certificate. Employers scan the code, enter your family name and certificate number, and see your certification details.
120-Hour TEFL-TESOL
Our main course, with scenario-based lesson flows and real ESL classroom video to watch and reflect on.
168-Hour TEFL-TESOL
Everything in the 120-hour course, plus 48 hours on teaching young learners and adults.
Want practical experience? Every course already includes practical tasks with tutor-made feedback. For individual tutor feedback on lesson plans and demo lessons you create yourself, add Demo Lessons to any course for $30. How Demo Lessons work →
How It Works
Choose, study, then teach.
Choose Your TEFL Course
Anyone over 18 with a good standard of English can enroll. Click Enroll and pay securely at checkout on studytefl.com. You then study on tefl.institute/studytefl, our course platform.
Study TEFL online
Read the lessons, watch the videos, and complete the interactive tasks and quizzes at your own pace, on any device.
Apply for TEFL Jobs
Download your QR-verifiable certificate as soon as you pass, then start applying. Need it apostilled? Our UK partner can do it for £80.
TEFL certification cost FAQs
Short answers about price.
How much does TEFL certification usually cost?+
How much does TEFL certification cost at StudyTEFL?+
Is the certificate included in the price?+
Are there any hidden costs?+
Why is StudyTEFL cheaper than other TEFL courses?+
Is a cheap TEFL course still accredited?+
High-quality, affordable online TEFL certification
Are we perfect? Of course not. But we know good training.
Our TEFL courses stand up well against ones that cost ten times more. We're qualified teachers, so we know what good training looks like.