choosing a TEFL (Teaching English as a foreign Language) course can be tricky. With so numerous options available, you might be wondering which program is best for you.
For those who want to go above and beyond a basic credentials, a rigorous level 5 TEFL certification course might be your best bet!
Generally speaking, TEFL level 5 courses are some of the most widely recognized and accepted TEFL certifications in the business.
They are much more work and are typically much more expensive than a conventional certification, but you could end up with much more job opportunities and a higher salary as a result.
I took my TEFL certification online and it has allowed me to instruct English while working and travelling all around the world! getting certified really is one of the best things I ever did.
This guide will break down the 5 best level 5 TEFL courses on the market today.
Table of Contents
What Is A level 5 TEFL Course?
Who ought to Take A level 5 Course?
1. The TEFL Academy
2. i-to-i TEFL
3. Premier TEFL
4. The TEFL Org
5. TEFL Institute of Ireland
Is A level 5 TEFL certification best For Me?
What Is A level 5 TEFL Course?
To be categorized as a TEFL level 5, the course materials should be regulated by the UK government and should meet higher requirements than conventional TEFL certifications.
The governing body that regulates and monitors level 5 TEFL courses is called The office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation, or Ofqual.
A level 5 TEFL certificate should meet the same standards as a CELTA or TrinityCertTESOL certification. Collectively, these certifications are considered top-tier for aspiring English teachers.
Usually, level 5 TEFL courses are less expensive than CELTA or TrinityCertTESOL courses, making this an inexpensive alternative for someone who wants additional training.
The courses should meet rigorous accreditation and regulatory standards.
As I talk about each program below, I’ll share much more information about their policy and accreditation status.
Who ought to Take A level 5 Course?
Level 5 TEFL courses are much more advanced than conventional TEFL training programs. They require much more work and will take longer to complete, but you’ll leave with a deeper knowledge of teaching practices and a higher level certification.
While a basic TEFL certification will be sufficient for many teaching jobs abroad, having an advanced certification can be valuable if you plan to apply to much more competitive positions.
This could help your application stand apart and give you much more opportunities in the long run.
A level 5 TEFL course is for you if:
You want to instruct abroad in a country with a competitive teaching market
You want to apply for higher-level teaching positions abroad
CELTA and TrinityCertTESOL courses are out of your price range
You don’t mind spending much more time getting a higher-tier TEFL certification
You want to have a deeper knowledge of TEFL practices and methods
1. The TEFL Academy
The TEFL Academy provides two level 5 TEFL course options. Both courses are approved and certified by the distance education Accrediting commission (a USA government body) and Ofqual (a UK government body).
Online level 5 TEFL course (168-hour)
The online course is a 168-hour TEFL certification that can be completed remotely.
It also includes a totally free 30-hour top-up course. students can choose between extra training for company English, teaching young learners, or teaching online.
The course includes modules about:
Lesson planning
Teaching vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar
How to instruct listening and reading
How to instruct speaking and writing
Using materials and resources in the classroom
Because the online level 5 TEFL course from The TEFL Academy is the same level as a CELTA certification, it will be widely accepted no matter where you hope to teach.
Cost of the 168 hour course with The TEFL Academy:
The cost is $530 but it’s typically discounted on their site (It’s currently 50% off, bringing the cost down to $265).
If the price is an essential consideration for you, make sure to check the course description page for the most recent price before making a decision.
Your course fee includes the 168-hour TEFL training, a totally free 30-hour reward course, 6 months of course access, and virtual tutor support.
Combined level 5 TEFL course (168-hour)
The second level 5 TEFL course you can take with The TEFL Academy is a combination program.
In the combination course, you’ll complete a 148-hour online TEFL training and then participate in a 2-day in-person training session for 20 hours. Your total certification will be for 168-hours of coursework.
Like with the fully online option, participants will also get a totally free 30-hour specialty course in a subject area of their choosing.
With the combined course, you’ll receive access to your online training materials right away after you sign up. The TEFL Academy will also give you information about how to sign up for your in-person training days.
During the training days, you’ll get a chance to practice hands-on teaching skills, classroom management, and receive peer feedback.
Cost of the 168 hour combined course with The TEFL Academy:
The cost of this course is $840 but it is typically discounted. This includes the online TEFL course materials and 20 hours of in-person training spanning two days.
If there aren’t any in-person training centers near you, you might need to account for accommodation and transportation fees as well.
click here to learn much more and sign up with the tefl academy
2. i-to-i TEFL
The i-to-i level 5 TEFL courses are regulated by Ofqual and certified by the open and distance learning quality Council. You can choose from three different certification packages which are explained in detail below.
Online level 5 TEFL course (180-hour, 240-hour, or 300-hour)
The 180-hour training from i-to-i TEFL will help you build a strong foundation in teaching while earning a reliable level 5 TEFL certification.
Designed for people who want to go beyond 180-hours of TEFL training, the 240-hour program also includes an extra 60-hour module about online English teaching and teaching students one-on-one.
Finally, students can take a 300-hour level 5 TEFL diploma course fully online as well. The 300-hour course includes everything in the 240-hour course as well as a 60-hour add-on about teaching company English.
Even though all three of these options are online, students will get feedback and support from virtual tutors if needed.
Cost of the 180, 240 and 300 hour courses with i-to-i TEFL:
Below you’ll find the normal prices for each of the online level 5 courses noted above.
Keep in mind that i-to-i TEFL typically runs significant discounts on their courses so it’s worth going to their site to see what the current deals are. (For example, at the time I’m writing this, all courses are discounted 60%)
180-hour online level 5 TEFL: $1,495
240-hour online level 5 TEFL: $1,595
300-hour online level 5 TEFL: $1,695
Combined level 5 TEFL course (200-hour, 260-hour, 320-hour)
i-to-i TEFL also provides combined level 5 TEFL course options. Each of the three combined courses includes one of the options above combined with a 2-day in-person training.
You’ll complete the first portion of your training online in whichever quantity you choose. then you’ll enroll in a hands-on training day where you can put your new skills into practice.
Training days include feedback from an experienced TEFL trainer and a chance to acquire important hands-on teaching experience.
Cost of the 200, 280 and 320 hour courses with i-to-i TEFL:
The prices for the combined courses are as follows. remember to check the site frequently for discounts. best now, these courses are all 60% off!
200-hour combination level 5 TEFL: $1795
280-hour combination level 5 TEFL: $1895
320-hour combination level 5 TEFL: $1995
click here to learn much more and sign up with i-to-i tefl
3. Premier TEFL
The level 5 TEFL course by Premier TEFL is regulated by Ofqual and certified by the Accreditation Council for distance Learning. training Qualifications UK has also approved Premier TEFL as a training center.
168-Hour level 5 TEFL Course
Premier TEFL provides a 168-hour level 5 TEFL course that can be earned completely online.
Students will learn about general teaching viewpoint as well as how to instruct pupils in grammar, speaking, reading, writing, and pronunciation.
The course also covers lesson planning suggestions and how to use teaching resources in your classroom. You’ll walk away from your course feeling much more prepared and confident in your teaching abilities.
The 168-hour program also comes with a totally free 30-hour specialty course about teaching English online.
Cost of the 168 hour course with Premier TEFL:
The cost is $639. check their site for discounts and promotions. They are currently discounted to $259.
4. The TEFL Org
The level 5 courses provided by The TEFL Org are regulated by Ofqual and certified by the British Accreditation Council.
At this time, they offer a self-paced online course as well as a combination online course with virtual practice sessions.
Level 5 online course (168-hour)
The TEFL Org provides a fully online 168-hour TEFL course for a sensible price.
In addition to offering information about how to instruct core concepts to English learners, this course includes entire modules devoted to teaching over the telephone and teaching large classes.
The TEFL Org also includes a module with video observations so you can see how classes look in real life. several student reviews pointed out how valuable it was to see what they were learning put into practice in real classrooms.
They created this course for students who were seeking a deeper TEFL knowledge. While their 120-hour conventional TEFL course is still very popular, this course is a terrific option for aspiring teachers who want a much more rigorous credential.
Cost of the 168 hour course with The TEFL Org:
The course costs $579 but is frequently available for a discounted rate on their website. The courses are currently $169 off.
Level 5 combination course (188-hour)
The TEFL Org also provides a combination online and hands-on course with level 5 distinction. The distinct part about this option is that the hands-on training component can be completed virtually.
While getting to practice teaching skills face to face is ideal, TEFL Org understands that not everyone can take time off for a full-day training.
If you have a busy schedule or don’t live in an area with TEFL training centers nearby, this could be a terrific way to get some customized feedback without missing work or spending a ton of money on travel.
When you enroll in the combination course, you’ll receive instant access to the 168-hour online TEFL course discussed above. You’ll also be able to sign up for an additional 20-hour virtual classroom course.
Virtual classroom courses are provided weekly on a rolling start basis, so you can choose the time and dates that work best for your schedule. You’ll meet over the course of four days for live sessions, so it’s essential to make sure you can attend every meeting.
Cost of the 188 hour combination course with The TEFL Org:
The combination course costs $729. This includes the full 168-hour online course and the 20-hour virtual classroom component. You’ll also get a reference letter from your virtual classroom teacher. The courses are currently $169 off.
click here to learn much more and sign up with The tefl org
5. TEFL Institute of Ireland
This company provides a 180-hour TEFL level 5. They are approved and regulated by Ofqual and certified by the Accreditation Council for distance Learning.
Regulated online level 5 courses (180-hour, 240-hour, 300-hour)
The TEFL Institute of Ireland has three level 5 TEFL training courses available. The 180-hour course will take you through the fundamentals of becoming a teacher and best practices for your classroom.
On its own, this course will leave you prepared and qualified for numerous teaching jobs abroad, but if you want to learn about much more specializations, there are two other courses to consider.
The 240-hour course includes the entire 180-hour TEFL training as well as additional training for teaching English exam preparation.
This course includes a 30-hour module to help students prepare for the IELTS exam and a 30-hour module to help students prepare for the TOEIC exam.
Having this training could make you much more desirable as an instructor or private tutor around the world because numerous English learners wish to prepare for these essential tests — especially if you hope to instruct English as a freelancer, having a background in exam prep could help you attract much more clients.
You can also choose to go a step even more with the 300-hour level 5 TEFL course.
This online course includes everything in the 240-hour course with an additional 30-hour module for teaching company English and an additional 30-hour module for teaching young learners.
Cost of the 180, 240 and 300 hour course with The TEFL Institute of Ireland:
The TEFL Institute of Ireland’s course cost breakdown is noted below:
180-hour online Course: €449
240-hour online Course: €499
300-hour online Course: €596
Is A level 5 TEFL certification best For Me?
A level 5 certification course is a terrific option for those who want an advanced credential without a high price tag.
Even though a basic 120-hour TEFL will qualify you for many teaching abroad jobs, having a level 5 course under your belt could make your application stand apart to employers and allow you to apply for much more competitive opportunities.
Consider your budget, timeline, and what kinds of jobs you hope to pursue in the future. No matter which course you decide on, getting TEFL certified will offer you with numerous opportunities to work and travel around the wo