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For teachers in Ireland

TEFL course Ireland: accredited, from €44

An accredited 120-hour online TEFL for about €44. With an Irish passport and a degree, it's your ticket to teaching in Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan and beyond, or online from home.

€44for an accredited 120-hour TEFL
E-2Irish citizens qualify for Korea's teaching visa
QRverified certificate employers can check
People walking along Anne Street in Dublin towards a church
From €44About $49, paid onceAccredited by OTCAC

The honest comparison

Cheap TEFL vs QQI TEFL vs CELTA

These three qualifications do different jobs. Here's what each one is for, so you only pay for what you actually need.

Swipe sideways to compare all three.

TEFLmasters 120-hourQQI-recognized TEFLCELTA
Typical priceFrom about €44Usually several hundred euros or moreUsually over €1,000
How you study100% online, self-pacedIncludes observed teaching practiceUsually 4 weeks full time, with live teaching practice
AccreditationOTCAC accredited, CPD-verified, UK registered providerRecognized by QQI for Irish language schoolsCambridge English qualification
Best forMost jobs abroad and online that ask for 120 hoursTeaching in English language schools in IrelandLanguage schools and career teachers

Our honest advice: if you want to teach abroad or online, most employers ask for "a 120-hour TEFL". If you want to teach in an Irish language school, choose a QQI-recognized course or a CELTA instead. Check the job adverts first, so you don't spend more than you need to.

Your passport advantage

Where can Irish teachers teach English?

Ireland is on every country's list of native English-speaking countries, so with a degree and a TEFL you can teach almost anywhere.

Save money

The best places to clear debts or build savings.

  • South KoreaE-2 visa, free housing, flights and a month's severance pay. Korea guide
  • ChinaZ visa, housing or an allowance and the most jobs anywhere. China guide
  • TaiwanGood pay and a safe, easy life. Taiwan guide

Live the dream

Lower savings, unforgettable experiences.

  • JapanJET, ALT companies and conversation schools all hire Irish teachers. Japan guide
  • Thailand and VietnamSunshine, street food and jobs for new teachers. Thailand guide
  • Europe, visa-freeAs an EU citizen you can work in Spain, Italy, Portugal and the rest of the EU without a work permit.

Staying in Ireland?

Earn from home while you plan.

  • Online teachingTeach students worldwide on platforms such as Preply, from your sofa.
  • Summer programsLanguage camps for international students hire extra teachers every summer.
  • Irish language schoolsMost ask for a QQI-recognized TEFL with teaching practice, or a CELTA.
A traditional Korean palace and pond

The most popular first job

Why so many Irish teachers start in Korea

With a free apartment and flights often included, many first-year teachers save €700 to €1,350 a month, while living in one of the safest countries in Asia.

  • About €1,450 to €1,850 a monthTypical first-job pay of ₩2.2 to ₩2.8 million, plus housing.
  • A Garda police certificateKorea needs a Police Certificate from An Garda Síochána, apostilled by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
  • Your TEFL mattersEPIK hires at Level 2 and above, and a degree plus a 100+ hour TEFL is the usual way in.

Courses and prices

Choose your TEFL course

One payment, no hidden fees and an accredited certificate at the end. Euro prices are approximate, at about $1.12 to the euro.

Cheapest accredited TEFL

Teaching online

120-hour Premium TEFL

€44one-off$49 charged in US dollars

  • The full 120-hour course, with human-voice narrated video and subtitles
  • Practical scenario tasks and real teaching videos
  • Tutor support, plus the lesson plan and Job Support bundles
  • 12 months to finish

Most popular

120-hour Practical TEFL

€53one-off$59 charged in US dollars

  • A personal tutor and full narrated video
  • 2 written assignments graded by your tutor, with helpful feedback
  • Resubmit after feedback, and your certificate says "with Practical Assignments"
  • 24 months to finish

Kids and teens

168-hour Practical TEFL

€62one-off$69 charged in US dollars

  • Everything in the 120-hour Practical, including tutor-graded lesson plans
  • 40 hours on young learners and 8 on adults
  • Full narrated video for the 120 and 168-hour units
  • 24 months to finish

With every Practical course, a personal tutor grades 2 written lesson plan assignments with helpful feedback within 24 hours, and you can resubmit after feedback. Pass them and your certificate says "with Practical Assignments". Compare all courses

Accredited by OTCAC (20210112A) CPD-verified provider (002991) UK registered learning provider (UKPRN 10089401)

Start early

The documents you'll need from Ireland

Ireland is in the Apostille Convention, and the Department of Foreign Affairs apostilles Irish documents.

Required

Degree, apostilled

Have a solicitor or notary certify a copy of your degree, then get it apostilled by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Required for Asia

Garda police certificate

A Police Certificate from An Garda Síochána, apostilled by the Department of Foreign Affairs. Korea wants it dated within six months of your visa application.

Expected

120-hour TEFL certificate

Needed for EPIK and most jobs in China. Ours can be notarized and apostilled for the visa.

Required

Passport

Valid for at least six months beyond your contract, with empty pages. Renew early if you need to.

Sometimes

Health check

Korea and China do a medical check after you arrive, and some programs ask for a form first.

Easy to forget

Photos and transcripts

Passport photos in a few sizes, and EPIK asks for sealed university transcripts.

A teacher working on a laptop at home

Not ready to move?

Teach English online from Ireland

Irish teachers are popular with online students, especially for conversation, IELTS and Business English. Our $49 120-hour Premium TEFL builds online teaching into every unit.

  • Teach on a platformPreply lets you set your own rate and timetable.
  • Find private studentsIELTS preparation and Business English are always in demand.
  • Remember taxOnline teaching income is taxable, so declare it to Revenue.

FAQ

TEFL courses in Ireland: your questions

Is a cheap online TEFL course legit?

Yes, if it's accredited and the hours are real. Our 120-hour course is accredited by OTCAC and we're CPD-verified. We're also a UK registered learning provider (UKPRN 10089401), and every certificate has a QR code employers can check. It costs less because it's fully online and self-paced.

Which TEFL do I need to teach in Ireland?

Irish English language schools usually ask for a TEFL recognized by QQI (formerly ACELS) that includes observed teaching practice, or a CELTA. To teach abroad or online, most employers ask for a 120-hour TEFL, which costs far less.

Can I teach in Europe with an Irish passport?

Yes. As an EU citizen you can live and work in any EU country without a visa or work permit, which makes Spain, Italy, Portugal, Germany and the rest much easier than for non-EU teachers.

Which background check do Irish citizens need for South Korea?

A Police Certificate from An Garda Síochána, apostilled by the Department of Foreign Affairs. It should be dated within six months of your visa application.

How do I apostille my degree in Ireland?

Have a solicitor or notary certify a copy of your degree, then get it apostilled by the Department of Foreign Affairs, in person in Dublin or by post.

Can I pay in euros?

You pay in US dollars by card or PayPal, and your bank converts it, so $49 is about €44. Some cards add a small foreign transaction fee.

Is an online TEFL accepted in Korea, China and Japan?

Yes. Online TEFL certificates of 100 to 120 hours from accredited providers are widely accepted in Asia, and our graduates have used theirs for teaching visas in South Korea, China, Vietnam, Thailand and Taiwan.

How long does the course take?

It's self-paced. Our 120-hour Premium TEFL gives you 12 months to finish and our other courses give you 24, and many people finish much sooner.

Photos from Unsplash by Gregory Dalleau and Christin Hume.

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