For teachers in Kenya

Online TEFL course in Kenya

Teach English online, earn in dollars or take your teaching to the Middle East and Asia. Get an accredited 120-hour TEFL certificate from just KSh 6,350, pay with M-PESA, card or PayPal and get a certificate employers can check online. We'll be honest about where a Kenyan passport can and can't take you, too.

See courses and prices Where can I teach?

KSh 6,350for an accredited 120-hour TEFL

100%online, at your own pace

QRverified certificate employers can check

A giraffe in Nairobi National Park with the Nairobi skyline behind — **From KSh 6,350**$49, paid onceAccredited by OTCAC

The honest answer

Where can Kenyan teachers teach English?

Your English can be excellent, but visa rules depend on your passport. Here's where Kenyan teachers find work, where it's harder and where it's usually closed.

Open to Kenyan teachers

Your best places to start.

Online, from homeTeach students all over the world, with no visa and your own hours. Teaching online
The Middle EastThe UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar hire many Kenyan teachers, especially with a teaching degree, TSC registration and experience.
At homeLanguage centers, private tutoring and international schools in Nairobi and Mombasa all value ESL training.
JapanNo nationality limit on teaching visas, and many schools hire non-native speakers with a degree. Japan guide

Possible, but harder

Worth it with the right profile.

Thailand and CambodiaBoth hire African teachers, though some schools still prefer native speakers. Thailand needs a degree, and some schools ask for a TOEIC or IELTS score. Thailand guide
VietnamWork permits are stricter for non-native speakers, so choose an employer that handles yours properly. Vietnam guide
Malaysia and IndonesiaSome language schools hire non-native teachers with a degree, a TEFL and experience.

Usually closed

Check carefully before you plan around these.

ChinaEnglish teaching work permits usually go to citizens of 7 native English-speaking countries.
South KoreaThe E-2 visa for English teachers is limited to the same 7 countries.
Hong Kong NET SchemeThe government scheme is for native-speaking English teachers.

The Burj Khalifa and skyscrapers in Dubai — Dubai, UAE

Wat Kasattrathirat temple in Ayutthaya, Thailand — Thailand

People walking toward Angkor Wat in Cambodia — Cambodia

Visa rules change often. Always check with the employer and the embassy of the country before you accept a job abroad or pay any fees, and only use recruitment agencies registered with the National Employment Authority.

Start this month

Teach English online from Kenya

Online teaching is the quickest way to earn with your TEFL. You choose your hours, you don't need a visa and you can earn in dollars.

Teach on a platformPreply lets you set your own rate, and on italki a TEFL can help you apply for a Professional Teacher profile.
Find private studentsIELTS, Business English and conversation classes are in demand, in Kenya and around the world.
Stand out with a TEFLWith so many online teachers, a TEFL certificate on your profile helps students choose you and lets you charge more.

The $49 online TEFL course

Children sitting at their desks in a Kenyan classroom

Close to home

Teaching English in Kenya with a TEFL

English is an official language in Kenya, but teaching it as a second language is a skill of its own. A TEFL shows you're trained to teach learners who are still building their English.

IELTS and language centersStudents preparing to study and work abroad, and newcomers to Kenya, need good English teachers.
SchoolsKenyan schools need TSC registration, and at international schools young learner skills are a big plus. Teaching young learners
Business EnglishCompanies and NGOs in Nairobi run English classes for staff, often online.

Courses and prices

Choose your TEFL course

One payment, no hidden fees and an accredited certificate at the end. Shilling prices are approximate, at about KSh 129.8 to the dollar.

Lowest price

Teaching online

120-hour Premium TEFL

KSh 6,350one-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

Enroll now See the course

120-hour Practical TEFL

KSh 7,660one-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

Enroll now See the course

Kids, adults and business

220-hour Practical TEFL

KSh 10,260one-off$79 charged in US dollars

Everything in the 168-hour course, including tutor-graded lesson plans
40 hours of Business English
220, 168 and 120-hour certificates
24 months to finish

Enroll now See the course

Teaching mostly children? The 168-hour course is $69. 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

Paying from Kenya? You pay in US dollars by card, PayPal or an M-PESA GlobalPay virtual Visa card, which you can set up in the M-PESA app. Make sure your bank card is enabled for international online payments. Your bank or Safaricom converts the price to shillings.

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

Teaching abroad?

The documents you'll need from Kenya

Kenya isn't part of the Apostille Convention, so your documents are authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then legalized by the embassy of the country you're going to. Start early.

Usually required

Degree and transcript

Verified by your university, certified by the Ministry of Education and authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then legalized by the embassy.

Usually required

Certificate of Good Conduct

Your police clearance from the DCI. Apply on eCitizen, then have it authenticated for your destination.

Expected

120-hour TEFL certificate

The standard most schools and platforms ask for. Ours can be notarized and apostilled for a visa.

Often helps

IELTS or TOEIC score

Many schools abroad ask non-native speakers to prove their English. A C1 or C2 level makes a strong impression.

A big plus

Teaching degree and TSC registration

If you have them, include them. Schools in the Middle East value teaching qualifications and experience highly.

Required

Kenyan passport

Valid for at least six months beyond your contract. Check the visa rules for the country well before you fly.

Your roadmap

From TEFL course to first class in 3 steps

1
This week
Enroll and start learning
Pay once, log in straight away and study on your phone or laptop, whenever suits you.
2
In a few weeks
Get your certificate
Finish the units and quizzes, then download your QR-verified certificate the same day.
3
Straight after
Start applying
Add your TEFL to your online teaching profiles, or use our recruiter links and Job Support bundle to apply abroad. Browse TEFL jobs

FAQ

TEFL in Kenya: your questions

Can Kenyans teach English abroad?

Yes. Kenyan teachers work in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar and in parts of Asia such as Thailand and Cambodia, as well as online all over the world. A few countries, such as China and South Korea, usually only give English teaching visas to citizens of 7 native English-speaking countries, so check where you're eligible before you apply.

Can Kenyans teach English in China or Korea?

Usually not as an English teacher. South Korea's E-2 visa and China's English teaching work permit are normally limited to the US, UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The Middle East, Thailand and online teaching are much more open to Kenyan teachers.

Can I pay for the course with M-PESA?

Yes. You can pay with an M-PESA GlobalPay virtual Visa card, which works with international online stores that accept Visa. You can also pay by debit or credit card, or with PayPal. $49 is about KSh 6,350.

Is a TEFL useful if I'm a TSC-registered teacher?

Yes. Your TSC registration and teaching degree are what Kenyan schools look for, and international schools abroad value them too. A TEFL adds training in teaching English as a second language, which language schools, online platforms and employers abroad often ask for.

Can I teach English online from Kenya?

Yes, and it's the quickest way to start. Platforms such as Preply let you set your own rate, and on italki a TEFL is one of the credentials you can use to apply for a Professional Teacher profile. You'll need good internet, a backup power plan and a quiet space.

Do I need IELTS to teach English abroad?

Not always, but it helps. Some schools and visa routes ask non-native speakers for an IELTS or TOEIC score, even though English is an official language in Kenya. A high score, a degree and a TEFL certificate together make a strong application.

How do I get my documents ready to teach abroad?

Kenya isn't part of the Apostille Convention, so documents are authenticated rather than apostilled. Your university verifies your degree, the Ministry of Education certifies it and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs authenticates it, then the embassy of the country you're going to legalizes it. Our certificate can be notarized and apostilled too.

Is the TEFLmasters certificate accepted?

Our courses are accredited by OTCAC, and every certificate has a QR code employers can check online. Employers decide who they hire, so always read the job advert, but a 120-hour accredited TEFL is the standard most ask for.

Get TEFL certified from KSh 6,350 Ask us a question

Photos from Unsplash by Grace Nandi, David Rodrigo, bckfwd, allPhoto Bangkok, Christin Hume and Oscar Omondi.