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For teachers in Nigeria

Online TEFL course in Nigeria

Get an accredited 120-hour TEFL certificate from home for $49, about ₦65,220. Teach English online, in Nigeria, across West Africa or further abroad. We'll also be straight with you about where a Nigerian passport can and can't take you, so you buy the right course.

See courses and prices Where can I teach?
$49for an accredited 120-hour TEFL
100%online, at your own pace
QRverified certificate employers can check
A teacher in front of a class of secondary school students in Port Harcourt
From $49About ₦65,220, paid onceAccredited by OTCAC

The honest answer

Where can Nigerian teachers teach English?

English is Nigeria's official language, but most visa rules use a short list of "native" countries that doesn't include Nigeria. Here's where Nigerian teachers find work, where it's harder and where it's usually closed.

Open to Nigerian teachers

Your best places to start.

  • Online, from homeTeach students worldwide on platforms or privately. No visa needed.
  • NigeriaPrivate schools, IELTS and TOEFL coaching centers and tutoring companies.
  • Francophone West AfricaLanguage schools in Benin, Togo, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal hire English teachers, and ECOWAS rules make moving easier.
  • Thailand and CambodiaBoth hire non-native teachers. Thailand needs a degree, and some schools ask for a TOEIC or IELTS score. Thailand guide

Possible, but harder

Worth it with the right profile.

  • JapanJapan doesn't limit teaching visas by nationality, but it's competitive. A degree and strong English are a must. Japan guide
  • The Middle EastInternational and private schools hire qualified teachers, especially with a teaching qualification. English-only roles often prefer native passports.
  • Vietnam, Europe and Latin AmericaPossible with a degree, a TEFL and a high IELTS score, but work permits and native-speaker preferences make it harder.

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.

Visa rules change often. Always check with the employer and the embassy before you accept a job or pay any fees, and never pay an "agent" to get you a teaching visa.

Two colleagues working on a laptop in a café in Lagos

Start this month

Teach English online from Nigeria

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

  • Teach on a platformPreply lets you set your own rate, and Engoo and Native Camp hire tutors from many countries. Check each platform's rules before you apply.
  • Find private studentsIELTS preparation, conversation practice and Business English are in demand, including from French-speaking countries nearby.
  • Plan for power and dataA power bank or inverter and a backup data plan keep your lessons running through power cuts.
The $49 online TEFL course
Children sitting in a classroom in Lagos

Close to home

Teaching English in Nigeria with a TEFL

Good English teachers are always in demand, from private schools to exam coaching. A TEFL certificate shows you know how to teach English, not just speak it.

  • IELTS and TOEFL coachingWith so many Nigerians studying and working abroad, exam coaching is a growing field.
  • Private schoolsA TEFL helps you stand out, though permanent school jobs usually also need TRCN registration.
  • Corporate and tutoring workCompanies and families pay for communication skills and one-to-one lessons.

Courses and prices

Choose your TEFL course

One payment, no hidden fees and an accredited certificate at the end. Naira prices are approximate, at about 1,330 naira to the dollar, and your bank's rate may differ.

Teaching online

120-hour Premium TEFL

$49one-offAbout ₦65,220

  • 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 nowSee the course
Most popular

Teach anywhere

120-hour Practical TEFL

$59one-offAbout ₦65,200

  • 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 nowSee the course

Kids and teens

168-hour Practical TEFL

$69one-offAbout ₦78,500

  • 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
Enroll nowSee the course

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 Nigeria? You pay in US dollars by card or PayPal. Many naira cards have low or blocked international limits, so a dollar (domiciliary) card or a virtual dollar card from your bank or a fintech app usually works best. If a payment fails, email us at support@teflmasters.com and we'll help.

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

Teaching abroad?

The documents you'll need from Nigeria

Most schools abroad ask for the same set of papers. Nigerian documents can take a while to authenticate, so start early.

Usually required

Bachelor's degree, authenticated

Nigeria isn't in the Apostille Convention, so your degree is usually authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then legalized by the embassy of the country you're going to.

Usually required

Police Character Certificate

Your background check, from the Nigeria Police Force. Check how recent your employer needs it to be.

Expected

120-hour TEFL certificate

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

Often helps

IELTS score

Many schools and some visas ask for proof of English. A high IELTS score makes you a much stronger applicant.

Required

Passport

Valid for at least six months beyond your contract, with empty pages for visas.

Easy to forget

Resume and intro video

Add a professional headshot, and record a short, well-lit intro video for online teaching jobs.

Your roadmap

From TEFL course to first class in 3 steps

  1. 1

    This week

    Enroll and start learning

    Pay once, log in straight away and study on your phone or laptop. The course works well on mobile data.

  2. 2

    In a few weeks

    Get your certificate

    Finish the units and quizzes, then download your QR-verified certificate the same day.

  3. 3

    Straight after

    Start applying

    Set up your online teaching profile, or use our recruiter links and Job Support bundle to apply abroad. Browse TEFL jobs

FAQ

TEFL in Nigeria: your questions

Can Nigerians teach English abroad?

Yes. Nigerian teachers work in Thailand, Cambodia, Francophone West Africa, the Middle East and online all over the world. Some countries, such as China and South Korea, usually only give English teaching visas to citizens of a short list of native English-speaking countries, so check where you're eligible before you apply.

English is Nigeria's official language. Doesn't that make me a native speaker?

In everyday life, often yes. But most visa rules use a fixed list of countries, usually the US, UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, and Nigeria isn't on it. A TEFL certificate and a strong IELTS score are the best ways to show employers your level.

How do I pay for the course from Nigeria?

You pay $49 in US dollars, about ₦65,220 by card or PayPal on teflmasters.com. Many naira cards have low or blocked international limits, so a dollar (domiciliary) card, a virtual dollar card or PayPal usually works best.

Can I teach English online from Nigeria?

Yes, and it's the fastest way to start earning. Platforms such as Preply let you set your own rate, and you can also teach private students. You'll need steady power and internet, so a backup like a power bank or inverter and a mobile data plan helps.

Is a TEFL useful for teaching in Nigeria?

Yes. Private schools, IELTS and TOEFL coaching centers and tutoring companies value a TEFL certificate. For permanent jobs in government schools you'll still need the usual Nigerian teaching qualifications and TRCN registration.

Can I teach in other West African countries?

Yes. Language schools in French-speaking countries such as Benin, Togo, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal hire English teachers, and ECOWAS rules make it easier for Nigerians to live and work in member countries.

How do I get my documents ready to teach abroad?

Nigeria isn't part of the Apostille Convention, so documents such as your degree are usually authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then legalized by the embassy of the country you're going to. Your background check is a Police Character Certificate from the Nigeria Police Force.

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 for $49Ask us a question

Photos from Unsplash by Emmanuel Ikwuegbu, Francis Odeyemi and Doug Linstedt.

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