For teachers in the Philippines

Online TEFL course in the Philippines

Q: How do I pay for the course from the Philippines?

You pay $49, about ₱5,200 by card or PayPal on teflmasters.com. If your bank card is declined for international payments, PayPal or an e-wallet virtual card such as GCash or Maya usually works.

Filipino teachers are some of the most in-demand English teachers in the world, online and across Asia. Add an accredited 120-hour TEFL certificate, from just ₱3,080, and stand out for online platforms, ESL academies and schools abroad. We'll be honest about where your passport can and can't take you, too.

See courses and prices Where can I teach?

₱3,080for an accredited 120-hour TEFL

100%online, at your own pace

QRverified certificate employers can check

The Banaue rice terraces in Ifugao, northern Luzon — **From ₱3,080**$49, paid onceAccredited by OTCAC

The honest answer

Where can Filipino teachers teach English?

Your English is world-class, but visa rules depend on your passport, not your accent. Here's where Filipino teachers find work, where it's harder and where it's usually closed.

Open to Filipino teachers

Your best places to start.

Online, from homeOne of the biggest markets for Filipino teachers, with students from Japan, Korea, China and beyond.
ESL academies at homeCebu, Baguio and Clark have many schools for Korean, Japanese and Taiwanese students.
Thailand and CambodiaBoth hire many Filipino teachers. Thailand needs a degree, and some schools ask for a TOEIC score. Thailand guide
JapanNo nationality limit on teaching visas, and ALT companies and conversation schools hire Filipinos with a degree. Japan guide

Possible, but harder

Worth it with the right profile.

VietnamMany Filipino teachers work there, but work permits are stricter for non-native speakers, so choose an employer that handles yours properly.
The Middle EastInternational schools hire licensed teachers, and your LET and PRC license make a big difference.
Indonesia and MalaysiaSome language schools hire Filipinos, especially 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.

Visa rules change often. Always check with the employer, the embassy and the DMW before you accept a job abroad or pay any fees, and only work with licensed recruitment agencies.

Start this month

Teach English online from the Philippines

Online teaching is the quickest way to earn with your TEFL. You choose your hours, you don't need a visa and students from all over Asia are looking for Filipino teachers.

Teach on a platformNative Camp and Engoo have large teams of Filipino tutors, and Preply lets you set your own rate.
Find private studentsBusiness English, IELTS and conversation practice are in demand from Japan, Korea and China.
Stand out with a TEFLWith so many online teachers, a TEFL certificate on your profile helps you get chosen and charge more.

The $49 online TEFL course

Close to home

Teaching English in the Philippines with a TEFL

Students fly in from all over Asia to learn English in the Philippines. A TEFL certificate shows you're trained to teach English as a second language, not just to speak it well.

ESL academiesCebu, Baguio and Clark have schools for Korean, Japanese and Taiwanese students, often with intensive one-to-one lessons.
Online teaching hubsSome companies run teaching offices in big cities, a good option if your home internet isn't reliable.
SchoolsDepEd and most private schools need the LET and a PRC license. A TEFL adds ESL skills on top.

Courses and prices

Choose your TEFL course

One payment, no hidden fees and an accredited certificate at the end. Peso prices are approximate, at about 62.7 pesos to the dollar.

Lowest price

Teaching online

120-hour Premium TEFL

₱3,080one-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

₱3,700one-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 and teens

168-hour Practical TEFL

₱4,330one-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

Enroll now See 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 the Philippines? You pay in US dollars by card or PayPal, and your bank converts it to pesos. If your bank card is declined for international payments, PayPal or an e-wallet virtual card such as GCash or Maya usually works.

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

Teaching abroad?

The documents you'll need from the Philippines

The Philippines is part of the Apostille Convention, so the DFA can apostille your documents for use abroad. Start early, as CHED and NBI steps take time.

Usually required

Diploma and transcript

Get a CHED CAV (Certification, Authentication and Verification) for your diploma and transcript, then a DFA apostille.

Usually required

NBI Clearance

Your background check. Apply online with the NBI, then have it apostilled by the DFA if your employer needs it.

Expected

120-hour TEFL certificate

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

Often helps

TOEIC or IELTS score

Some schools abroad, especially in Thailand, ask non-native speakers for an English test score.

A big plus

LET and PRC license

If you have them, include them. International schools and the Middle East value them highly.

Required

Passport

Valid for at least six months beyond your contract. Working abroad may also need DMW processing as an OFW.

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 the Philippines: your questions

Can Filipinos teach English abroad?

Yes. Filipino teachers work in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Japan, Indonesia and the Middle East, and 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 Filipinos teach English in Korea or China?

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. Japan, Thailand and Vietnam are much more open to Filipino teachers.

Which online companies hire Filipino teachers?

Many do. Native Camp and Engoo have large teams of Filipino tutors, and on Preply you can set your own rate and find students yourself. Requirements change often, so check each platform before you apply.

Do I need a TEFL if I already passed the LET?

The LET and your PRC license are what DepEd and most international schools look for. A TEFL adds something different: it shows you're trained to teach English as a second language, which ESL academies, online platforms and schools abroad often ask for.

How do I pay for the course from the Philippines?

You pay $49, about ₱3,080 by card or PayPal on teflmasters.com. If your bank card is declined for international payments, PayPal or an e-wallet virtual card such as GCash or Maya usually works.

How do I get my documents ready to teach abroad?

The Philippines is part of the Apostille Convention. Get a CHED CAV for your diploma and transcript, then an apostille from the DFA. Your background check is an NBI Clearance, which the DFA can apostille too.

Are there ESL jobs in the Philippines itself?

Yes. Cebu, Baguio and Clark have many ESL academies that teach Korean, Japanese and Taiwanese students who travel to the Philippines to learn English, and they often value a TEFL certificate.

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.

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Photos from Unsplash by Frances Barcelo, Alexes Gerard and Christin Hume.