Start with the certificate, not a platform rumour
A TEFL or TESOL certificate can have different rules depending on its issuer and course. Find the certificate, its transcript or completion record, and the provider’s current learner guidance. Look for an expiry date, renewal condition, assessment result, and any limits on how the credential may be described. If none is stated, ask the issuer in writing.
Job requirements are separate. Treat a job advert as the authority for that application. Save a copy of the advert, then match its wording with your documents: certificate title, course hours where stated, degree status, teaching history, right to work, and technology setup.
Build a small evidence file
- Keep the certificate and transcript in one folder with a plain filename.
- Maintain a one-page teaching log with dates, learner types, formats, and responsibilities.
- Keep three anonymised lesson artefacts: a plan, feedback sample, and learning objective.
- Record platform training and safeguarding or accessibility training with completion dates.
Choose continuing education from the work you want to do
Continuing education is most useful when it closes a visible gap. A teacher preparing adults for exams might study assessment criteria and build timed feedback routines. The course title alone does not establish a pay level or a booking outcome.
| Goal | Useful evidence to build | Question before enrolling |
|---|---|---|
| New online role | Demo lesson and technical checklist | Does the advert require a specific credential? |
| Young learners | Age-appropriate lesson sequence and safeguarding practice | Will this help with the learner group I teach? |
| Exam or academic English | Assessment-aligned feedback sample | Is the provider recognised by the exam or employer? |
| Business English | Needs-analysis form and role-play lesson | Does it strengthen a service I can describe truthfully? |
A practical application check
Before submitting, compare the advert with your evidence line by line. Where a qualification is preferred, say that accurately. Where a platform offers onboarding, complete it only after checking the current platform terms. For example, Magic Ears’ own listing describes a native-English requirement, degree or current degree study, and a preference rather than requirement for teaching experience and TEFL credentials. That is an advert-specific fact, not a general rule for online teaching.
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Primary source consulted: Magic Ears job posting. Check the certificate issuer and employer for current terms.