TEFL vs TESOL vs CELTA: what is the difference?

Last checked: 2026-11-06

TEFL and TESOL are general names for English teacher training, while CELTA is one specific qualification from Cambridge. Bridge TEFL says employers and providers generally use TEFL and TESOL as the same thing. CELTA has a fixed syllabus and assessed teaching practice. TEFL courses vary by provider.

The four names compared

	TEFL	TESOL	CELTA	Trinity CertTESOL
What it is	General term: teaching English as a foreign language	General term: teaching English to speakers of other languages. Also used for degrees.	A named Cambridge qualification	A named Trinity College London qualification
Hours	Varies. 120 is the common benchmark, the providers say.	Varies, as for TEFL	At least 120 contact hours, plus 80 hours of other study	200 total hours, with at least 130 guided hours
Teaching practice	Varies by course	Varies by course	6 hours assessed, at two or more levels	At least 6 hours with real learners
Assessment	Set by provider	Set by provider	Continuous, with no final exam. Pass A, Pass B, Pass or Fail.	Set by Trinity's scheme. We did not check the details.
Length	Bridge says most people finish its online 120-hour course in 6 to 12 weeks	Varies	Usually 4 to 5 weeks full time, or a few months to a year part time	At least 4 weeks full time, or 3 months to a year part time
Entry	Set by provider	Set by provider	Age 18 or over, CEFR high C1 or above, and education to higher-education entry level	Age 18 or over, higher-education entry level, and non-native speakers normally at CEFR C1

What it costs

These ranges come from course sellers, so treat them as guides. Cambridge says CELTA fees depend on the centre.

Type	Range	Who says so
120-hour online with a tutor	$300 to $500	Bridge TEFL, September 21, 2026
In-person TEFL/TESOL	$1,500 to $3,000. Bridge says tuition is only part of the cost, so budget for travel and accommodation too.	Bridge TEFL, September 21, 2026
General TEFL course	$200 to $500	The TEFL Academy, September 1, 2026
CELTA	$1,500 to $3,000	The TEFL Academy, September 1, 2026. Not a Cambridge figure.

For today's course prices, see our TEFL page. Both sellers offer their own courses, so they have a reason to frame things in their favor.

Online or in person?

Bridge says the great majority of employers make no distinction between the two. That is a seller's claim, and we could not check it for Japan. CELTA can also be taken online or as a mix. Cambridge says the online route leads to the same certificate. Its 2015 FAQ says teaching practice was face to face. Its current page says you teach either face to face or online, so ask the centre how it works now.

The real question is whether you get observed practice with real learners. The TEFL Academy offers 10 in-class hours, or an online observed practice course, with its Level 5 route. Check what any course includes before you pay.

Where sources disagree

Which name is used where: The TEFL Academy says TEFL is usual in the UK and Europe, and TESOL in the US, Canada and Australia. A Bridge excerpt we read in search says nearly the reverse. Do not rely on either.
What CELTA stands for: Cambridge's page title says Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. A TEFL Academy excerpt we read in search gives a different name.
Format: The TEFL Academy says CELTA is face to face with a blended option. Cambridge also lists fully online study.

Which fits a plan to teach in Japan?

No official Japanese source we read prefers one name. JET calls TESOL and TEFL certification an asset but does not require it. The immigration pages name none of them. This decision rule is our own.

Your plan	What to consider
Applying to JET	No certificate is required, so you can skip one. If you want to show interest in teaching, a lower-cost course may be enough. See JET rules.
A specific private employer	Read its job listing first, and buy what it asks for.
You want assessed practice and a fixed standard	Compare CELTA or CertTESOL with a local centre.
You speak English as a second language	Check the entry level first. See non-native speakers.
A long-term career at an international school	A course like this may not be enough. Schools we checked ask for a teaching license or qualification. See the school examples.

No certificate promises a job, and none replaces a degree where a degree is required.

How we checked: Cambridge, Trinity, Bridge and The TEFL Academy pages were opened directly on November 6, 2026, except where we say we read an excerpt. The JET FAQ was read through a search tool, because the JET Programme site showed a maintenance notice. We have not taken these courses.

Check current courses and prices on the Bridge TEFL site.

See Bridge TEFL courses

Check current courses and prices on The TEFL Academy site.

See The TEFL Academy courses