To apply for the CELTA, you must be able to say ‘yes’ to all of the following:
Are you 18 or older?
Do you have a standard of education equivalent to higher education entry?
Is your English good enough to teach at multiple levels (high C1 minimum)?
Are you comfortable working in a professional setting and giving/receiving feedback on your own and peers’ teaching practice?
Are you comfortable using online tools (e.g., Zoom and Google Drive)? (This is essential for online courses and highly useful for in-person courses).
Please note that, although it is not a requirement to have a university or college degree to join the CELTA, not having one may affect your ability to secure teaching positions, depending on the requirements of the institutions where you plan to work.
No, you do not need teaching experience to apply for or succeed on a CELTA course. The course is designed for people with no teaching experience in mind; however, many experienced teachers also choose to join to improve their skills or for continuous professional development.
Absolutely! You must demonstrate in your written application and pre-course interview that your English is at a C1 level or higher (CEFR). This ensures you can comfortably teach students at various levels and complete the written assignments on the course.
Supporting documentation may be required, such as:
valid IELTS (7.5)
Cambridge CAE (c1), or CPE (c2) certificates
valid Duolingo English Test results (score of minimum 140 points)
The application process for all our courses is the same:
Click ‘Apply for CELTA’ and complete your full online application. Set aside 30-45 minutes to complete this. Please note that there is no fee for sending in your application.
A trainer will review your application. Only full applications with detailed personal statements and pre-interview tasks will be considered for the next stage.
If your application is suitable, a trainer will schedule a 30-45 minute Zoom interview. This allows us to assess your suitability and gives you the chance to see if CELTA is right for you. We encourage you to ask any questions during this interview.
To prepare for the interview, go to this link.
After the interview, you will be notified of the outcome, usually within 72 hours. Successful candidates can then register formally and will receive payment instructions.
Before the course starts, you will receive a pre-course task with solutions to help you prepare.
Then, the course begins!
We strongly encourage applying three to four months before the course start date. Early application gives you time to complete the pre-course task and helps secure your spot.
Please note: courses may be cancelled if the minimum number of trainees is not reached. Last-minute applications carry a higher risk of not being accommodated, so applying early is in your best interest.
Online courses: $2460 CAD (tax included).
In-person courses: $2700 CAD (tax included).
These prices apply up to 31st March 2026.
This includes the Cambridge registration fee and all course tuition. All required materials are provided by ILSC; no additional books or resources need to be purchased.
You will receive a secure link to pay via debit or credit card (card processing fees may apply).
Canadian applicants can also pay via e-mail transfer (interac).
All payments must be completed at least one week before the course starts.
While we may consider late enrollments on a case-by-case basis, we strongly advise against enrolling at the last minute. CELTA is an intensive course, and last-minute enrollment does not allow sufficient time to complete the pre-course task or adequately prepare for the workload.
Late enrollment may also increase the risk of course cancellation if minimum trainee numbers are not met. To secure your place and ensure you are fully prepared, we recommend enrolling 3–4 months before the course start date.
Yes, but only if:
The minimum quota has been met one month before the course.
There is still space available.
If the minimum quota is not reached, the course is cancelled to allow trainees to switch to another course or receive a full refund.
The CELTA course is intensive, but you will gain a solid foundation in teaching English to adult learners, both in theory and practice. By the end of the course, you will be able to:
Understand key principles of effective teaching and classroom management
Develop practical skills for teaching English at a range of levels
Apply your learning in real teaching contexts with feedback from experienced trainers
The course combines teaching practice and written assignments to ensure your practical skills are supported by theoretical understanding.
The syllabus covers five integrated topic areas:
Learners and teachers, and the teaching/learning context
Language analysis and awareness
Language skills: reading, listening, speaking, and writing
Planning and resources for different teaching contexts
Developing teaching skills and professionalism
These topics are not taught in isolation; they are woven throughout the course so that theory and practice complement each other.
Yes! Teaching practice is a key part of CELTA. You will:
Teach real students for 6 hours of assessed teaching, covering two different levels
Deliver 8 lessons in total
Submit a formal lesson plan prior to each lesson
Receive detailed written and verbal feedback from trainers after each lesson
Your teaching practice will help you develop confidence, classroom skills, and professional awareness.
Yes, there are four written assignments (semi-academic in style) spread throughout the course. Each assignment is assessed on a pass/fail basis, with one opportunity to resubmit if needed.
The assignments are:
Skills assignment – focuses on teaching a language skill
Language-related task – develops awareness of grammar, vocabulary, and language use
Focus on the learner – examines learner needs and lesson adaptation
Reflections from the classroom – your observations and reflections on teaching practice
Trainers provide guidance and support to help you complete these assignments successfully.
To achieve the CELTA, you must meet the assessment criteria for:
Lesson planning
Teaching practice
Written assignments
Assessment is internal, carried out by your tutors, and externally moderated by a Cambridge-approved assessor.
The overall assessment aims are that candidates should be able to:
Assess learner needs and plan lessons accordingly
Demonstrate knowledge of language and appropriate teaching strategies
Apply understanding of language skills and how learners acquire them
Prepare lessons that develop learners’ overall language competence
Show professional awareness and responsibility in teaching
Yes. The syllabus, teaching practice, and assignments are the same. The only difference is the teaching environment:
Online: you teach via Zoom
On-campus: you teach in a classroom
All assignments and lesson plans are submitted electronically, regardless of course format.
The weekly time commitment and total course duration depend on the format you choose. Please visit the relevant sections of our website for full details on online and on-campus course schedules.
Regardless of the format, the CELTA is an intensive and demanding course, so you should plan to dedicate a significant amount of time each week to teaching practice, assignments, and course input sessions.
Yes! CELTA is one of the most widely recognised English Language Teaching (ELT) qualifications worldwide. It opens doors to teaching positions around the globe.
If you also have an undergraduate degree in any subject, this can further boost your chances, as some positions in certain countries require it.
CELTA is widely recognised internationally, but whether you can work abroad depends on visa and work permit regulations in the country you choose. We recommend checking local requirements before making plans.
CELTA equips you with general teaching skills that can be applied in many contexts. Typical roles include:
Classroom teaching (online or in-person, full-time or part-time)
One-on-one tutoring
Specialist teaching areas: Young Learners, Academic Preparation, Exam Preparation, Business English, English for Specific Purposes
ELT-related positions: Academic Director, curriculum designer, materials writer, IELTS/TOEFL examiner, administration services
Teaching English is often flexible and can offer opportunities for travel, working from home, or combining with other professional pursuits.
CELTA is internationally recognised, so you can work almost anywhere in the world.
Canada: colleges, universities, and private language schools. Public sector teaching may require additional provincial qualifications.
Internationally: many private language institutions, schools, and online platforms.
Salaries vary greatly depending on location, type of institution, full-time vs. part-time work, and online vs. in-person teaching. CELTA provides the skills to get started in ELT, but your income will also depend on your own initiative, experience, and the local job market.
The timeline for securing your first teaching position varies. Many graduates find jobs quickly, but others may take longer. Your motivation, networking, and proactive applications play a big role in how soon you start teaching.
Yes. During the final days of the course (online or in-person), we provide:
Recommendations for applying to teaching positions in Canada and abroad
Guidance on resumes, interviews, and application strategies
After graduation, you are invited to our closed CELTA alumni group on LinkedIn to network with other graduates and access professional development opportunities. We also provide written references from your trainers to support your job applications.
The CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) is an introductory course for candidates with little or no previous English language teaching experience. It can also be suitable for those with some teaching experience but little formal training.
The course enables candidates to:
Acquire essential subject knowledge and understand the principles of effective teaching
Develop practical skills for teaching English to adult learners
Demonstrate the ability to apply learning in real teaching contexts
Candidates who successfully complete the course can begin working in a variety of ESOL teaching contexts worldwide.
High success rate among candidates
Access to up-to-date resources and reference materials
Highly trained and dedicated tutors providing guidance and support
Personalised attention – we treat each trainee individually and, as a centre, we consistently receive positive feedback from CELTA assessors
Self-study guidance, including ‘how-to’ guides, online self-directed learning, examples of successful plans and assignments, and a detailed schedule to help manage the workload
Post-CELTA support, including a private LinkedIn group, email lists with job opportunities, and professional development resources
CELTA is intense, rigorous, and highly rewarding, whether taken online or in-person. Attendance is expected at 100%, because course content and assessments are integrated and formative. You are assessed regularly by tutors to ensure you can reflect on your teaching and apply the strategies you learn.
While the fail rate is low, missing classes or doing the bare minimum can significantly hinder your progress.
Despite the intensity, CELTA is highly practical and prepares you to work in the classroom immediately after completion.
Yes! You can watch this video or read our testimonials (scroll to the bottom).
The CELTA department does not provide accommodation.
The CELTA course itself does not require a student visa due to its short and intensive format. However, a travel visa may be required depending on your country of origin and Canadian government regulations: Find out if you need a visa to travel to Canada
For consultations on visa applications, you may contact our partners at Encubate Immigration (additional fees apply): Encubate Services.
We can provide a conditional letter of acceptance on the course to support your visa application; however, please note that this does not guarantee your visa will be granted.
To participate in the online CELTA course at ILSC, you will need:
Access to Zoom and a stable Wi-Fi connection (or wired internet, minimum 2–3 Mbps)
A computer with a sufficiently large screen (a second screen is highly recommended)
An integrated or USB webcam and microphone
A professional and quiet space to present yourself clearly on camera during input sessions and teaching practice
No! It is valid for life.
The CELTA certificate only shows your name and grade (Pass, Pass B, or Pass A) and features the official Cambridge logo. It does not include the ILSC logo.
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The CELTA at ILSC is officially approved by Cambridge ESOL as a training centre for online, intensive, and part-time courses. The CELTA is also recognized by both Languages Canada and TESL Canada.
