08
Oct
Short answer first: TEFL isn’t a single certificate, it’s a category. Anyone can call a course “TEFL,” and quality varies enormously between providers. CELTA is one specific, standardised qualification within that category, accredited and quality-controlled by Cambridge Assessment English. Every CELTA course, anywhere in the world, is held to the same standard. Not every TEFL course can say that.
If you’re choosing between the two, the real question isn’t “which name is better”, it’s what each one actually verifies.
TEFL is a field, not a qualification
TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language, and it describes the entire field of teaching English to non-native speakers. The confusion starts because “TEFL certificate” is used loosely to describe hundreds of different courses, ranging from serious, well-supervised programmes to short online courses with little more than a downloadable PDF and a certificate at the end.
There is no single accrediting body for TEFL. Some providers hold accreditation from recognised organisations; others describe themselves as “accredited” without any meaningful oversight. The number of hours listed, commonly 120, can also be misleading, since a self-paced course with no live teaching practice isn’t equivalent to one built around observed, assessed lessons with real students.
This doesn’t mean all TEFL courses are weak. It means the label alone tells you very little, and it’s on the candidate to check who’s actually behind the course.
CELTA is a specific, regulated qualification
CELTA (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) is technically a type of TEFL qualification, but a tightly defined one. It is awarded by Cambridge Assessment English, part of the University of Cambridge, and delivered only through centres that Cambridge has formally authorised and continues to monitor.
A few concrete differences that follow from this:
- Standardisation. Every CELTA course covers the same core syllabus and assessment criteria, whichever centre you take it at, in whichever country.
- Guaranteed teaching practice. CELTA courses include a substantial component of real, observed teaching practice with actual learners, followed by structured feedback, this isn’t optional or a smaller add-on, as it often is in unregulated TEFL courses.
- Course length. Cambridge specifies a minimum of 120 hours of input, teaching practice, and assessed written work, typically delivered over four to five weeks full-time, or spread across a part-time online format lasting several months.
- Global recognition. According to Cambridge’s own review of English-teaching job postings across 27 international employment sites, the large majority of ELT roles that specified a qualification asked for CELTA by name.
So does CELTA “count” as TEFL, or is it separate?
It counts and then some. When employers write “TEFL certificate required” in a job listing, they are almost never excluding CELTA; CELTA satisfies that requirement and is usually treated as the stronger option on a CV, precisely because its standard is guaranteed rather than provider-dependent.
Where the two genuinely diverge is in what you’re paying for and what you’re risking. A generic TEFL course may be cheaper and faster, but you’re relying entirely on that specific provider’s quality. With CELTA, you’re relying on a standard set and enforced by Cambridge, applied consistently across every authorised centre.
Which one should you actually choose?
There’s no universally “right” answer, but a few honest distinctions help:
- If you want a qualification that’s recognised the same way by every serious language school, wherever you end up teaching, CELTA removes the guesswork.
- If you’re testing the waters before committing to teaching as a career, a shorter, lower-cost TEFL course from a reputable, accredited provider can be a reasonable first step.
- If you already teach but have never had formal, observed feedback on your practice, CELTA’s teaching-practice component addresses a gap that most TEFL courses simply don’t include.
What CELTA does not offer is a shortcut. It is more demanding, more structured, and more expensive than a typical TEFL course, but that’s also exactly what gives the certificate its weight with employers.
How CELTA Training Romania fits into this
CELTA Training Romania, developed by Shakespeare School, has been the first and only Cambridge-authorised CELTA centre in the country since 2014. That matters here specifically because authorisation isn’t a one-time badge, Cambridge continues to monitor centres to keep the standard consistent, which is the entire point of choosing CELTA over an unregulated TEFL course in the first place.
As we like to say, CELTA is the same certificate everywhere. The experience of getting it is not.
For 2027, we offer two flexible ways to earn your Cambridge CELTA qualification: a Part-Time Online course and an Intensive Face-to-Face course in Bucharest. Both lead to the same internationally recognised certificate, with different learning experiences to suit your schedule, preferences and goals.
Explore our two CELTA course formats or get in touch with our CELTA team if you need guidance on choosing the right path, whether that’s CELTA or a general TEFL course.
FAQ
Is CELTA more respected than TEFL by employers? Generally, yes, not because the name carries more prestige on its own, but because CELTA guarantees a standardised syllabus, assessed teaching practice, and Cambridge oversight, which many TEFL courses can’t guarantee.
Can I get a teaching job with just a TEFL certificate? Often, yes, particularly for less formal or online teaching roles. For competitive positions at established language schools, CELTA is more frequently requested by name.
Is CELTA a type of TEFL, or something completely separate? CELTA is a specific, Cambridge-accredited qualification within the broader TEFL field, think of TEFL as the category and CELTA as one clearly defined, standardised course within it.
Why is CELTA more expensive than most TEFL courses? The cost reflects a fixed minimum of 120 hours, mandatory observed teaching practice with real learners, individual feedback from qualified trainers, and Cambridge’s ongoing quality control of every authorised centre.
If I already have a TEFL certificate, is CELTA worth doing afterwards? It can be, especially if your TEFL course didn’t include supervised teaching practice, that hands-on, feedback-driven component is where CELTA differs most from shorter or self-paced alternatives.