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120-hour Advanced TESOL Certificate

120-hour Advanced TESOL Certificate

Meet job requirements worldwide.

The 120-hour Advanced TESOL Certificate course is recommended for those who want the flexibility to go abroad, teach online, and qualify for ESL teaching positions in Canada or the USA.

  • Valid for teaching abroad, online, and in Canada/USA!
  • Asynchronous: Study online at your own pace.
  • Learn advanced lesson planning skills
  • Tutor support and feedback
  • Interactive textbook (printable/online/mobile)
  • Pre-recorded video tutorials, task-integrated ESL class observations, and lab assignment preparation videos. 
  • Lifetime job assistance and job board

Recognized by TESL Canada (Standard Level 1) and TESL Ontario (CTESOL)

Accredited by ACCET
Earn 12 U.S. CEU’s

120-hour Advanced TESOL Certificate

Meet job requirements worldwide. The 120-hour Advanced TESOL Certificate course is recommended for those who want the flexibility to go abroad, teach online, and qualify for ESL teaching positions in Canada or the USA.

Online TESOL Course Recognized by TESL Canada and TESL Ontario

TESL Canada Standard 1 / TESL Ontario CTESOL
– Equivalent to CELTA / Trinity CertTESOL

OnTESOL is Accredited by ACCET

Earn 12 U.S. Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

  • Valid for teaching abroad, online, and in Canada/USA!
  • Asynchronous: Study online at your own pace.
  • Learn advanced lesson planning skills
  • Leads to TESL Canada and TESL Ontario certification to teach in Canada
  • Accredited by ACCET: Earn 12 CEUs to meet employment requirements in the USA
  • Tutor support and feedback
  • Interactive textbook (printable/online/mobile)
  • Pre-recorded video tutorials, task-integrated ESL class observations, and lab assignment preparation videos. 
  • Lifetime job assistance and job board
  • Add 12-hour Live TESOL / TEFL Module via Zoom to attend live lectures with other peers, ask live questions, and participate in group activities
  • Add 20-hour TEYL, Teaching IELTS, Teaching Online, and Teaching Business English to save $199 on each specialist course.
  • Complete an optional and separate 20-hour Practicum

Overview: 120-hour Advanced TESOL Certificate

Get Certified to Teach English Worldwide!

Recognized Internationally


Institutionally accredited in the USA. Course accredited at same level as major Canadian universities

Use your OnTESOL certificate to teach English abroad, teach English online, and teach English in Canada or the USA. 

This course leads to TESL Canada and TESL Ontario certification, so you never have to take another 120-hour TESOL / TEFL / TESL / CELTA course again to progress in your career.

Earn 12 CEUs to maintain your teaching license and meet employment requirements in the USA.

Learning Outcomes


Academically equivalent to the UK-based CELTA and Trinity CertTESOL courses.

At OnTESOL, we prioritize advanced lesson planning skills, equipping you with the tools to design grammar, vocabulary, receptive skills, and productive skills lessons for any level.

Our comprehensive training encompasses grammar, phonology, and methodology, providing a solid theoretical foundation. But it’s our practical approach that truly sets us apart. Our 120-hour course includes three (3) hands-on Lab Assignments – a unique feature that goes beyond the usual reflection essays and multiple choice tests found in other online TESOL/TEFL courses.

Practical Skills for Your Classroom


Learn professional skills to teach English worldwide so you will not need to complete another 120-hour TESOL/TEFL/TESL/CELTA to change countries or jobs.

Learn the teaching methods and lesson planning frameworks that you need to teach fun and effective English lessons to different levels of students, anywhere in the world.   By the end of this online TESOL course, you will be equipped with the skills to plan communicative and task-based lessons, adapt to any ESL curriculum in the world, and supplement the traditional ESL textbook with more engaging authentic material such as newspaper articles, movies, and songs. 

ACCREDITATION & REQUIREMENTS

Earn a TESOL Certification that is Valid Worldwide!

120-hour Advanced TESOL Certificate

On completion of the 120-hour online program, you will receive the 120-hour Advanced TESOL Certificate issued by Coventry House International – OnTESOL from Toronto, Canada. 

This 120-hour TESOL certification meets the requirements for English teaching jobs abroad and online.

ACCET: Accrediting Council for Continuing Education & Training

Earn 12 Continuing Education Units, accredited by a U.S. Department of Education-recognized agency.

Course Entry Requirements

  • Native-English speaker or have the ability to communicate clearly in English.
  • The minimum age limit is 18 years old.
  • A university degree is not required, but candidates who want to teach English abroad are advised that a university degree is necessary to obtain the work permit in most countries.

TESL Canada Standard Level 1 & TESOL Ontario CTESOL

Complete a separate 20-hour Practicum to receive the 140-hour Advanced TESOL Certificate with Practicum and qualify for TESL Canada and/or TESL Ontario certification. 

TESL Canada Professional Standard 1 certification is the minimum requirement for English teaching jobs in Canada

ACCET: Accrediting Council for Continuing Education & Training

Accreditation Requirements

  • 120-hour Advanced TESOL Certificate course by Coventry House International – OnTESOL.
  • 20-hour Practicum.
  • University degree from Canada or equivalent
  • 21+ years old.
  • Native-English speaker, degree from a native-English speaking country, or proof of language proficiency

See accreditation requirements

How it Works

Asynchronous Option:
Stand-Alone Online Course

Take full control of your learning with the self-paced 120-hour Advanced TESOL Certificate.

With up to 6 months to complete the course, you can move through the modules at your own pace, mastering the material as you go. The flexible structure ensures that you can focus fully on each section, submit assignments when you’re ready, and finish the course within the timeframe that works for you.

Key Benefits:

  • Flexibility: Study at your own pace with no fixed deadlines for assignments. You have up to 6 months to complete the course, giving you the freedom to progress through the material as it suits you, with only the final course completion date to keep in mind.
  • Tutor Support: Throughout the course, you’ll have access to a dedicated tutor who will review your assignments, provide detailed feedback, and be available to answer any questions you have as you work through the modules.

120-hour Advanced TESOL Certificate

Tuition Fee:
CA$650
US$489

Semi-synchronous Option: 
Add the 12-hour Live Module

Looking for a more engaging and interactive learning experience? Add the 12-hour Live TESOL / TEFL Module!

This option combines the flexibility of self-paced learning with the dynamic, interactive experience of live, instructor-led sessions, helping you engage more deeply with the material, improve your performance in the lesson planning Lab Assignments, and complete the course more efficiently.

Key Benefits:

  • Interactive Learning: Participate in live sessions focused on grammar, phonology, and lesson planning. Each session includes live Q&A and practical group activities.
  • Continued Self-Paced Learning: Progress through the course at your own pace, with the option to join monthly live sessions when they fit your schedule. You’ll gain access to each session as you reach the relevant grammar, phonology, and methodology modules. (See Schedule and learn more)

Add the 12-hour Live TESOL / TEFL Module

Extra fee:
CA$100
US$79

What’s Included in the Tuition Fee?

OnTESOL's online learning platform

All Course Material

All course material is included in the tuition fee. You can access our responsive student portal from your desktop, phone, or table and you also have the option to download each chapter in PDF for printing and/or offline viewing.

  • Textbooks
  • Video Tutorials
  • Recorded ESL Lessons
  • Interactive Practice Quizzes to Keep You Engaged and Monitor Your Progress

120-Hour Advanced TESOL Certificate and Transcript

Graduates will receive a 120-hour Advanced TESOL certificate and transcript issued by Coventry House International – OnTESOL.

All certificates and transcripts are sent by mail from our office in Toronto. Graduates may also download a digital copy from the student portal.

The certificate is signed by our Director of Studies, stamped, and includes a unique verification number for employers.

Professional Tutor Support

An experienced teacher trainer will be assigned to assist you throughout the program. Your tutor will provide you with extensive feedback on every assignment to help you improve your teaching methods.

OnTESOL only hires teacher trainers with more than 10 years of experience in the ESL classroom and more than 5 years of experience in CELTA, Trinity CertTESOL, or TESL Canada approved courses.

All our tutors are recognized by TESL Canada and TESL Ontario, so you are guaranteed to receive professional tutor support from a qualified and experienced teacher trainer.

Job Placement Assistance

  • Job Board
  • Assistance with resume and job interview preparation
  • List of 1000+ ESL Schools From All Over the World

Tuition Fee: CA$650

Tuition Fee: US$489

Save
CA$199
US$160
when you add a 20-hour specialist on Teaching English to Young Learners, Teaching English Online, Teaching Business English, or Teaching IELTS.

OVERVIEW

SYLLABUS


COURSE DURATION AND MODE OF ASSESSMENT:

There are a total of 5 assignments, 6 quizzes, discussion forums, and two exams required to pass the 120-hour Advanced TESOL Certificate course, including 3 lesson planning labs. A personal tutor will be assigned to correct your assignments, provide you with feedback, and answer your questions.

This online TESOL course is asynchronous. You can enroll any time and study at your pace for a maximum of 6 months. You will pass the course after completing all the required tests and assignments. The minimum time it takes to complete the 120-hour Advanced TESOL Certificate course is 4 weeks.

Module 1: Study Skills, Learning Preferences and the Adult Learner

  • 10 HOURS
  • 1 QUIZ – 1 FORUM DISCUSSION ACTIVITY

This module contains general information on the ESL/EFL/ELT industry and explains the characteristics of the adult learner (Andragogy), types of learning styles, and study skills techniques to help students maximize the learning process.

Module 2A: Grammar

  • 25 HOURS
  • 1 EXAM

In this module, we will cover the basics of English grammar. This material is designed to be accessible for so-called ‘pre-service’ trainees (that is, trainees who have never taught before), and for new teachers. For those with teaching experience, it will be a good refresher course.

• Chapter 1: Parts of Speech
• Chapter 2: Parts of a Sentence
• Chapter 3: Nouns
• Chapter 4: Pronouns
• Chapter 5: Adjectives- Determiners and Articles
• Chapter 6: Adverbs
• Chapter 7: Verbs
• Chapter 8: Conjunctions
• Chapter 9: Prepositions
• Chapter 10: Tenses
• Chapter 11: Ideas for Teaching grammar

A final test must be submitted at the end of this section.

Module 2B: Phonology

  • 25 HOURS
  • 1 EXAM

In this module, we will cover the main features of pronunciation: Introduction to Phonology, Introduction to Phonemes, Getting to Know the Anatomy of the Mouth, Vowels, Diphthongs and Triphthongs, Consonants, Sentence Stress, Intonation.

• Chapter 1: Introduction to Phonology
• Chapter 2: Introduction to Phonemes
• Chapter 3: Getting to Know the Anatomy of the Mouth
• Chapter 4: Vowels, diphthongs and triphthongs
• Chapter 5: Consonants
• Chapter 6: Sentence Stress
• Chapter 7: Intonation
• Chapter 8: Teaching pronunciation

A final test must be submitted at the end of this section.

Module 3: Methodology

  • 60 HOURS
  • 5 ASSIGNMENT – 6 QUIZZES – 1 FORUM DISCUSSION ACTIVITY

Methodology is the most important module in the 120-hour Advanced TESOL Certificate course. You will have to complete five (5) assignments, which will require you to develop activities, create full lesson plans, and write an observation report on recorded ESL lessons. The three (3) Lab Assignments in this 120-hour TESOL course will teach you to use the most popular ESL lesson planning frameworks to prepare you to teach English to different levels.

View Chapters

Chapter 1: The First Class

The purpose of this chapter is to consider the importance of establishing initial connections in the classroom because these connections set the tone for the entire learning experience. You will be required to make personal reflections in order to more effectively empathize with your students’ situations. The chapter then sets out suggestions for icebreakers in the classroom. Finally, you will analyze features of these introduction techniques from a teacher’s point of view.

Chapter 2: Approaches to Language Teaching

This chapter contains a very condensed and subjective synopsis of the main currents in the history of language teaching methodology (Grammar Translation Method, Direct Method, and Audiolingualism).

Chapter 3: The Communicative Approach

In chapter 2 we discuss some of the major approaches to second language teaching and learning. These are grammatically oriented approaches (They focus on accuracy rather than meaning and fluency). In this chapter we focus on the Communicative Approach, which is semantically oriented (The Communicative Approach is based on the idea that learning a language successfully comes through having to communicate real meaning).

Chapter 4: The Speaking Skill

In this chapter you will learn how to effectively teach speaking skills. Learners generally want to master speaking skills as soon as possible. However, together with listening, it is probably the most difficult skill to develop. Speaking requires that learners not only know how to produce specific points of language such as grammar, pronunciation, or vocabulary (linguistic competence), but also that they understand when, why, and in what ways to produce language (sociolinguistic competence).

Chapter 5: Teaching Grammar Communicatively

There are different ways to present or review a grammar topic. You need to be eclectic and decide what the best method for your students is, taking into account their level, age and interests, and the syllabus and textbook you are using. In this chapter you will learn some of the most common frameworks used in a Communicative Approach lesson.

Chapter 6: How to Write a PPP Lesson Plan

Organizing your ideas, knowing the steps to follow in a lesson, and having a clear objective of what you want your students to learn in the lesson are elements that will make your class successful. In this chapter you will be introduced to the techniques that are required to write a professional lesson plan, so that you can apply these techniques to teaching the four skills that students need to develop in order to communicate in the target language: speaking and writing (productive skills); and listening and reading (receptive skills).

Chapter 7: More Lesson Planning Frameworks

This chapter shows how other lesson planning frameworks (ESA, TTT, and TBL) can be used for different class objectives.

Chapter 8: Teaching Vocabulary

In this chapter you will learn the fundamental skills for teaching vocabulary lessons.

Chapter 9: The Listening Skill

Many teachers think that a listening activity is just playing a tape, asking comprehension questions or using true and false activities. “The lesson is over! My students have done listening!” No learning process was involved in such a listening lesson. In this chapter you will learn how to effectively teach listening skills.

Chapter 10: The Reading Skill

In this chapter you will look at reading comprehension techniques and lesson plans for reading activities to learn how to effectively teach reading skills.

Chapter 11: The Writing Skill

The macroskill of writing is the one most often ignored by teachers. To exacerbate this, students very often do not seem interested in practicing this skill. One of the major reasons that writing is given short shrift in the classroom is that teachers do not know how to present and exploit this skill in a communicative and interesting way. In this chapter you will learn how to effectively teach writing skills.

Chapter 12: Using Authentic Material

Authentic material complements English classes by enlivening the class, giving the chance to add variety in your lessons and creating a more positive attitude toward learning. It can be used to develop the four macro-skills: reading, listening, speaking and writing. In this chapter you will learn how to use authentic materials effectively for all levels.

Chapter 13: Correcting Learners’ Language mistakes

There is no doubt that anyone who is learning a new language will make mistakes, either spoken or written. In this chapter, you will learn techniques and strategies to correct spoken and written mistakes.

Chapter 14: Classroom Management

This chapter covers classroom management in terms of the role of the teacher, the student’s behaviour, the activities, grouping students, seating arrangements, discipline problems and possible solutions.

Chapter 15: Testing and Assessment in the ESL Classroom

In this chapter, you will study the purpose of evaluation, testing and assessment, including types of tests and approaches for direct and indirect testing.

Chapter 16: Video Observation Chapter:

In this section, you will observe a lesson taught at an upper-intermediate level. You will have to write a report analyzing the different aspects of the lesson.

Course Reviews: 120-hour Advanced TESOL Certificate

WHAT OUR GRADUATES SAY

“I found the 120-hour TESOL certificate program challenging and rewarding. This course allowed me to gain a proper understanding of the concepts and methods that work in the ESL classroom. This TESOL course helped me to better organize my classes and ultimately benefit my students”.

Erik Sorenson

Teaching in South Korea

My 120-hours OnTESOL course was an effective, efficient, and high-quality expenditure of my time and money. My instructor was easy to communicate with, responsive, and provided in-depth feedback that was entirely specific to my work. I appreciated the time and effort that she put into providing me with feedback. Since completing this certificate, I have had steady work as an ESL instructor at various post-secondary institutions in Canada. I have recommended OnTESOL’s program to my friends and will continue to recommend it to anyone who is interested in TESL certification.

S. Cowley

Teaching in Canada

The lesson planning assignments and reflection essays challenged me to think about what I would actually do if I were in a classroom, making the learning experience all that more experiential. The online course prepared me really well for the Practicum and my tutor provided me with invaluable support as he shared his own personal perspective on teaching and how he structures his lessons.

Clare Esler

Teaching in Canada

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an Advanced TESOL Certificate Course?

The minimum requirement for teaching jobs is a 120-hour TESOL / TEFL / TESL certificate, but not every course is built the same way.

Most online TESOL courses offer introductory training and lack the necessary training to pursue a career in Education. They assess students via quick reflection essays and multiple choice questions. Some courses cover lesson planning in the materials but don’t offer assignments to teach how to write a CLT-based lesson plan. Furthermore, most introductory courses lack grammar and phonology modules.

An advanced TESOL certification program offers comprehensive training in every area of TESOL theory and methodology: grammar, phonology, and methodology. In particular, an advanced TESOL course assesses trainees through major lesson planning assignments that integrate grammar and vocabulary lessons with speaking, writing, reading, and listening skills.

An advanced TESOL course is generally accredited by one of the top 3 accrediting bodies in the world: TESL Canada, Trinity CertTESOL, and/or CELTA. These organizations check the course material, level of assignments, and tutor support to ensure trainees receive professional training. Courses accredited by one of the 3 major bodies are considered advanced because the course material and level of assignments are very comprehensive. By the end of an accredited TESOL course, students have the advanced lesson planning skills they need to adapt to any curriculum in the world.

How long do I have to complete the 120-hour Advanced TESOL Certificate course?

This online TESOL course was designed for trainees who need to take a TESOL certificate course at their own pace in order to meet other work or study commitments. The minimum time necessary to complete this online TESOL program is 4 weeks. The maximum time given to complete this course is 6 months. The course Start Date is the day you successfully enroll in the course and OnTESOL activates your account. The Start Date will be indicated in your Course Activation e-mail. From this day, you will have a maximum of 6 months to complete the course at your own pace.

Do I need a university degree to take this TESOL course?

No. We welcome applicants from a variety of backgrounds. Most of our students have a degree but others are either at College or University or they do not have any formal qualifications beyond a high school diploma. However, most employers require applicants to have a degree and in most countries a degree is necessary to obtain a work permit.

It is important to highlight that if you are interested in applying for a TESL Canada Professional Certificate, you must hold a university degree or equivalent.

120-hour Advanced TESOL Certificate

Register Today

Tuition Fee: CA$650

Tuition Fee:
$489

Save
CA$199
US$160
when you add a 20-hour specialist certificate on Teaching English to Young Learners, Teaching English Online, Teaching Business English, or Teaching IELTS.

  • Internationally recognized
  • Fully online!
  • Personal tutor recognized by TESL Canada and TESL Ontario
  • Upgrade with any combination of 20-hour Specialist Courses
  • Pre-recorded video tutorials, task-integrated ESL class observations, and lab preparation videos
  • Self-paced and semi-asynchronous options
  • Optional 12-hour Live Module via Zoom
  • Free job placement assistance
  • Includes all course material (printable/online/mobile)
  • Optional and separate 20-hour Practicum not included in fee