120-hour Advanced TESOL/TEFL Certificate

Meet job requirements worldwide.

The 120-hour Advanced TESOL/TEFL Certificate gives you the flexibility to teach English abroad, online, or locally. Qualify for ESL teaching positions in Canada, the USA, and internationally.

Online TESOL/TEFL Accredited by:

TESL Canada

TESL Canada
Professional Standard 1

Equivalency:

Equivalent to CELTA
& Trinity CertTESOL

★★★★★
4.9 Rating
Canada, USA & Abroad
Accepted Worldwide
Online & Self-Paced
Study Anytime
Dedicated Tutor
One-on-One Support
Overview Accreditation Live Classes Syllabus Why OnTESOL Tuition Reviews FAQ

Course Overview

Get Certified to Teach English Worldwide

Use your OnTESOL certificate to teach English abroad, online, or locally. This course leads to TESL Canada certification, so you never have to take another 120-hour TESOL/TEFL course again to progress in your career.

Accepted Worldwide

Accredited by TESL Canada at Professional Standard 1 and accepted by language schools, recruiters, and online platforms in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Your certificate never expires and qualifies for government authentication through Global Affairs Canada when a work visa requires it.

View requirements

Practical Skills for Your Classroom

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 lesson planning Lab Assignments – a unique feature that goes beyond the usual reflection essays and multiple choice tests found in other online TESOL/TEFL courses.

View syllabus

Career-Ready Skills

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/TEFL 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.

What’s included?

Not sure this is the right course for you? Compare all TESOL/TEFL courses

Accreditation & Requirements

Earn a TESOL/TEFL Certification that is Valid Worldwide

This certification meets the requirements for English teaching jobs abroad, online, in Canada, and the USA.

What You Earn

120-hour Advanced TESOL/TEFL Certificate

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

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

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.
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Upgrade Path
TESL Canada logo

TESL Canada Professional Standard 1

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

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

TESL Canada is academically equivalent to the UK-based CELTA certification.

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.

For Canada: TESL Canada Standard 1 — what Canadian employers ask for and how this course gets you there. Full and current requirements: TESL Canada recognition.

Tuition Fee
CA$650
US$460
  • Fully online & self-paced
  • 12 hours of live Zoom workshops
  • Personal tutor (TESL Canada approved)
  • Certificate, transcript & verification
  • Lifetime job assistance & job board
  • All course material included
Register & Start Today

Save CA$199 when you add a 20-hour specialist certificate

Save US$160 when you add a 20-hour specialist certificate

Accredited by TESL Canada Equivalent to CELTA / Trinity CertTESOL

New — Live Workshops

12 Hours of Live Training via Zoom

OnTESOL is the first accredited online TESOL/TEFL provider to offer live classes as part of a self-paced certification program.

Combine the flexibility of a self paced online TESOL/TEFL course with live, interactive workshops that build the practical lesson planning skills schools expect from professional ESL teachers.

Your 120-hour Advanced TESOL/TEFL Certificate includes 12 hours of live training with Senior Teacher Trainers: 1-hour Grammar Tutorial, 1-hour Phonology Tutorial, 10-hour Lesson Planning Workshop Series.

These live sessions strengthen everything you learn in the self paced modules. Learn alongside peers, ask questions in real time, and join group activities that directly support your Lesson Planning Lab Assignments.

Attendance is optional, but every session is designed to help you improve your performance in the course and build confidence in the classroom. All live classes are taught by Senior Trainers with extensive ESL teaching and teacher training experience.

Live TESOL/TEFL workshop via Zoom showing instructor and students

10-hour Lesson Planning Workshop Series

Across four 2.5-hour sessions, our senior trainers show how to apply methodology concepts to real lesson planning scenarios.

Workshop 01

PPP for Grammar Lessons

Learn the Presentation–Practice–Production framework and how to apply it to real grammar teaching scenarios.

Workshop 02

Integrated Vocabulary Lessons

Design vocabulary lessons that connect meaning, form, and pronunciation in engaging communicative activities.

Workshop 03

Receptive Skills: PPP & ESA

Plan reading and listening lessons using two industry-standard frameworks with real-world material.

Workshop 04

Task-Based Learning

Bring authenticity to the classroom with task-based approaches and real-world material integration.

Live Grammar & Phonology Tutorials

1 Hour

Grammar Tutorial

Review key grammar concepts from Module 2A with a Senior Trainer. Ask questions and clarify concepts before your grammar exam.

1 Hour

Phonology Tutorial

Explore pronunciation, phonemes, stress, and intonation with a Senior Trainer. Strengthen your understanding before the phonology exam.

Schedule

Session When
Workshops 1–4 Every Tuesday, 6–8:30 PM (Toronto time). New cycle each month.
Grammar Tutorial 2nd Thursday, 6–7 PM
Phonology Tutorial 4th Thursday, 6–7 PM

Flexible schedule: Live classes run every month, so you can attend when you reach each section. Join all in one month or spread them out. Attendance is optional.

Syllabus

Course Structure

This online TESOL/TEFL course is asynchronous and takes anywhere between 1 and 6 months to complete. You can enroll any time and study at your pace for a maximum of 6 months.

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 lesson plan assignments, provide you with feedback, and answer your questions.

Depending on your pace and performance, you can expect to complete this course in 1 to 6 months. For your reference, a similar professional-level TESOL/TEFL/TESL/CELTA course offered in-class on a full-time, 7-hour daily schedule takes 4 weeks to complete. If you work full-time or have other academic commitments, you will have up to 6 months to pass the online course with OnTESOL.

Learning Outcomes

01 — Learning Outcome

Advanced Lesson Planning

Design grammar, vocabulary, receptive skills, and productive skills lessons for any level using professional frameworks like PPP, ESA, TTT, and TBL.

02 — Learning Outcome

Grammar & Phonology Mastery

Build a deep understanding of English grammar structures and pronunciation features — from parts of speech to sentence stress and intonation patterns.

03 — Learning Outcome

Communicative Teaching Methods

Learn to create engaging, communicative, and task-based lessons that go beyond textbooks — using authentic materials like articles, movies, and songs.

04 — Learning Outcome

Hands-On Lab Assignments

Complete three practical lesson planning labs — a unique feature that sets this course apart from reflection essays and multiple-choice tests found elsewhere.

05 — Learning Outcome

Classroom Management

Master grouping strategies, error correction techniques, seating arrangements, and handling discipline challenges in diverse learning environments.

06 — Learning Outcome

Career-Ready Certification

Graduate with a certificate valid for teaching positions worldwide — including TESL Canada Standard 1 eligibility.

Course Modules

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.

  • 1 Introduction to the ESL/EFL Industry
  • 2 Understanding the Adult Learner
  • 3 Learning Styles & Preferences
  • 4 Study Skills & Techniques

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.

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

1-hour Grammar Tutorial (Live via Zoom): Access after passing Module 1. Every second Thursday of the month, 6 pm – 7 pm (GMT-5 Toronto time).

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.

  • 1 Introduction to Phonology
  • 2 Introduction to Phonemes
  • 3 Getting to Know the Anatomy of the Mouth
  • 4 Vowels, Diphthongs and Triphthongs
  • 5 Consonants
  • 6 Sentence Stress
  • 7 Intonation
  • 8 Teaching Pronunciation

1-hour Phonology Tutorial (Live via Zoom): Access after passing the grammar test. Every fourth Thursday of the month, 6 pm – 7 pm (GMT-5 Toronto time).

Methodology is the most important module in the 120-hour Advanced TESOL/TEFL 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/TEFL course will teach you to use the most popular ESL lesson planning frameworks to prepare you to teach English to different levels.

  • 1The 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.

  • 2Approaches 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).

  • 3The 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).

  • 4The 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).

  • 5Teaching 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.

  • 6How 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).

  • 7More Lesson Planning Frameworks

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

  • 8Teaching Vocabulary

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

  • 9The 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.

  • 10The 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.

  • 11The 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.

  • 12Using 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.

  • 13Correcting 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.

  • 14Classroom 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.

  • 15Testing 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.

  • 16Video 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.

Includes 10 hours of live lesson planning workshops via Zoom. Four 2.5-hour sessions covering PPP, vocabulary, receptive skills, and task-based learning. View workshop details & schedule

Choosing a 120-hour course

Not every 120-hour TEFL/TESOL course is the same

Most employers ask for 120 hours of training. A 120-hour course can be a weekend of multiple-choice quizzes or a professional-level program with real lesson-planning projects — and the difference decides which jobs you qualify for.

Foundational courses introduce the theory of English language teaching and test it with short essays and multiple-choice questions. They are quick and cheap, and many graduates discover at the interview stage that the certificate isn’t recognized where they want to teach, or that they have never planned a lesson.

Professional-level courses like the 120-hour Advanced Certificate ask you to plan real lessons, get tutor feedback on each one, and meet the standards of an external body such as TESL Canada. That is what qualifies you for language schools in Canada and the U.S., international programs abroad, and the better online platforms — without retraining later.

The video shows how we teach lesson planning: clear objectives, your students’ backgrounds, the problems to anticipate, and the method to match.

OnTESOL 120-hour Advanced Certificate
  • Accredited by TESL Canada — accepted in Canada, the U.S., and abroad
  • Three lesson-planning Lab Assignments, marked by your personal tutor
  • 12 hours of live Zoom workshops included in the fee
  • Professional-level: no need to retrain later for better jobs
  • Lifetime job assistance and job board
Foundational 120-hour courses
  • Foundational-level, often unrecognized in top destinations
  • Multiple-choice tests and short essays instead of real lesson plans
  • Little or no live training or tutor feedback
  • Graduates often need additional training to meet employer standards
  • Limited to entry-level and gap-year positions

30% of OnTESOL students enrol after a first TESOL/TEFL course that wasn’t enough for the job they wanted. (OnTESOL enrolment records, 2019–2025)

Tuition Fee

What’s Included

Everything you need to earn your TESOL/TEFL certification is included in one tuition fee — course material, live workshops, tutor support, and lifetime job assistance.

Course Material & Platform

  • Interactive textbook (printable/online/mobile)
  • Pre-recorded video tutorials
  • Task-integrated ESL class observations
  • Interactive practice quizzes
  • 12 hours of live workshops & tutorials via Zoom (optional attendance)

Professional Tutor Support

  • Personal tutor recognized by TESL Canada
  • Extensive feedback on every assignment
  • 10+ years ESL classroom experience
  • 5+ years in CELTA, Trinity CertTESOL, or TESL Canada approved courses

Certificate & Career

  • 120-hour Advanced TESOL/TEFL Certificate & transcript
  • Mailed from Toronto + digital download
  • Signed, stamped, with unique verification number
  • Lifetime job assistance & job board
  • Resume & interview preparation

Add a 20-hour Specialist Certificate

Teaching English to Young Learners (TEYL) Certificate

Practical training for teaching children and teenagers — grammar and pronunciation approaches, TEYL textbook analysis, and a Task-based Learning lesson plan. About the TEYL certificate →

CA$299
US$215
CA$100
US$75
when added to your TESOL package

Teaching Business English (TBEC) Certificate

Needs analysis, syllabus design and materials for one-to-one tutoring, in-company lessons and Business English programs at international language schools. About the Business English certificate →

CA$299
US$215
CA$100
US$75
when added to your TESOL package

Teaching English Online Certificate

The technologies, platforms and teaching approaches for working with an online language school or running your own online program. About the Teaching English Online certificate →

CA$299
US$215
CA$100
US$75
when added to your TESOL package

Teaching IELTS Certificate

How the IELTS test works and the strategies and materials for teaching all four papers: Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking. About the Teaching IELTS certificate →

CA$299
US$215
CA$100
US$75
when added to your TESOL package

Tuition Fee

CA$650
US$460
  • Internationally recognized
  • Fully online & self-paced
  • 12 hours of live Zoom workshops
  • Personal tutor recognized by TESL Canada
  • All course material included
  • Certificate, transcript & verification
  • Lifetime job assistance & job board
Register & Start Today

Save CA$199 when you add a 20-hour specialist certificate

Save US$160 when you add a 20-hour specialist certificate

Optional and separate 20-hour Practicum not included in fee

Graduate Reviews

What Our Graduates Say

Real reviews from OnTESOL graduates teaching around the world.

4.9
★★★★★
★★★★★
Graduate

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
★★★★★
Graduate

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. Since completing this certificate, I have had steady work as an ESL instructor at various post-secondary institutions in Canada.

S. Cowley
Teaching in Canada
★★★★★
Graduate

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.

Clare Esler
Teaching in Canada

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions? Contact an advisor — we’re happy to help.

Both. TEFL, TESOL and TESL are different names for the same professional qualification for teaching English, and employers use the terms interchangeably in job ads. The certificate is issued as the 120-hour Advanced TESOL/TEFL Certificate, so it meets a requirement written either way. What employers check is the number of hours, the accreditation, and whether you can plan a lesson. Full explainer: TEFL vs TESOL vs TESL.

An Advanced TESOL/TEFL Certificate is a professional-level qualification for teaching English as a second or foreign language. It provides comprehensive training in grammar, phonology, and methodology, with hands-on lesson planning assignments that integrate grammar and language skills like speaking, writing, reading, and listening.

The 120-hour Advanced TESOL/TEFL Certificate course is designed for flexibility, allowing you to complete it at your own pace while balancing work or study commitments. You can expect to complete this course in 1 to 6 months depending on your pace and performance.

No, a university degree is not required to enroll in this TESOL/TEFL course. We welcome applicants from diverse educational backgrounds, whether you are currently in college or university, or your highest qualification is a high school diploma. However, candidates who want to teach English abroad are advised that a university degree is necessary to obtain the work permit in most countries.

Yes. The 120-hour Advanced TESOL/TEFL Certificate is accredited by TESL Canada and accepted by language schools, recruiters and online platforms in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. It never expires, and when a work visa requires it the certificate can be authenticated through Global Affairs Canada. Teaching jobs in Canada usually ask for TESL Canada Professional Standard 1, which this course leads to once you add the 20-hour Practicum (see Accreditation above).

The 120-hour course is fully online and does not include a practicum, and you do not need one for most teaching jobs abroad or online. A practicum is required only for TESL Canada Professional Standard 1 certification, which most employers in Canada ask for. OnTESOL graduates can complete a separate 20-hour Practicum with a partner ESL school in select Canadian cities or online (extra fee applies).

Ready to Start Teaching?

Get Certified to Teach English Worldwide

Register today and begin your journey toward an internationally recognized TESOL/TEFL certification. Study online at your own pace with full tutor support.

Accredited by TESL Canada Equivalent to CELTA