Start an exciting new career teaching English abroad!
Cambridge CELTA courses in Birmingham, Bournemouth, Brighton, Cork,
Eastbourne, London and online.
The CELTA course is the most widely recognised course in the world for training teachers of English as a foreign language. CELTA courses are certified by Cambridge and research by Cambridge Assessment shows that three out of four English language teaching jobs advertised require a CELTA. You don't need other teaching or language qualifications and you don't need to speak a foreign language!
The CELTA course focuses on developing practical techniques, and every course includes teaching practice with real groups of students in real classroom situations, whether online or face-to-face.
CELTA is suitable both for those who are looking for their first teaching job or for those who are already teaching and are looking for a more widely recognised qualification.
Over a billion people worldwide are learning English, so it is estimated that over 250,000 people are teaching English abroad today.
The key components of CELTA:
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A minimum of 120 hours, made up of teaching practice, observation of peers’ teaching practice, observation of experienced teachers, guided lesson planning and feedback, individual tutorials, and input on teaching theory and methodology.
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A minimum of 80 hours of coursework, undertaken in your own time, focusing on lesson planning and assignment preparation and writing.
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6 hours of observed teaching practice
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6 hours of observation of experienced teachers teaching
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4 written assignments of 750-1000 words
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A portfolio recording all course assessments
Application process
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The application process has four stages: 1. You complete the application form. 2. We will contact you within two business days and ask you to complete a pre-interview task with some questions about teaching and about language. 3. When you have submitted your pre-interview task, we will contact you within two business days to organise an interview, which is conducted online and lasts for about an hour. 4. If you are successful, we offer you a place on the course and you can secure your place by paying.
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Candidates must be at least 18 years old.
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Candidates must be fluent in accurate written and spoken English.
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All candidates should also have:
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A standard of education equivalent to that required for entry into higher education.
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The potential to complete assignments and teaching practice to a satisfactory level.
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The ability to discuss language, with appropriate prompting/support
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(For online courses): the ability to use the online platform with minimal instruction and have appropriate technical equipment
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“This course made me realise my love for teaching. My tutors, fellow trainees, and our dedicated students created a safe environment where I developed quickly and gained real confidence.”
Lydia
CELTA Birmingham, 2024
“Outstanding CELTA experience — professional, supportive, and transformative. Tutors provided detailed feedback, the course was intensive but rewarding, and I left confident and well-prepared to teach anywhere in the world.”
Christine
CELTA London, 2025
“The CELTA was well-structured, intensive, and incredibly rewarding. Tutors created a supportive environment, feedback was clear and encouraging, and the course became a turning point in my teaching journey.”
Riazul
CELTA Online, 2025
Is CELTA for me?
You don’t need teaching experience to take CELTA. Whether you’re feeling stuck in your current job, just finishing university, or already working in education, CELTA is designed to give you practical skills, clear guidance, and a qualification recognised around the world.
Our trainees include recent graduates, career changers, online teachers, and people planning a move abroad. What they share is a decision to do something different, and a desire to feel confident in front of a class.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is CELTA and who is it for?
A. CELTA is an internationally recognised initial qualification for teaching English to speakers of other languages. It is a 120-hour course, accredited and certified by Cambridge.
Q. Do I need teaching experience to do CELTA?
A. No. CELTA is designed as a pre-service qualification. Many participants have no formal teaching background when they start.
Q. Do I need to be a native English speaker?
A. No. Non-native speakers are welcome, provided their English is at a high level suitable for teacher training and professional teaching contexts.
Q. What level of English do I need?
A. You need a strong command of English, typically equivalent to high C1 (advanced) or above. You do not need to present certificates to prove your level. This is assessed as part of the application and interview process.
Q. How long does CELTA take?
A. CELTA can be taken full-time or part-time. Full-time courses are intensive and completed over four weeks, while part-time courses are spread over about three months.
Q. How much does CELTA cost?
A. Fees vary by course format and location, but are between £1350 and £1550. All courses include an early bird discount of £100 for those who in full 21 days in advance. You can see all course dates and prices here.
Q. What is the difference between CELTA and TEFL?
A. TEFL literally means Teaching English as a Foreign Language and is an umbrella term for any course that focuses on teaching English abroad. CELTA is one of many different TEFL courses available on the market. What sets CELTA apart form the other courses is the accreditation from Cambridge University which is often seen by employers are superior to generic TEFL courses. All CELTA courses include 6 hours’ worth of teaching practice sessions with real students, that is assessed by experienced and accredited course tutors, while most generic TEFL courses don’t have any teaching practice at all.
Q. Why choose DC Teacher Training?
A. DC Teacher Training is one of the largest CELTA providers in the world, delivering over courses to over 500 candidates per year across a variety of locations. Our team is focused on teacher training alone and we are not part of a lrager business with a different focus. DC Teacher Training has a support team that offers one-to-one assistance to course participants before, during and after their courses.
Still not sure if CELTA is for you? We understand your concerns, because we've been on the same journey. You can schedule a Zoom call with one of our team to discuss any queries or concerns. Everyone on our team has done a CELTA. We've all taught English abroad, and we're happy to discuss any questions with you.
Accredited by Cambridge. Trusted by leading English language centres.
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We are fully licensed by Cambridge English to run CELTA courses under the following centre numbers:
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London (Central & Highgate) – 12631
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Birmingham & Online – 00114
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Brighton & Eastbourne - 56369
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Bournemouth - 00147
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Cork - IE 899
We deliver CELTA courses in collaboration with leading English language centres: St Giles, English Path, ELC, Bayswater, and Cork English College.