Frequently Asked Questions

All your questions about CELTA and Delta answered here.

Cambridge CELTA Courses

CELTA vs TEFL?

TEFL, ESL, ESOL, TESOL, it's all the same! Candidates take CELTA courses because the CELTA is the most highly recognised TEFL in the world.

These are all generic terms for any course which prepares you to teach English to people whose first language isn't English. The CELTA Certification is the most highly regarded course in this category and is accredited by the University of Cambridge.

'TEFL' or 'TESOL' are general terms sometimes used to refer to qualifications for English language teachers. CELTA is the best known and most widely taken initial 'TESOL/TEFL' qualification of its kind in the world. It has also in the past been known as CTEFLA. You may also hear mention of the 'RSA certificate'. Again people are referring to CELTA courses, as Cambridge ESOL took over RSA certificates and diplomas for teachers in 1988. CELTA is a 4 week full time or 10-12 weeks part time qualification with face-to-face compulsory components with some online options.

Who is the CELTA Certificate for?

1. People starting a career in English Language teaching.
   You may be looking to begin a long term career in English Language teaching and see the CELTA Certification as a springboard into a good teaching post in the country of your choice. You may be a graduate looking for a qualification that gives you a firm grounding in the fundamentals of language teaching practice, together with the confidence to take control in the classroom.
2. People looking for a career change or career break. An increasing number of CELTA courses candidates are professionals who are either looking for a new career path or simply want a short break in their existing career. Perhaps you want the opportunity to live and work abroad? Whether you wish to teach English for the short or long term, CELTA gives you the TESOL training you need to help you adjust to a dynamic and challenging new profession.
3. People already teaching English but with no formal qualifications.
   You may be an existing English Language TESOL teacher with no formal qualifications. CELTA Certification will help to sharpen your teaching practice, confirm your ability, and may even lead to internal promotion or a better teaching job.

How can I prepare to take a CELTA?

To prepare for your CELTA we recommend that your check out the reading list for the course here.

Additionally, you may consider taking an online preparation course from ELTcampus to better prepare you for the course. You can find more information on the course here.

Can I do a CELTA Certification Online?

Yes! You can take the CELTA online. This is a temporary measure that has been approved by Cambridge English Assessment so candidates can take the course from the safety of their own home while the Covid-19 disruptions are ongoing.

Many of our accredited CELTA providers are offering the course worldwide. If you do not see a course in your country, we can find a course that is suitable for your time zone. Our online CELTA courses are broken up into four time zones. For more information on dates, times and fees, see the Online CELTA page.

Apply for CELTA Online Course

Is CELTA a TEFL qualification?

'TEFL' or 'TESOL' are general terms sometimes used to refer to qualifications for English language teachers. CELTA is the best known and most widely taken initial 'TESOL/TEFL' qualification of its kind in the world. It has also in the past been known as CTEFLA. You may also hear mention of the 'RSA certificate'. Again people are referring to CELTA courses, as Cambridge ESOL took over RSA certificates and diplomas for teachers in 1988. CELTA is a 4 week full time or 10-12 weeks part time qualification with face-to-face compulsory components with some online options.

What does the CELTA Certificate involve?

You can take CELTA full time (typically 4 weeks), or part time (typically 12 weeks). Your chosen course will teach you the principles of effective teaching and a range of practical skills for teaching English to adult learners. You will have hands-on teaching practice, observe experienced teachers in the classroom and complete four practically focused written assignments. There are five main units of learning:

Unit 1: Learners and teachers and the teaching and learning context
Unit 2: Language analysis and awareness
Unit 3: Language skills: reading, listening, speaking and writing
Unit 4: Planning and resources for different teaching contexts
Unit 5: Developing teaching skills and professionalism You will be assessed throughout the course, with no final examination. An external assessor, appointed by Cambridge ESOL, moderates each course.

There are two components of assessment:
Teaching Practice: You will teach for a total of six hours, working with classes at two levels of ability. Assessment is based on your overall performance at the end of the six hours. Written Assignments - You will complete four written assignments: one on adult learners and learning contexts; one on an aspect of the language system of English; one on an aspect of language skills; and one on classroom teaching and the identification of action points. To be awarded the Certificate, you must pass both components. There are three grades - Pass, Pass 'B' and Pass 'A'.

Am I eligible to apply for the CELTA?

To be accepted for the CELTA course, applicants must fulfil the following criteria:
A minimum age of 20* at the start of the CELTA course
A good standard of education* (e.g. having gained university entrance qualifications, completed High School)
Awareness and high level of competence in written and spoken English in order to be able to follow the course and prepare for teaching a range of levels
For non-native speakers, the required command of English is that of Proficiency (CPE) or C1 within the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), i.e. close to native speaker's competence.
No previous teaching experience required
*Applicants who are not at least 20 years old or who have not gained university entrance qualifications may be admitted at the discretion of the Course Coordinator.

Take our eligibility test to see if you can apply to do a CELTA

Who recognises CELTA certificate courses?

CELTA Certification is accepted throughout the world by organisations which employ English Language teachers. The Cambridge CELTA course has been accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) at level 5 on the National Qualifications Framework. Cambridge ESOL also works with international ELT organisations to ensure the acceptance of CELTA globally.

Cambridge Delta Course Modules

What is Delta and who is it for?

The Delta is a flexible Modular Post-CELTA (or TEFL equivalent) course for further professional development, giving credits in some cases to Masters Programmes. The course is intended for practising ELT teachers with substantial experience (at least 2 years to a variety of levels and ages). The most widely given reason for taking the Delta is to open up career avenues to more senior ELT posts for which the Delta is invariably required. Jobs include DOS, teacher trainers and so on. The most common reaction to the course itself, however, is that candidates find it tremendously stimulating and rewarding on the level of personal development. More often than not, it provides a new direction and impetus in their classroom teaching as well as in their present and future professional lives. The Delta offers you the opportunity to:

• increase your critical awareness by gaining new insights and a deeper understanding of the principles and practice of ELT to adult.
• examine your current practices and beliefs
• apply the results of this learning and reflection to your current professional life and beyond

Am I eligible to apply for the Delta?

The University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES) 'Syllabus and Assessment Guidelines' stipulate that a Delta candidate will normally:

• have a first degree
• have some formal training in ELT
• have a minimum of two years full-time (1200 hours) teaching experience of ELT to adults within the last five years
• have a range of teaching experience involving work in different teaching contexts and experience of teaching learners at different levels
• have a level of awareness and competence in English sufficient to complete all components of the course
• be at least 21 years old

Who recognises Delta?

Delta is accepted throughout the world by organisations which employ English Language teachers. The Cambridge Delta has been accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) as a Diploma in Teaching ESOL at level 7 on the National Qualifications Framework. Delta is also integrated into some MA programmes. Cambridge ESOL also works with international ELT organisations to ensure the acceptance of Delta globally.

Can I take the Delta Online?

You can take Module One and Module Three online. Module One will help you prepare for the Delta M1 exam which can be taken at an accredited centre local to you. These exams are taken twice a year (in June and December).

Module 3 can also be taken completely online as you are assessed through a long-form written assignment.

For more information on the online Delta modules, see our online Delta page. 

With these qualifications, will I be able to find a job?

At a regional and national level demand may fluctuate but globally and overall there has been a sustained high demand for English language teachers. CELTA certification is the very best choice to enhance a new teacher’s employability. Our CELTA/DELTA graduates have consistently found teaching work worldwide. The course includes workshops dedicated to helping you find the kind of work that you want, which includes providing you with names and addresses of schools, resources for job search and skills development on the Internet, and interview preparation. To see our current job vancancies, please visit our sister site: www.teflwork.com

What is the CYL - Young Learners Certificate?

Many English teachers find that they teach a lot of children's classes. They can be fun but also exasperating if you don't have the tools to manage younger learners. The Young Learners (YL) course is a post - CELTA training programme that equips you to teach children effectively and have fun! We offer a YL course through our sister site ELTcampus. This certificate gives you all of the tools you need to make your YL lessons fun, but also informative and engaging, leaving you prepared for whatever is thrown at you. Please visit here for more information.

Take the CELTA Online!

Due to the ongoing pandemic, the CELTA can now be taken completely online. This means all aspects can be done from the safety of your home. The new online format of the CELTA will mean that you take the course through a video conferencing platform, such as Zoom or Skype, and through the Cambridge English learning platform (Moodle).

When looking at different online CELTA courses on the StudyCELTA website, check the school's timetable as each school will be rolling out the online CELTA differently. This ensure that more people can find an Online CELTA that will suit them.

How am I assessed when taking the CELTA Online?

Just like the face-to-face CELTA, you will be assessed through:

• Participation
• Four written assignments
• Completing a minimum of six hours assessed teaching

The latter is one of the most important components of your CELTA. Most schools are assessing students via Zoom for their teaching practice. You will be teaching a class of English language learners from across the world and you will be assessed by your CELTA Tutor and observed by your CELTA classmates (don't worry, you will also be able to observe them while they teach).

You will then need to be online for feedback sessions where you will receive constructive feedback from your CELTA Tutor which will develop your teaching skills.

Will my CELTA Certificate say that I took the course online?

No, you certificate will not disclose how you took the CELTA. It will be the same certificate a student would get if they completed the CELTA in a face-to-face setting.

What if I miss an Online CELTA Session?

We recommend that you know before enrolling onto a CELTA course that you can attend all of the online sessions as participation is crucial to your overall grade.

We understand that life can get in the way and one of the issues you may face while taking the CELTA Online are technical difficulties. The Tutor may be able to reorganise your teaching practice if this happens and some schools will be recording seminar so you can catch up on them.

What if I have never used Zoom before?

Whether it's Skype or Zoom that is needed for you course, many schools are offering inductions so you feel comfortable and at ease. You may find that most of the CELTA courses are a little longer than four weeks. This is so all candidates can have a little "breathing room" at the start so they are confident with the new software that is needed for the course.

Also - don't worry, Zoom and Skype are both free to install and use very little computer memory. So, don't be afraid - go for it!

Apply for CELTA 100% Online Course