Certificate in TESOL
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Join thousands of SIT TESOL Certificate recipients who teach, travel, and transform lives worldwide.
The SIT TESOL Certificate is a world-renowned English teaching certificate that gives you the specialized training and skills you need for a successful career teaching English as a second language (ESL) and as a foreign language (EFL) in secondary schools, colleges, and to adults.
Delivered through a virtual* or in-person format, through this 180-hour course, you will develop the teaching, lesson planning, and classroom management skills essential to teaching English in the United States and abroad.
The SIT TESOL Certificate brings the recognition and prestige associated with the distinguished School for International Training (SIT), a leader in TESOL and English education for more than 50 years. Fully accredited, this certificate is accepted at Level 5 of the European Qualifications Framework. The SIT TESOL Certificate can open doors to professional opportunities around the world. Alumni of the program have gone on to teach English at schools and universities around the world and serve as English Language Specialists for the U.S. Department of State.
The SIT TESOL Certificate is accredited by SIT Graduate Institute and administered by licensed training centers around the world, with training and certification provided by World Learning, a global nonprofit organization with a mission to build a better future for all people through education, development, and exchange programs.
The SIT TESOL Certificate Difference
The SIT TESOL Certificate course teaches the fundamentals of English language teaching through hands-on, trainer-observed practice with support from experienced, dedicated trainers. The certificate meets all international standards for observed lessons and feedback.
- Level 5 European Qualifications Framework
- Earn 5 graduate-level credits*
- Supportive learning environment with a 1:6 teacher to student ratio
- Experiential, hands-on learning modules rooted in American education philosophy
Credits are only transferrable at the discretion of the receiving school. These credits are not transferrable to SIT Graduate Institute’s master’s degree program in TESOL.
Program Locations & Enrollment Schedules
Participants on the SIT TESOL Certificate course enroll directly with our partner organizations around the world. To apply, choose where you’d like to study from the list below and follow the link to their website or send them an email for more information.
ONLINE
February 3 – May 8, 2024
International Language Institute (ILI)
Northampton, MA United States | [email protected]
April 29 – May 24, 2024
International Language Institute (ILI)
Northampton, MA United States | [email protected]
May 18 – August 21, 2024
International Language Institute (ILI)
Northampton, MA United States | [email protected]
June 3 – June 28, 2024
International Language Institute (ILI)
Northampton, MA United States | [email protected]
August 5 – August 30, 2024
International Language Institute (ILI)
Northampton, MA United States | [email protected]
August 12 – September 6, 2024
Experiment in International Living (EIL) Ecuador
Quito, Ecuador | [email protected]
IN PERSON
June 24 – July 19, 2024
TOBB University of Economics and Technology (TOBB ETÜ)
Ankara, Türkiye | [email protected]
July 8 – August 2, 2024
Experiment in International Living (EIL) Ecuador
Quito, Ecuador | [email protected]
July 8 – August 2, 2024
International Language Institute (ILI)
Northampton, MA United States | [email protected]
June 24 – July 19, 2024
Instituto Mexicano Norteamericano de Relaciones Culturales
Monterrey, Mexico | [email protected]
October 7 – November 1, 2024
Experiment in International Living (EIL) Ecuador
Quito, Ecuador | [email protected]
Admissions Criteria
Students must have a high school degree and show a capacity for college-level education including a good understanding of the English language and solid writing skills.
All applicants must submit an application along with a one-page essay. Non-native speakers must have a minimum TOEFL score of 600 on the written test or 250 on the computerized version, an IELTS Band 7.0 or higher, or a CEF C1. Non-native speakers must also have a second interview to ensure their listening/speaking skills are adequate to take the course and to teach English. All participants must show a willingness to plan and teach in groups and to work reflectively.
Earning Graduate-Level Credit
Earn your SIT TESOL Certificate plus five graduate credits!
SIT Graduate Institute offers a $2,000 tuition discount for students who pursue an MA in TESOL at SIT after completing the certificate program. Are you considering pursuing graduate studies in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) or a related field after earning your certificate? Participants who successfully complete the SIT TESOL certificate course can earn five graduate credits* awarded by SIT Graduate Institute.
If you are interested in pursuing the option for graduate credit, check with the Registrar’s Office at the college or university you are currently attending or plan to attend. Credits earned from SIT are transferable only at the discretion of the receiving school. If you decide to opt-in for credit, you must also register this option with SIT’s Registrar’s Office; follow the guidelines in the drop-down below.
The SIT TESOL certificate is graded on a Pass/Fail basis.
How to Opt-in for Graduate-Level Credit with SIT
You must decide to opt in or out of receiving graduate-level credit before your course begins. Once the course has begun, the SIT Registrar’s Office will not reconsider the graduate credit option.
If you wish to pursue graduate credit, you may register online. Choosing the credit option means you will pay an additional $500 fee for credit directly to SIT, and upon successful completion of the course you will be awarded five graduate credits. You may pay by check or online with MasterCard, Visa, or Discover, including a flat convenience fee of $50 per transaction for payment of the registration fee.
In submitting the graduate credit application, you indicate that you have chosen to take the course for graduate-level credit and that you understand that if you change your mind or fail to complete the course credit requirements, the cost of credit will not be refunded.
SIT TESOL Certificate Application for Graduate Credit
After you have completed the application form, please download and complete the SIT Transcript Request Form and mail it directly to the SIT Registrar’s Office.
To comply with federal law, SIT must receive a completed SIT Transcript Request Form before we mail you a transcript.
SIT Transcript Request Form
For more information, please contact the training center at which you plan to take the course, or contact SIT Graduate Institute’s TESOL certificate office at [email protected] or call 202-464-6579.
Become an SIT TESOL Certificate Training Center
Our courses are provided through a worldwide network of partner training centers such as colleges or universities, private language institutes, community centers and public, nonprofit organizations. Each center goes through a rigorous vetting process before being certified by SIT Graduate Institute to run our courses.
Each center is a local leader in language education and professional development.
Why become a training center?
- Added value and differentiation: Aspiring teachers know the value of quality training. The international recognition and prestige associated with the SIT brand can leverage your status as a training center, setting you apart from the competition.
- Professional development opportunities for staff: Many of our centers nominate their staff members to become certified SIT trainers.
- Community outreach: Many centers use our courses to offer free English lessons to the public and raise their profiles and brand awareness in their respective communities.
What does it take to become a Certified Training Center?
- Demonstrate an ability to meet SIT’s standards, and a commitment to quality teacher training. SIT emphasizes an experiential learn-by-doing process. The first step to become a Training Center is to complete an application, and demonstrate willingness and capacity to run a successful course. After two successful courses, a center is then invited to be certified.
- Ensure access to the following: 1) Physical space to carry out courses 2) Adequate materials for training teachers 3)
- Students for practice lessons
For more information on becoming a certified SIT TESOL Certificate training, please contact us today.
Become an SIT TESOL Certificate Trainer
As a certificate trainer, you will be able to deliver the SIT TESOL Certificate Course worldwide and become part of our worldwide network of licensed trainers. This training is a great professional opportunity to hone your skills and learn to apply an experiential learning approach to English teacher training.