Premier TEFL Courses Get Approval from US Accreditation Body

Written by Ian O'Sullivan Published 15 March 2024 ~3 min read

Premier TEFL Courses Get Approval from US Accreditation Body

Premier TEFL is excited to share the fantastic news that following a six-month approval process which began in late August 2023 our full suite of Level 5 TEFL qualifications have been officially recognized by the prestigious American accreditation organization, the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). The DEAC (Distance Education Accrediting Commission) was established in 1926 and grants accreditation to distance learning institutions throughout the United States and globally. Endorsed by both the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, the DEAC exclusively grants AQC (Approved Quality Curriculum) status to institutions that satisfy its rigorous criteria. All of our Level 5 TEFL courses have DEAC AQC Approved Curriculum. The DEAC is known for its stringent quality standards in distance education. It is officially acknowledged by the US Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as a leading authority in the field. This endorsement is a testament to the high-quality English language tuition education we provide, making us part of an elite group of global course providers to have earned the DEAC Approved Quality Curriculum (AQC) provider status. We’re truly over the moon about this achievement! To friends learn about wh TEFL is important.

To friends learn about wh TEFL is important.

Why are high-quality accreditations and endorsements important for TEFL courses?

Securing a quality endorsement like the DEAC AQC provider status is about more than simply adding another notch to our accreditation belt. Quality endorsements serve as an independent, external validation of our performance and offer a structured framework for evaluating our course delivery. Gaining accreditations and endorsements from the world’s leading academic institutions such as Ofqual and the DEAC not only demonstrates the world-leading quality of our course offerings but also our commitment to the ongoing pursuit of excellence and professionalism that we offer our learners. We believe it's crucial for TEFL training providers, such as ourselves, to continue to push the boundaries of what it means to offer fantastic teacher training and to provide you with all of the necessary skills and knowledge for teaching English effectively. Obtaining AQC curriculum approval from an entity like DEAC reassures both you and potential TEFL employers that you're training with a provider that prioritizes quality above all. This is vital, wouldn’t you agree?

The road to DEAC AQC curriculum approval status

Attaining DEAC AQC status for Premier TEFL’s courses involved an extremely comprehensive six-month evaluation process. We submitted detailed documentation on everything from our student support services, course content, assessments and rubrics for a thorough examination. This process included two phases of evidence submission, comprehensive assessments against stringent quality standards by a dedicated academic team member. This was followed by two rounds of committee meetings to review our courses. It was a stringent and thorough procedure, which is a testament to both ours and DEAC’s commitment to excellence. 3 friends jumping for joy in the snow excited to make money.

3 friends jumping for joy in the snow excited to make money.

Why is DEAC AQC important in addition to Ofqual?

At Premier TEFL, we are dedicated to maintaining the highest quality standards across all of our TEFL courses. Since 2018 we have been accredited by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (OFQUAL), who oversee all major qualifications in the UK. Since then, all of our Level 5 TEFL courses have been Ofqual regulated. Now accredited by one of the UK’s leading awarding organizations, Highfield Qualifications, we have continued to push the boundaries of quality and excellence across all our courses, in partnership with our accrediting and regulatory bodies. In 2022, we reached another milestone by becoming the first TEFL provider in the world to introduce a full TEFL Advanced Diploma with an Ofqual qualification specification, along with our brand-new market-leading course materials. This ongoing evaluation of our qualifications, courses and assessment processes ensures that all our TEFL qualifications that you earn with us are recognized by employers and governments from around the world. DEAC’s AQC curriculum approval is yet another leap forward for our ever-progressing pursuit of excellence which provides you, the learners, with the utmost confidence in our courses, assessments and quality materials. The DEAC, with its expertise and status as a nationally recognized accrediting body by the US Department of Education, was the ideal choice to evaluate our comprehensive TEFL certification and diploma courses. Now with United States’ DEAC AQC approval, coupled with our already long-standing UK Ofqual accreditation, you can be sure that our courses are at the highest standards and have been given the seal approval from both sides of the pond! Read more about DEAC on their website - click here.

Written by

Ian O'Sullivan

Co-Founder

Ian's educational travel career spans almost 25 years. In his opinion, travel is one of the most valuable educations you'll ever get. This adventure loving, dog-owning fitness enthusiast has a passion for living life to the fullest.