Step 1: you will need a minimum of 120 hours TEFL training to qualify as a TEFL teacher. Depending on how much free time you have to dedicate to your course, budget around 4 – 8 weeks to complete the 10 study modules.

Step 2: you can decide whether you want to work for an online TEFL platform or as a freelance English teacher. Your decision to go freelance or work for a company will also be influenced by whether you want to teach English full time or as a side gig.

Step 3: you can to consider ways to maximize your your earnings by specializing in a niche teaching area. You can up-skill with specialist teaching courses or use your previous career knowledge to develop English lessons for specific careers.

Generally speaking, online TEFL teachers earn from $10 to $40 per hour, depending on their qualifications and experience.

If you’re a first time English teacher, you can expect to earn the lower end of the pay scale however with some experience and ambition you can quickly earn a much higher salary.

To maximize your earning potential as a TEFL teacher you should consider specializing in a specific topic of English language learning or niche areas. For example, you could teach exam preparation English or accent reduction which are areas of high demand, and learners are willing to pay for lessons at a premium rate.

In the beginning, many newly qualified TEFL teachers like the security and structue of having employment from a company, however this can often mean that you have less control over your working hours, times and what you teach.

To set your own schedule, and work the hours that you want, you can set up a TEFL teacher profile on sites like Cambly or Preply. This offers you complete flexibility around when you offer lessons and how much you get paid.