Do I have to take a TEFL course to teach English in Korea?

It depends on the job. EPIK asks applicants whose bachelor's degree is not in education or a teaching-related field to hold a TEFL, TESOL or CELTA certificate of at least 100 hours from an accredited program. Applicants with a teaching licence, a B.Ed. or M.Ed., or a degree in teaching, TESOL or another education-focused major are not required to have one.

Private academies (hagwons) and other employers set their own requirements, so check with the employer you apply to.

Source: EPIK Eligibility, checked October 26, 2026. To compare course options, see Korvia's online TEFL options.