TEFL Certificate — Requirements for Teaching in Korea
A TEFL or TESOL certificate is the second document EPIK checks after your degree — and the easiest to get wrong if you skip a step. This guide covers what Korean immigration accepts, how to verify your provider is accredited, and what your certificate must show. Looking for the course itself? See our Korvia × LCTT TEFL course page.
100 hrs
Minimum Required
Accredited
Body Required
Online OK
E-2 Accepted
Level 5 ≥
Standard Tier
Why TEFL Is Required in Korea
Under current Korean E-2 visa policy, foreign English teachers without a formal education degree or teaching license must hold a TEFL-equivalent credential. This applies regardless of program (EPIK, GEPIK, SMOE, GOE, hagwon) and regardless of native-language status.
Korean Immigration (E-2 Visa)
The E-2 Conversation Teacher Visa requires applicants without an education degree or K-12 teaching license to hold a TEFL/TESOL/CELTA certificate of at least 100 hours from an accredited institution. This is Korean government policy — not a Korvia or EPIK rule.
EPIK and Public School Programs
EPIK, GEPIK, SMOE, GOE, and most regional programs require TEFL under their eligibility criteria, mirroring the E-2 visa standard. Salary levels are also tiered partially by TEFL completion and hours.
Hagwons (Private Academies)
Most hagwon positions require TEFL — and those that don't still strongly prefer it. Even when technically optional, the applicant pool is saturated with TEFL-certified teachers, so competitive positions go to certified applicants.
If You're Exempt
You do not need TEFL if you hold a Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Education, OR a valid K-12 teaching license from your home country. Confirm exemption with your Korvia recruiter before skipping TEFL — the rules tighten periodically.
TEFL vs TESOL vs CELTA — What's the Difference?
These three acronyms are used interchangeably in the industry, and Korean immigration treats them as functionally equivalent for E-2 visa purposes. The distinctions matter more for career planning than for EPIK eligibility.
| Credential | Full Name | What It Means | Korean Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| TEFL | Teaching English as a Foreign Language | The most common global standard — teaching English in non-English-speaking countries (including Korea). 100-hour minimum accredited course. | Fully accepted for E-2 visa |
| TESOL | Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages | Functionally identical to TEFL in most contexts. Slightly broader — covers teaching English both abroad and to immigrants in English-speaking countries. | Fully accepted for E-2 visa |
| CELTA | Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults | A specific, more intensive credential issued by Cambridge Assessment English. Focuses on adult learners. 120+ hours with required in-person teaching practice. More expensive ($1,500-3,000). | Fully accepted — often weighted higher |
In Korean job listings, you will see all three acronyms listed together or used interchangeably. For EPIK eligibility purposes, treat them as equivalent — pick the one that fits your budget and timing best.
What EPIK Requires in a TEFL Certificate
Per the official epik.go.kr eligibility criteria — cross-checked against current E-2 visa immigration policy.
Minimum 100 Hours
EPIK accepts TEFL/TESOL/CELTA certificates of 100 hours or more. Industry standard is 120 hours — shorter courses (40, 60, 80 hours) exist but are not accepted for E-2 visa purposes.
Accredited Institution
The certificate must be issued by an accredited teacher-training body. Accreditation means an external, independent organization has reviewed the curriculum and standards. Always verify the accreditor name before enrolling.
Online or In-Person Accepted
EPIK accepts fully online courses per the official epik.go.kr eligibility page. No portion needs to be completed face-to-face, though courses with teaching-practice components typically qualify for a higher salary level.
Exemptions
A Bachelor's/Master's/PhD in Education or a valid K-12 teaching license exempts you from the TEFL requirement. Existing CELTA holders are also typically exempt from needing an additional TEFL.
Source: EPIK Eligibility Criteria (epik.go.kr). Requirements may update each intake cycle — your Korvia recruiter will confirm the current rules during application.
What the Certificate Must Show
Four pieces of information must appear on the certificate itself. If any are missing, EPIK reviewers will ask for a reissue — which delays your application by 2-4 weeks.
Your Legal Name
Must match your passport exactly — including middle names. Name mismatches are one of the most common submission errors; request reissue from your provider if you notice a discrepancy.
Hours Completed
Certificate must explicitly state the number of contact hours (e.g., '120 hours' or '140 hours'). A certificate that only says 'TEFL Course Completed' without hours is insufficient for EPIK review.
Completion Date
Date of course completion, typically the date the final assignment was graded. This is what EPIK uses to confirm your qualification was in place before application submission.
Accreditation Body Named
The certificate itself (or an accompanying accreditation letter) must name the accrediting organization — e.g., 'Accredited by TQUK', 'Accredited by Ofqual', etc. The name matters because EPIK may cross-check the accreditor.
Verify Your Provider Is Actually Accredited
"Accredited" gets thrown around loosely in TEFL marketing. Before you pay any provider, do this 5-minute check:
- 1Find the name of the accrediting body on the provider's site (e.g., TQUK, Ofqual, ACCET, DEAC).
- 2Visit the accrediting body's official website and search their registry for the provider's name.
- 3Confirm the specific course you're enrolling in is covered — not just the provider as an organization.
- 4If no accrediting body is named, or you cannot verify the match, pick a different provider.
Reputable providers Korvia has seen work reliably: TEFL.org, The TEFL Academy (TTA), i-to-i TEFL, and LCTT (London College of Teachers & Trainers — our partnership provider).
Online, In-Person, or Hybrid
TEFL courses come in three delivery formats — all three are accepted by EPIK and Korean immigration, provided accreditation and 100-hour minimum are met.
Online
Fully online courses are the most common and most affordable path. EPIK and E-2 visa policy explicitly accept 100% online TEFL certificates. The digital certificate you receive must show your legal name, course hours, completion date, and issuing institution — same standards as in-person courses.
In-Person (Offline)
Courses completed fully or mostly in-person at an accredited training center. EPIK may request an "in-class hour confirmation letter" from the institution verifying attendance. More expensive and time-intensive, but often considered higher-quality for CELTA-track career teachers.
Hybrid (Online + Offline)
Combines online coursework with an in-person teaching-practice or observation component (typically 20-50 hours). Often qualifies for a higher EPIK salary level when the practice component is included. Popular for applicants who want online flexibility plus real classroom exposure.
Apostille or Notarization for Your Visa
Unlike the degree diploma, most TEFL certificates do NOT require apostille for EPIK — but this depends on jurisdiction and may change each cycle. Always confirm current rules with your Korvia recruiter.
United States
TEFL certificates issued by US providers may be apostilled through the Secretary of State of the issuing state (the state where the TEFL provider is registered). Some providers will notarize the certificate on request before you ship to the Secretary of State. Typically $10-50 per document.
United Kingdom
UK-issued TEFL certificates are apostilled via the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Legalisation Office. Standard service £45 per document, 2-business-day turnaround. Online application at gov.uk.
Other Countries
Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and South Africa each have their own apostille/authentication authorities (DFATD, DFAT, Department of Foreign Affairs, etc.). If your TEFL is online from an international provider, the apostille usually happens in the country where the provider is registered — not your country.
Korvia × LCTT — $50 Discount
Korvia partners with the London College of Teachers & Trainers (LCTT) — a globally accredited TEFL institution registered in Canada and the UK — to offer our applicants exclusive pricing on the 120/140/170-hour TEFL courses.
$249
120-hour
$299
140-hr + TP
$449
170-hr + Ext. TP
All LCTT options include: accredited certificate, 4 study modules, tutor support, self-paced completion (2-3 months typical), priority grading, and certificate dispatched to your home. Korvia applicants save $50 on every option automatically.
View Full Course Details & EnrollTEFL Certificate FAQ
Does my TEFL certificate expire?
No. A properly accredited TEFL certificate is a lifetime qualification — once earned, it does not expire and does not need renewal. This applies to TEFL, TESOL, and CELTA alike. The only time you would need to retake coursework is if your original provider closed and reissues are unavailable (rare), or if your target program specifically requires a more recent certificate (uncommon — EPIK does not). Certificates from 10 or 15 years ago are still accepted for EPIK today, provided the issuing body was accredited at the time of issue.
What if my TEFL certificate has the wrong name?
This is a common problem for applicants who legally changed names between coursework and application. The certificate name must match your passport name exactly — including middle names. If it does not, contact your TEFL provider and request a reissued certificate in your current legal name, attaching proof of the legal name change. Most providers handle this for a small administrative fee ($20-50). Do not try to submit a mismatched certificate with a separate name-change letter — EPIK reviewers flag this and request a reissue anyway.
What if my TEFL provider no longer exists?
If your TEFL school or online platform has closed down, the certificate itself is still valid — but you may not be able to get a replacement if the original is lost. Try these steps: (1) contact the accrediting body that originally approved the course, as they often hold graduation records; (2) check if the provider was acquired or merged into another TEFL institution; (3) search your email for the original digital certificate issue notification, which sometimes has a PDF attached. If none of these yield a result, you may need to retake an accredited course. Korvia's LCTT partnership is an easy path — LCTT has operated since the early 2000s with stable records.
Does EPIK accept free TEFL courses?
Generally no. Free TEFL courses typically lack formal accreditation — and accreditation is a hard requirement under EPIK's eligibility criteria. Even if a free course claims '100 hours,' if no external accrediting body has reviewed the curriculum, it is not accepted. Some free intro courses (e.g., a 20-hour taster) are offered to upsell paid certifications — these are fine as a trial, but the final certificate submitted to EPIK must come from a paid, accredited program. Budget courses run $200-400; avoid both free and extremely high-priced ($800+) options.
Does TEFL affect my EPIK salary level?
Yes — it is one of the most reliable ways to move up a salary tier. A qualifying TEFL (100+ hours, accredited) typically moves a Bachelor's-only applicant from Level 2 to Level 3 on the EPIK matrix. That's roughly ₩100,000-200,000 more per month, depending on region and year of intake. Over a 12-month contract, that's ₩1.2-2.4 million extra in gross salary — usually 4-10x the cost of the course. Applicants with 120+ hours including teaching-practice components sometimes qualify for an even higher placement. Verify the current matrix on epik.go.kr — salary levels are reviewed each intake cycle.
Is a 120-hour TEFL better than a 180-hour one?
For EPIK eligibility, both meet the 100-hour minimum and both are accepted. The question is what you want beyond eligibility. A 120-hour course teaches methodology, lesson planning, grammar, and classroom management — this is enough for most first-year teachers. A 180-hour course (or LCTT's 170-hour option) adds extended teaching practice, typically 20-50 hours of actual classroom time, which can move you to a higher EPIK salary level and makes you genuinely more ready on your first day in a Korean classroom. For career teachers or those wanting the strongest application, go 180/170 hours. For first-time, budget-conscious applicants, 120 is sufficient.
Ready to Get Certified?
Enroll in the accredited Korvia × LCTT course and save $50 automatically, or start your Korvia application if you're already certified.