Important Certifications for Teachers: Career Guide
For teachers, the licence determines where you can teach, including many online schools. Language teachers should prioritise a recognised TEFL, TESOL or CELTA certificate, and technology certifications help show online-teaching readiness.
Below is a comparison of the credentials teachers most often consider, with prerequisites, exam formats and renewal rules, followed by live data showing how often current job descriptions actually mention each one. Exam formats, fees and renewal policies change, so confirm current details with the issuer before you pay.
Quick comparison
| Credential | Issuer | Level | Prerequisites | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State or national teaching licence | Relevant education authority | Licence | Approved qualification, supervised teaching and exams (varies by jurisdiction). | Usually periodic renewal with professional development. |
| TEFL / TESOL / CELTA | Various accredited providers; CELTA by Cambridge English | Entry | Usually none; CELTA has selection criteria. | Does not expire. |
| Google Certified Educator (Level 1 and 2) | Google for Education | Entry | None. | Time-limited; check Google for Education. |
| Microsoft Certified Educator | Microsoft | Entry | None. | Check Microsoft. |
| National Board Certification | National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (US) | Expert | Teaching licence and several years of teaching experience (check NBPTS). | Maintenance of certification periodically. |
State or national teaching licence
Best for: Anyone teaching in public or accredited schools, including online.
Exam format: Varies.
Prerequisites: Approved qualification, supervised teaching and exams (varies by jurisdiction).
Keeping it current: Usually periodic renewal with professional development.
Skip it if: You only tutor privately or teach on platforms that do not require it.
TEFL / TESOL / CELTA
Best for: Teaching English online or abroad.
Exam format: Coursework, often around 120 hours for TEFL/TESOL; CELTA includes assessed teaching practice.
Prerequisites: Usually none; CELTA has selection criteria.
Keeping it current: Does not expire.
Skip it if: You teach subjects other than English.
Google Certified Educator (Level 1 and 2)
Best for: Teachers in schools using Google Workspace for Education.
Exam format: Online exam with practical tasks.
Prerequisites: None.
Keeping it current: Time-limited; check Google for Education.
Skip it if: Your schools use other platforms.
Microsoft Certified Educator
Best for: Teachers in Microsoft-based schools.
Exam format: Exam on technology literacy for educators.
Prerequisites: None.
Keeping it current: Check Microsoft.
Skip it if: You work with Google tools.
National Board Certification
Best for: Experienced US teachers seeking recognition and, in some states, salary increases.
Exam format: Portfolio components and assessment.
Prerequisites: Teaching licence and several years of teaching experience (check NBPTS).
Keeping it current: Maintenance of certification periodically.
Skip it if: You teach outside the US.
Which should you take first?
Sequence credentials by what you can realistically qualify for and what your target vacancies ask for. By level, a sensible order is: State or national teaching licence (licence), then TEFL / TESOL / CELTA (entry), then Google Certified Educator (Level 1 and 2) (entry), then Microsoft Certified Educator (entry), then National Board Certification (expert). You rarely need all of them; one well-chosen credential plus strong evidence usually beats several overlapping ones.
Licences are not the same as certifications
Teaching in state or public schools usually requires a licence or registration from the relevant authority. Online schools that serve publicly funded students often require a licence in the same jurisdiction. Private tutoring and many language-teaching platforms have lighter requirements, commonly a degree and a TEFL/TESOL certificate.
JobsRemoteList inventory data
Which credentials teacher job ads actually mention
Figures below are calculated from every active teaching and tutoring jobs listed on JobsRemoteList on 10 October 2026, after expired and closed vacancies were removed. They describe this catalogue, not the whole job market.
- Active listings
- 137
- of 16,061 in the catalogue
- Hiring companies
- 19
- Posted in the last 7 days
- 12
- median listing age 9 days
- Publish a salary
- 50%
- catalogue average 34%
- Open worldwide
- 1%
- 94 name specific countries
- • 50% of these listings publish a salary, above the 34% average across the whole catalogue.
- • Senior, lead and staff titles make up 6% here, less senior-heavy than the catalogue overall.
- • 9% were posted in the last 7 days (catalogue average: 35%), a sign of slower hiring in this segment.
Seniority in job titles
- Mid-level / not stated127 · 93%
- Lead / staff / principal6 · 4%
- Senior3 · 2%
- Junior / entry level1 · 1%
Employment type
- Full-time135 · 99%
- Contract2 · 1%
Published pay (USD, annualised)
$51k – $90k
Median published range. The middle half of range midpoints falls between $69k and $90k.
Based on 68 employer-published USD ranges; estimates are excluded.
Companies hiring most
Countries named in eligibility
- United States93
- Austria2
- Belgium2
- BG2
- Canada2
- Czechia2
Most requested skills and tools
Where these listings come from: Greenhouse (83), Ashby (6), plus company career pages. Every listing is re-checked at the employer's source at least every 30 days and removed once it is found closed or its published closing date passes.
Credentials named in current job descriptions
Share of the 100 most recent teaching and tutoring jobs descriptions we hold that name each credential. A mention can be a requirement or a nice-to-have, so read the vacancy wording.
- Teaching licence / certificate36 · 36%
- TEFL / TESOL / CELTA3 · 3%
- Degree required (named)1 · 1%
- Google Certified Educator0 · 0%
Newest teacher listings
See every teacher job →Build evidence alongside the exam
Credentials open doors; evidence gets offers. Pair your studying with a project you can discuss in interviews:
- Record a demo lesson and get feedback from experienced teachers.
- Tutor online through a reputable platform.
- Create a short online course module with assessments.
- Develop a unit plan aligned to a curriculum standard.
A realistic study plan
- Week 1: download the official exam outline and take a diagnostic test to find weak areas.
- Weeks 2–5: study one domain at a time and apply each in a lab, exercise or work task.
- Week 6: take timed practice exams and review every wrong answer until you can explain the right one.
- Week 7: revise weak areas, then book the exam while the material is fresh.
Entry and associate exams often fit this schedule. Professional and expert credentials, and licensing exams, usually take months of preparation.
Ask your employer to pay
Many employers fund exams, courses and study time for teachers. Link the credential to your current work and a team goal, propose a timeline, and check whether you would have to repay the cost if you leave within a set period.
Red flags when choosing a provider
- Promises of guaranteed jobs or salaries.
- No clear link to the official issuer or exam outline.
- Course-completion certificates marketed as professional credentials.
- Pressure to buy expensive bundles before you have checked what employers ask for.
How to list certifications on your CV
Use the official credential name, the issuer and the date earned, plus the expiry date where one applies. Label anything in progress clearly ("expected June 2027"). In a teacher cover letter, mention a certification only when it directly supports the role; in interviews, be ready to explain how you have applied what you learned.
Related guides for teachers
- Resume examples for teachers
- Cover letter examples for teachers
- Teacher interview questions and answers
- How to become a teacher
- Current remote teacher jobs
Frequently asked questions
Which certification is most useful for teachers?
It depends on your target vacancies. For teachers, the licence determines where you can teach, including many online schools. The live data above shows which credentials current job descriptions mention most.
Can a certification replace experience?
Rarely. Employers treat certifications as supporting evidence; practical results, portfolios and references carry more weight in hiring decisions.
Do these certifications expire?
Some do and some do not. State or national teaching licence: usually periodic renewal with professional development. TEFL / TESOL / CELTA: does not expire. Google Certified Educator (Level 1 and 2): time-limited; check Google for Education. Microsoft Certified Educator: check Microsoft. National Board Certification: maintenance of certification periodically.