For Students

All our members go through an initial organisational audit which looks at aspects such as their webpage, course administration and quality control. They then accredit specific courses at a range of different levels. See Accredited Members for current partners.

Video advice from members

ACTDEC partners share their experience to help you decide if a career teaching English is the right choice.

Still not sure about online learning?

You may have come across the idea that a distance or online teacher training programme is inferior to a face-to-face CELTA course, but this is not necessarily true, especially if you choose a reputable course provider, such as our accredited members.

• Online programmes are much kinder to your wallet. You follow a substantial course of professional training for a much lower fee than a presential course, and you save on travel and/or residential costs.
• You work from home at your own pace — particularly useful if you cannot take time away from regular employment.
• Online programmes offer generous time periods to complete the course, so you can fully cover and absorb the material.
• If you are currently teaching, you can try out new ideas as you go.
• You can start as soon as you want; you don’t have to wait for a course to begin.
• A quality online programme gives individualised feedback on your progress and your work.

Online professional training is no longer a second choice. Each year, hundreds of students follow an ACTDEC-accredited course to qualify as teachers.

How to choose a good programme

1. Look for an accredited course, then check the accrediting body’s credentials. Don’t assume “accredited” on a website means a quality provider.
2. Don’t go for the cheapest option. A first-class interactive distance programme is costly to produce and maintain; reputable providers hire experienced tutors.
3. Compare like for like on hours. As a general rule, anything below 100 hours is not a Certificate-level course, which is generally the minimum employers consider.
4. Check whether references and materials are up to date — blogs, sample lessons, video.
5. Ask for minimum tutor qualifications. ACTDEC expects tutors to hold a qualification at least one level above the course they teach, plus at least three years’ teaching experience.
6. Find out how you will be assessed. You should know the learning objectives for each module.
7. Make sure you receive constructive individual feedback from a qualified tutor.

Our services

1. Find a high-quality course — explore accredited members and the tips above.
2. ACTDEC arbitration — if a complaint cannot be resolved through a member’s grievance procedures, we act as final arbitrators.
3. Student certificates — if you have successfully passed an accredited course with one of our members, for a small fee you can request an additional ACTDEC certificate.

Trainee certificates

Our partners’ trainees can request a certificate directly from ACTDEC, for a small fee. All ACTDEC certificates issued are published on the Certificates page so potential employers can verify that you attended an ACTDEC-accredited course.