---
title: Do I need a teaching license to teach abroad?
description: Most schools and education organizations that advertise on our job board will ask you to have either a teaching license and/or an ESL certification, such as TEFL. (While others will only ask you to ho
---

[Skip to content](https://kb.teachaway.com/en/faq/do-i-need-a-teaching-license-to-teach-abroad#main-content)

English

Show submenu for translations

![Teachaway\_Brandmark\_Wht.svg\]](https://kb.teachaway.com/hubfs/%5BTeach%20Away%5D%20New%20brand/Logos/.SVG/Teachaway_Brandmark_Wht.svg)

Open main navigation

Close main navigation

- English
  
  Show submenu for translations
- Contact us

 Contact us

 Hello. How can we help you?

- There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

1. [Help Center](https://kb.teachaway.com/en/faq?hsLang=en)
2. [Teach Abroad or Online](https://kb.teachaway.com/en/faq/teach-abroad-or-online?hsLang=en)
3. [Requirements](https://kb.teachaway.com/en/faq/teach-abroad-or-online?hsLang=en#requirements)

# Do I need a teaching license to teach abroad?

Most schools and education organizations that advertise on our job board will ask you to have either a teaching license and/or an ESL certification, such as [TEFL](https://www.teachaway.com/courses/online-tefl-certification). (While others will only ask you to hold a bachelor's degree.)

A "teaching license" refers to the teaching credential that allows you to legally work as a teacher within a given area (i.e. your home country). A certified teacher has a recognized teaching qualification or license awarded by an education board or local governing body.

A "teaching license" can also be referred to as a "teaching certification", "qualification" or "credential", depending on where you qualified as a teacher.

Although it qualifies you to teach in many countries, an ESL certification is not considered a teaching license.

Recommended Reading:

- **[What is a teaching license or teaching credential?](https://www.teachaway.com/blog/what-teaching-license-or-teaching-credential)**
- **[5 reasons why you need a TEFL certificate to teach English abroad](https://www.teachaway.com/blog/why-you-need-TEFL-to-teach-abroad)**
- **[What qualifications do I need to teach abroad?](https://www.teachaway.com/blog/what-qualifications-do-i-need-teach-english-abroad)**

- [Managing your Teacher Profile](https://kb.teachaway.com/en/faq/managing-your-teacher-profile?hsLang=en)
- [Teach Abroad or Online](https://kb.teachaway.com/en/faq/teach-abroad-or-online?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Health & Safety Teaching Abroad](https://kb.teachaway.com/en/faq/teach-abroad-or-online?hsLang=en#health-safety-teaching-abroad)
    - [Requirements](https://kb.teachaway.com/en/faq/teach-abroad-or-online?hsLang=en#requirements)
    - [Application Process](https://kb.teachaway.com/en/faq/teach-abroad-or-online?hsLang=en#application-process)
    - [Using the Job Board](https://kb.teachaway.com/en/faq/teach-abroad-or-online?hsLang=en#using-the-job-board)
    - [Online Teaching](https://kb.teachaway.com/en/faq/teach-abroad-or-online?hsLang=en#online-teaching)
    - [Interview Process](https://kb.teachaway.com/en/faq/teach-abroad-or-online?hsLang=en#interview-process)
    - [Salary & Benefits](https://kb.teachaway.com/en/faq/teach-abroad-or-online?hsLang=en#salary-benefits)
    - [Visa Procedure](https://kb.teachaway.com/en/faq/teach-abroad-or-online?hsLang=en#visa-procedure)
    - [Teaching With Family](https://kb.teachaway.com/en/faq/teach-abroad-or-online?hsLang=en#teaching-with-family)
    - [Medical Insurance](https://kb.teachaway.com/en/faq/teach-abroad-or-online?hsLang=en#medical-insurance)
- [TEFL](https://kb.teachaway.com/en/faq/tefl?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [The Basics](https://kb.teachaway.com/en/faq/tefl?hsLang=en#the-basics)
    - [General Course Information](https://kb.teachaway.com/en/faq/tefl?hsLang=en#general-course-information)
    - [Payment & Registration](https://kb.teachaway.com/en/faq/tefl?hsLang=en#payment-registration)
    - [Job Placement](https://kb.teachaway.com/en/faq/tefl?hsLang=en#job-placement)
    - [Certification](https://kb.teachaway.com/en/faq/tefl?hsLang=en#certification)
    - [Current Students](https://kb.teachaway.com/en/faq/tefl?hsLang=en#current-students)
    - [Technical Support](https://kb.teachaway.com/en/faq/tefl?hsLang=en#technical-support)
- [Teacher Certification Program](https://kb.teachaway.com/en/faq/teacher-certification-program?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [The Basics](https://kb.teachaway.com/en/faq/teacher-certification-program?hsLang=en#the-basics)
- [Courses & E-learning](https://kb.teachaway.com/en/faq/courses-e-learning?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Getting your certificate](https://kb.teachaway.com/en/faq/courses-e-learning?hsLang=en#getting-your-certificate)
    - [In-Course Support](https://kb.teachaway.com/en/faq/courses-e-learning?hsLang=en#in-course-support)
- [Teach Away Premium Membership](https://kb.teachaway.com/en/faq/teach-away-premium-membership?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [About Teach Away Premium Membership](https://kb.teachaway.com/en/faq/teach-away-premium-membership?hsLang=en#about-teach-away-premium-membership)
    - [Subscription and Payments](https://kb.teachaway.com/en/faq/teach-away-premium-membership?hsLang=en#subscription-and-payments)
    - [Benefits for Premium Members](https://kb.teachaway.com/en/faq/teach-away-premium-membership?hsLang=en#benefits-for-premium-members)

[![Teach Away](https://kb.teachaway.com/hubfs/logo.svg "Teach Away")](https://www.teachaway.com/)

Teach Away Help Center

Copyright © 2026, Teach Away