8 Best TEFL Courses in the USA in 2024

Do you find yourself daydreaming of a far away land? Do you love influencing others and having a lasting personal impact? WELL, your magic GoAbroad genie is now here to help you realize your dreams and live them at the same time! So where are we going with this? Two words: TEFL. Certification. 

If you’re tired of searching “TEFL courses near me” and finding your results are a bust, don’t fret. US citizens, as well as travelers who dream of living short-term in the US, have their work cut out for them when it comes to finding top-notch local TEFL certification programs. Here, you can get TEFL certified online OR take an in-person class with a reputable US-based company—both great options for future English teachers abroad.

Some teach abroad program providers you come across will be… alright. But this is your time to shine—you don’t want just “alright,” you should look for a mind blowing program—right?! Right! Say it with me: “(TEFL) USA! (TEFL) USA!”

So here it is, the best TEFL courses in the USA in 2025-2026 according to people just like you and I—the people that were bit by the teach abroad travel bug (the one that there’s no cure for!).

What makes the “best” TEFL courses in the United States, anyway?

Half of the fun of choosing your USA TEFL course is to see all the gizmos and gadgets that come packaged into it. To make the next chapter of your life overseas what you want to experience, you need to make sure you know what’s included in your course. 

Do you want great alumni perks? A great bang for your buck? Perhaps one with lifetime placement assistance? Whatever you are looking for, just remember that what you want isn’t going to be the same as the person who just started their TEFL course. So come in close. Closer. Ok, good! Here’s how to actually pick a TEFL course that is right for you. 

A good program…

• Offers a program that fits your learning style. How do you learn? Will an online course be a good fit for you, or would you understand better taking an on-site class? How about a mixture of both? Check out which choice is right by you—and don’t consider programs that don’t offer what you need.
• Has awesome reviews and ratings. Read about experiences. In doing so, you’ll be able to see what alumni have said about the course, plus you’ll be able to sing “I heard it through the grapevine” all the time. Win win!
• Is accredited. Don’t bother with programs that give participants certificates that aren’t internationally recognized. 
• Displays key details readily. Finding important program-related details should not be a Sherlock Holmes mission. Can you find a program that shares its inclusions and expectations conveniently, so you don’t have to search the whole globe?
• Provides job placement assistance. Getting a TEFL certificate is the first step towards a potentially exciting, yet a little scary and overwhelming, chapter of your life. Will they help you with your transition from student to teacher?
• Shares additional resources and support for program alumni—so you are able to get a nice push in the right direction for your first ever teaching experience.
• Has strong values! You want to make sure that who you are working with have similarities when it comes to the important things in life. Respect for the people, places, and things around you—and a sincere commitment to helping students around the world improve their English language proficiency. If they let you bail on classes but still give you a passing grade, they might not be the *best* organization… ya dig?

GoAbroad’s 2024-2025 round-up

1. International TEFL Academy - TEFL Certification—9.96 Rating

“Going into this experience, I wasn't confident with my grammar skills at all. It had never really been my strong-suit. That being said, I realized that teaching English is not just about teaching grammar, you teach people much more than that. It's really about teaching different cultures and English just happens to be the medium in which it is taught. After my four weeks getting TEFL Certified, I am completely confident in my teaching-ability skills, I not only learned how to teach grammar, but I was given a foundation on how to teach grammar to myself...When I came out the other side, I not only came out TEFL Certified instructor, but I also came out a more confident person all around. If you want a chance to change yours and maybe someone else's life, then I highly recommend you get to Chicago and take this course.” — ITA alum

• Where?: Anywhere in the world
• What?: Online, in-person, plus hybrid TEFL courses
• When?: Year round (check dates here)
• Why?: International TEFL Academy offers top notch courses for TEFL certification which will get you out into the world in no time. The recent recipients of multiple GoAbroad Innovation Awards, this organization is definitely worth a second glance. With lifetime job placement assistance, an amazing alumni community, and plenty of room for growth, there is never a bad time to reach out to their team and get your teach abroad chapter started.
• Get more program info

2. Rennert New York TESOL Center - SIT TESOL Certification Course—9.89 Rating

“I recently completed the SIT TESOL certificate intensive program at Rennert NYC and can honestly say that it was one of the best learning experiences. The staff at the school was so welcoming and I can't say enough about our instructor Selina. Her expertise, attention to detail, work ethic, patience and openness to ideas was so inspiring. Also, the program director, Autumn seems extremely committed to our continued journey after graduation. The support i have gotten while searching for my first teaching job has been great! I would highly recommend Rennert for anyone wanting to begin a career in Teaching TESOL.” — Rennert TESOL Center alum

• Where?: New York City
• When?: Year Round; 4-15 Weeks in Length
• Why?: Take in the knowledge of one of the best TEFL courses in the USA, in one of the most energetic cities on the planet! With Rennert’s SIT TESOL course you will experience small class sizes with open and upbeat instructors, lots of hands on experience with real ESL students, and job placement support. Open up a whole world of opportunities while conveniently located in the center of The Big Apple!
• More program info

3. UNI-Prep Institute—9.36 Rating 

“Taking courses through Uni-Prep served not only beneficial for my advancement in teaching English abroad but it also helped to guide me in stability and remain diligent through my studies. The coursework was straight forward and timed well with the videos, reading assignments and quizzes provided. This was a very great choice for me and I am happy I chose Uni-prep to pursue my TESOL/TEFL certificate. I highly recommend to others!” — UNI-Prep alum

• Where?: Your couch! Er, desk.
• What?: Online TEFL certification programs
• When?: When you like
• Why?: With affordable price options, UNI-Prep, accredited by the Professional Education Accreditation Council, is a great provider to get your TEFL certification online in the United States. You’ll have videos and tutor support right at your fingertips (literally), be able to study at your own pace, and enjoy so many more benefits—why wouldn’t you want to “prep” with this institute? Whether you want TEFL courses in Florida, Hawaii, or anywhere in between, the convenience of an online course like this is unmatched.
• More program info

4. OnTESOL—9.35 Rating

“I found the OnTESOL course to be incredibly helpful. I liked that it was so hands on and that it gave me so much practice with different lesson planning frameworks. I also liked that the course included training in grammar and phonology, which are areas that many TEFL teachers don’t know much about but are extremely important nonetheless.” — OnTESOL course alumni

• Where?: Anywhere in the world
• What?: Online self-paced with live classes via Zoom
• When?: Year Round
• Why?: Study TESOL / TEFL online at your own pace and attend live classes via Zoom. OnTESOL is accredited by ACCET (U.S. Department of Education recognized agency) to ensure your TESOL / TEFL certification is valid internationally and in the United States. Earn CEUs with an ACCET-accredited institute to maintain your teaching license and meet employment requirements in the USA.
• More program info

5. Premier TEFL - Level 5 TEFL Course—10.0 Rating

“I really enjoyed the TEFL course and thought that the content was great! The staff at Premier TEFL were extremely helpful and quick to address any of my concerns. Definitely a course I would recommend if you are looking at doing a TEFL! I also liked the grammar booklet and other resources that were available for download!” — Premier TEFL alum

• Where?: All over the US and the world
• What?: Online courses
• When?: Year round; 3-6 months in length
• Why?: Looking for a course with both great quality and great price. Well, Premier TEFL is here to answer all your questions! Completing the 170 hour course will have you set for your next adventure, especially with their included 70 page grammar booklet that’ll no doubt help you out when in the classroom. The world is your oyster when you get your TEFL certification with Premier TEFL.
• More program info

6. BeyondTEFL - Chicago In-Person TEFL Course—8.78 Rating

"Overall, everything went really well. The course offers great money value, detailed information about your progress and prepares you for most scenarios found on a real setting." — BeyondTEFL alum

• Where?: Chicago
• What?: In-person
• When?: Year round
• Why?: Don’t get stuck in TEFL courses in the USA where you are taught the old ways of teaching English abroad. BeyondTEFL does exactly what their name says, teach you how to correctly teach in a modern way that engages your students and efficiently helps them learn. From TEFL certification in Chicago to flexible online courses, BeyondTEFL has you covered.
• More program info

7. International TEFL and TESOL Training -Online Courses—8.89 Rating 

“I personally took the course as a secondary certification after several years of teaching, and I found the suggestions given are actually accurate and ones that truly work in class. Many things contained in the course were things I already knew, just from my years of experience; but throughout the course, I kept thinking, "I wish I had taken this course before I began my first year.” — ITTT alum

• Where?: Anywhere
• What?: Online training
• When?: Anytime!
• Why?: With a wide variety of courses to choose from and guaranteed job placement, ITTT is the way to go! Based in Berkeley, CA and started in 1993, ITTT has a good deal for its participants—including lifetime job placement assistance. Whether it be getting your certification for the first time, or brushing up on some things already known, they can accommodate your next adventure overseas in so many ways. Enjoy ongoing support and work at schools all around the world today! 
• More program info

8. International TEFL Institute United States—10.0 Rating

“The course was fantastic !! I learned so many things about teaching second language learners. I will use these skills in my teaching. I teach a variety of students some special education children this course will help me with my second language learners. I also am looking into teaching in other countries, so this course was perfect. I believe this course is exceptional." —International TEFL Institute United States course alum

• Where?: New York
• What?: Onsite & online
• When?: Year Round, 2-4 weeks
• Why?: With YOUR choice of a basic, standard, or advanced course, you have leeway to choose what fits your lifestyle and goals best. Learn at your own pace while diving deep into the need-to-know content of TEFL certifications and teaching English overseas. Learn the curriculum needed for all ages; young and old!
• More program info

[Check Out More Top-Notch TEFL Courses in the USA]

More resources for TEFL courses in the United States

Ready to grab your notebooks, activity books, marker and crayons yet?! If not, and you still want to take a look around, look through our entire USA TEFL Course directory. So much to choose from, and so much time. Trust me cinderella, you’ll find the perfect fit. ;)

Where will your TEFL course take YOU?

We understand. Since there are so many options to choose from, we have our Online Advisors are here to help. Not all heroes wear capes ya know. Just tell us what you’re looking for, and we’ll do your homework for you / send you a handful of specific recommendations to your preferences. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy!

Just a quick tip before you head out scouring all the courses. Whether choosing to do an online course or in person one, one of the most important steps to figuring out which TEFL course in the USA is right for you is to know “WHY”. Why are you taking this course, and why are you interested in teaching abroad? Why get TEFL certified in the first place? Do you want to brush up on your grammar, get your foot in the door internationally, to learn from others and their experiences? Set goals and know that you want. That will then lead you to making the right decision when picking your teach abroad program.

Getting your TEFL certification and teaching abroad can sometimes be costly; so here’s how to “foot the bill” a bit. With the most obvious being not spending so much money, there are tons of other ways that you can save get a little more of that moolah to out towards more meaningful investments.

Get your TEFL certification in the United States this year!

The whole world is in your hands—Sign up for TEFL courses USA today!

Get TEFL certified either online or take an in person class, and next thing you know—ZOOM! You’re off teaching English, and embracing another culture a whole world away. 

With so many states and even more courses to choose from, the possibilities are down right endless! Starting with a certification will help you learn how to become a confident teacher, traveler, and global citizen overall. With the help of your friends, family, provider, and most importantly YOURSELF, you will be ready for your first interview abroad in no time. But don’t forget the ABC’s of TEFL. Stay Attentive when searching for programs and providers. Be Sure to know why you want to get certified. Get Certified! Easy as 1,2,3. Am I right?!