Online Part-time CELTA (13w)

Part-time CELTA

Certificate in English Language Teaching to Speakers of Other Languages: Part-time Online course

The CELTA (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) offered by Cambridge Assessment English, is the most recognised, reputable and highly regarded course within the EFL teacher training industry and the qualification most often requested by employers.

Whether you’re embarking on your first teaching role or aiming to validate your teaching prowess with a recognised qualification, CELTA is the essential qualification to propel your career forward.

Our online CELTA is a convenient way of getting qualified as it’s fully flexible so you can fit the course around your other professional and personal commitments. It’s also accessible to anyone around the world!

Who is the CELTA for?

Newcomers to teaching, providing a solid foundation for starting their career.
Experienced educators seeking to enhance their teaching skills and expand their opportunities.
Both native and non-native English speakers.
Those with a desire to travel and teach English.

The content covered in our online course is exactly the same as our Intensive 4 week CELTA – the course is simply spread out over a greater length of time so it’s perfect for busy individuals juggling work, studies, or other commitments.

Tuition

120+ hours per course
including 6+ hours observed teaching practice

Timetable

Fully online (13 weeks);
Teaching Practice Friday afternoons (subject to change)
Input session Tuesday evenings (usually 18.00 GMT, subject to change)

Duration

13 weeks

Age

18 years +

Levels

N/A

Maximum Students Per Class

12/18 trainees per course and a maximum of 6 trainees per CELTA tutor

Course price

2025/26: £1750 (inc. VAT and Cambridge registration fee)

Early bird discount of £100 available where course fees are paid in full immediately upon acceptance on the course. Available on applications received 4 weeks before the course start date at the latest.

Fees can be paid by card, cash or transfer.

Course dates

2025: 12 September - 05 December
2026: 11 September - 04 December

Public Holidays 2025

March 17

July 14

April 18

August 25

April 21

May 26

The school will close on December 19 2025 and will reopen on January 5 2026. Please note: Classes missed due to public holidays are non-recoupable.

The CELTA course covers the following syllabus:

Language analysis and awareness

The learner, the teacher and the teaching/learning context

Planning for effective teaching

Classroom management skills

Teaching procedures and techniques

Resources and materials

Professional development

Classroom observation

Teaching practice

For anyone intending to enter the TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) profession, the CELTA is the ideal qualification to have. It is the most widely respected and recognised teacher training qualification globally, and most reputable language schools worldwide make it (or an equivalent) a requirement for anyone they employ. Check out the Prezi here!

CELTA is the most well-known TEFL qualification in the world, and is administered as part of the University of Cambridge. This makes it the perfect certification for anyone who wishes to teach English abroad. In fact, having a CELTA certificate is one of the best ways to boost your chances of finding a teaching job abroad, for both long and short term contracts. Whether you want to settle down in a new country, or earn money by teaching English while travelling, CELTA is by far your best option. Another advantage of doing your CELTA with us is that we can interview you for available positions anywhere within the IH network.

Should I buy textbooks?

You are not required to buy any books in order to do the course, and IH Belfast has an extensive library available to all CELTA trainees. We do, however, recommend purchasing one book on Teaching English as a Foreign Language – either Learning Teaching by Jim Scrivener or How to Teach English by Jeremy Harmer. One of these will be a very useful reference for the course and throughout your TEFL career.

If you would like to brush up on your language awareness and knowledge of grammar, we recommend Martin Parrott’s book Grammar for English Language Teachers; this is also an excellent reference book which will be of use throughout your teaching career.

Note: We do not require trainees to have an in-depth knowledge of English grammar. Language awareness is acquired over time and over the course of your teaching career.

Do I Need Prior Teaching Experience to Study CELTA?

CELTA is a TEFL qualification which is designed to give people little or no teaching experience the skills they need to thrive in the classroom. Of course, English teaching experience can be beneficial. However, it is by no means necessary. International House’s 4 week CELTA course comprises 120 hours of classroom-based, plus 6 hours of hands on teaching practice. This is the required standard for most international language schools. Our CELTA course provides you with all of the skills and knowledge you need to go from zero experience to leading a classroom in just 4 weeks.

What Happens After I Complete the Course?

The Cambridge CELTA is the most widely recognised and respected of the TEFL qualifications available, with stringent criteria and guidelines set out by Cambridge ESOL (a department of Cambridge University).

The most obvious next step is job hunting! For an idea of available EFL work available globally and what might be required for employment, look at the job listings at www.tefl.com.

Where Can I Teach with CELTA?

Internationally, CELTA is the most widely known qualification for teaching English. Students who complete the course will be qualified for TEFL jobs all around the world. It has never been a better time to become a qualified TEFL instructor, as demand for English teachers has never been higher. Over 1 billion students are currently teaching English, with demand for teachers being particularly high in Asia, Africa an Latin America. CELTA certified teachers can expect to find work in private or public schools all across the world.

CELTA is also the perfect qualification for those who want to teach English part time while travelling.

Request a CELTA application form

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