Do I need a CELTA qualification to teach English?

No (but it helps!)

A CELTA qualification is not a minimum qualification need to teach English but it is definitely a good place to start and you would be well advised to do at least some kind of initial qualification before you think about teaching English.

Qualification requirements for teaching English vary from country to country. Most schools seem to require that you have a minimum of a BA degree (in any subject) but this is not always the case. Some schools (especially in Asia and South America) just require you to have a white face (unfortunately racism is not only confined to the west) and be a native English speaker from North America, UK, Australia or New Zealand.

If you do decide to take a CELTA or TEOL course, you are much more likely to get a better salary and you should find it a lot easier to find a job teaching English. You will also have the confidence needed to go into a classroom full of students and get your job done in a manner that is professional and effective.

The drawback to taking a CELTA or TESOL course is the cost and time commitment. Courses are not cheap and many English teachers are newly graduated students trying to pay off expensive student loans who don't have the time or money to take a CELTA or TESOL course.

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