Accreditation/ Regulation & Approval

Yes, the TEFL Institute of Ireland is accredited and recognised by several reputable organisations and awarding bodies. Our TEFL courses are recognised and approved by Highfield Qualifications, an esteemed awarding body in the United Kingdom. We are an approved training centre by Highfield Qualifications, an independent Ofqual approved Awarding Organisation, demonstrating our commitment to delivering high-quality TEFL courses. Additionally, our TEFL courses are regulated by Ofqual, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation, which is the regulatory body for vocational qualifications in England and Northern Ireland. Ofqual has granted approval to Highfield, the awarding organisation, to provide a wide range of regulated qualifications, including our TEFL Diploma course. Moreover, our courses undergo accreditation and approval processes with the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), ensuring that they meet the criteria for Approved Quality Curriculum (AQC) status. The DEAC approval signifies that our courses adhere to stringent standards set by the US Department of Education. Furthermore, the TEFL Institute of Ireland is accredited by OTCAC (Online Teaching Course Accreditation Committee). The Online Teaching Course Accreditation Committee is a UK based independent accreditor of online courses. To hold accreditation a provider is assessed against published standards and reassessed to keep it. Our courses are also CPD accredited through The CPD Group. In summary, yes, the TEFL Institute of Ireland is accredited, and our TEFL courses are recognised by reputable accrediting bodies and awarding organisations, including Highfield Qualifications, Ofqual, DEAC, OTCAC and The CPD Group.

HIGHFIELD QUALIFICATIONS AWARDING BODY IN THE UK Highfield Qualifications is an awarding body based in the United Kingdom. Approved Centre Number: 21335 Highfield Qualifications is renowned globally for its expertise in compliance, work-based learning, and apprenticeship qualifications, and is among the most recognisable awarding organisations in the UK. The TEFL Institute is recognised as an approved training centre by Highfield Qualifications, an independent Awarding Organisation approved by Ofqual. This signifies that the TEFL Institute has fulfilled Highfield's standards for developing and delivering high-quality courses in the TEFL industry. Highfield conducts annual evaluation visits to ensure ongoing compliance with our training's high standards.

OFQUAL (THE OFFICE OF QUALIFICATIONS AND EXAMINATIONS REGULATION) The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) acts as the regulatory body for vocational qualifications in England and Northern Ireland. Ofqual provides formal recognition to Awarding Organisations and oversees their activities. Ofqual has granted approval for Highfield, the Awarding Organisation (AO), to offer a broad spectrum of regulated qualifications across various sectors, including Education and Training. Upon successful completion of the 180-hour Ofqual regulated TEFL Diploma course (launched October 2021), you will attain 38 Credit Points at Level 5 (RQF), exceeding the credits offered by most Level 5 TEFL qualifications. The qualification number for this course is 610/0049/4 on the Ofqual Register. You can verify the TEFL Institute’s qualification status on the Ofqual Register.

A regulated TEFL course means that it is officially recognised by a government-regulated qualification organisation and is available on the register of qualifications. If a course is not regulated, this means no one has verified it or checked it for quality control and level. If you undertake an unregulated course, it might not be any use to you and you might have to pay to do another, valid course in the future.

You can check our courses on the OFQUAL register as well as your Level 5 courses on Highfield. Any course which is not on the list is not a regulated course. Your employer can also do this which will show them that you have undertaken the best possible TEFL training.

Level 3 courses are comparable to A-Levels and Level 5 courses are comparable to foundation degrees and CELTA courses.

Our 120-hour (equivalent material to Level 3) course is more than sufficient for those who want a fast track TEFL qualification. This is particularly useful for those who want to teach online or those who already have experience or another teaching qualification. Our 180-hour Diploma (Level 5) is a more comprehensive course which consists of more learning hours and content. This course is suited for those who might have no previous experience or qualifications or who want to go abroad and teach English.

A TEFL Diploma is a higher qualification than a “certificate course” which provides a more in-depth learning experience. A Diploma stands out as being more comprehensive and contains more learning hours and content. It is the most complete TEFL course you can do to get your initial TEFL qualification.

An Advanced Diploma offers you the opportunity to take the 180-hour Diploma course along with 2 x 60 hour specialist courses. It is the most complete TEFL course you can do including extra, specialist courses to boost your CV and knowledge.

Our TEFL courses will qualify you to teach abroad in local language schools or in some mainstream schools (mostly in Asia). You can also teach online for companies all over the world. A TEFL course is valid for your own country if you are teaching English as a second language in a local language school.

DEAC stands for the Distance Education Accrediting Commission. It is a recognized accrediting agency by the United States Department of Education. DEAC evaluates and accredits distance education programs offered by various educational institutions, ensuring that they meet specific quality standards and criteria. AQC stands for Approved Quality Curriculum. It is a status granted by DEAC to signify that a particular curriculum or course offered by an educational institution meets the rigorous quality standards set by DEAC. Essentially, AQC indicates that the curriculum has been thoroughly reviewed and approved by DEAC for its quality and adherence to educational standards.

DEAC AQC Curriculum Approved Our Level 5 TEFL Course has been approved by DEAC as meeting the criteria for Approved Quality Curriculum (AQC) status. This endorsement applies to our Level 5 courses: the 180-hour, the 4x 60-hour, and the 300-hour Advanced Diploma. However, it's important to note that DEAC does not approve our 120-hour, 240-hour, or 30-hour courses. As outlined by our academic director, this approval signifies that: Our course aligns with the standards set for course content, curriculum, and assessments in the United States. It undergoes rigorous and stringent checks to ensure adherence to these standards. The course curriculum and assessments undergo comprehensive reviews. We maintain the highest standards throughout the development and delivery of our courses. Our course is guaranteed to meet the standards set by the US Department for Education in the field of TEFL. DEAC, or the Distance Education Accrediting Commission, is a recognised accrediting agency by the US Department of Education. AQC, or Approved Quality Curriculum, is a status granted by DEAC to signify that a course meets their rigorous quality standards. These approvals assure our students of the high quality and credibility of our TEFL courses.