How long does a TEFL course take?

By APTTI TEFL faculty · Updated 6 October 2026 · 2 min read

A 120-hour online TEFL course usually takes between four and twelve weeks part-time, depending on how many hours a week you study. Studying about ten hours a week, most people finish in three months or less. Full-time in-person courses compress similar hours into about four weeks, while 200-hour diplomas take proportionally longer.

What this means in practice

With a self-paced online course, the time depends on you. Working teachers often study in the evenings and at weekends; recent graduates may finish much faster.

Typical timelines

120-hour certificate, 10 hours a week: about 12 weeks
120-hour certificate, 20 hours a week: about 6 weeks
200-hour diploma, 10 hours a week: about 5 months
Intensive in-person course: about 3–4 weeks full-time

What affects your pace

Your English level, your teaching experience, the number of assignments and how quickly you get feedback all matter. Live courses follow a fixed batch schedule, which keeps you on track but is less flexible.

Certificate delivery time

Remember to add the time for your certificate to arrive. APTTI posts the physical certificate and grade sheet within 30 to 90 days after you finish, so plan job applications with that in mind.

Sample 10-week study plan

A realistic plan for a working teacher doing the 120-hour certificate:

Weeks 1–2: methodology foundations and Communicative Language Teaching
Weeks 3–4: teaching listening and speaking
Weeks 5–6: reading, writing and vocabulary
Weeks 7–8: grammar teaching and pronunciation basics
Weeks 9–10: lesson planning, classroom management and final assessments

Practical next steps

Decide how many hours a week you can study realistically.
Divide the course hours by that number to estimate weeks.
Book fixed study slots in your week.
Ask admissions how long you have to complete the course.
Plan job applications around the certificate delivery time.

ExampleMeera, a school teacher in Chennai, studied for an hour each weekday evening and four hours on Sundays: about nine hours a week. She finished her 120-hour TEFL certificate in just under fourteen weeks.

What to keep in mind

Be wary of courses that promise a 120-hour certificate in a few days. Employers may question a certificate completed impossibly fast.

Common follow-up questions

Can I finish TEFL in one month?

Yes, if you can study about 30 hours a week. Most working people take two to three months.

Is there a deadline to complete an online TEFL course?

Most providers set a completion period. APTTI's TEFL/TESOL Certificate and Diploma run for 6 months each, the PG Diplomas for 10 or 12 months, and the High-End course for 18 months.

How many hours a week should I study for TEFL?

Eight to ten hours a week is a comfortable pace for most working learners and finishes the 120-hour course in about three months.

Related course

Online TEFL / TESOL Course

The 120-hour TEFL/TESOL Certificate most employers ask for, stackable to a 200-hour Diploma, PG Diplomas with one or two specialisations, and a 540-hour High-End course.

₹12,000 + GST · USD 199 international

View course