Bridge TEFL 
Expert Series Webinars 
BridgeUniverse Blog 
TEFL Jobs 
Language Training 
About Bridge 12 weeks
Length
40-Hour Basic TEFL/TESOL Certificate
A real credential for a real first step. Forty hours of TEFL/TESOL principles, accredited and tutor-supported, recommended for 3 university credits. Built for volunteers, conversation partners, and anyone finding out whether teaching fits.
Monthly Special
Monthly Special
40 hours
Training
100% online
Self-paced
3 months'
access
Up to 4 CEUs
Credly-verified credential
3 university credits
ACCET Accredited Institution
Institutional accreditation recognized by the U.S. Department of Education – a full evaluation of Bridge as an educational institution, not a course-level curriculum review.
Recommended for University Credit by ACE
The Global TEFL Certificate is recommended for 9 undergraduate credits by the American Council on Education, an evaluation uncommon among TEFL providers.
Credly-Verified Credential
Your certification is issued as a Credly digital credential - permanently accessible, instantly verifiable by any employer, shareable on LinkedIn.
Aiming for your first teaching job?
Most schools and recruiters ask for 120 hours of TEFL certification.
For that goal, start with the 120-Hour Global TEFL Certificate instead; it is the credential built for hiring. The course on this page is built for a different reader: the teacher who is already teaching.
Who this course is for
You are helping learners this summer. You volunteer with newcomers.
You want to know if teaching belongs in your future before committing to more.
The 40-Hour Basic TEFL Certificate gives that first step an accredited credential. Not a certificate of attendance: a Bridge certificate, with university credit behind it.
40-Hour Basic Certificate Course Information
Modules 1-6: Introduction to Teacher Training
01
Module 01
The Role of the Teacher and Learner and Language Learning Methodology
02
Module 02
Classroom Management
03
Module 03
Language Systems and Skills, and a Brief History of English
04
Module 04
Acquiring a New Language
05
Module 05
Testing for the EFL/ESL Student
06
Module 06
Culture and the EFL/ESL Classroom
6 Module Quizzes
2 Graded Assignments
7 Instructional Videos
6 Discussion Board Activities
Learning Objectives
When you complete our course, you’ll be able to:
- Categorize historic and current language instructional methodologies such as Communicative Language Teaching, Audio-lingual Method, and the Direct Method.
- Identify the characteristics of effective classroom instructions, error corrections, and strategies for effectively prompting students and/or eliciting information from them.
- Categorize and give examples of classroom strategies for teaching English and its language skills: speaking, writing, reading, and listening.
- Apply student techniques to language learning through metacognitive strategies to promote student autonomy and success.
- Identify some current placement, achievement, and proficiency tests for English language learners and explain the reasons for testing English language learners.
- Apply appropriate terminology to discuss culture's impact, such as ethnocentrism, culture shock, country shock, enculturation, and deep surface culture and how it affects the English language classroom and teacher.
01
Learn more
College Credit
This course has been evaluated and recommended for 3 semester hours of undergraduate college credit by The American Council on Education (ACE) college credit recommendation service.
To qualify to earn an ACE recommendation for the Basic Certificate, TEFL trainees should either have already completed a bachelor’s degree or currently be enrolled in a degree program as at least a junior in standing, with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
If you would like to earn college credit for the Basic Certificate, we recommend confirming that your college or university will consider ACE recommendations for transfer credit.
02
Learn more
Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
Continuing Education Unit (CEUs) are nationally recognized units of measurement for participation in non-credit, continuing education programs. Bridge is accredited by ACCET (the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training), and any ACCET-approved Bridge course, including our online TEFL programs, can be taken for 1 CEU per 10 hours of TEFL course instruction.
The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) is the regulator of qualifications, examinations and assessments in England and the regulator of vocational qualifications in Northern Ireland.
Bridge courses have been similarly reviewed and recommended for university credit equivalencies by The American Council on Education (ACE) and many university partners. Bridge is a post-secondary institution accredited by ACCET (recognized by the U.S. Department of Education) and AQUEDUTO (Association for Quality Education and Training Online). Our certifications are regulated by our accrediting agencies, and we ensure that the targeted knowledge, skills, and outcomes are addressed through depictive course assessments. Further, we are committed to making sure that our learners have a positive experience from start to finish and that our programs prepare modern teachers for career success.
To learn more about Bridge’s accreditation and university credit opportunities, please review the following chart. Please note that Ofqual equivalencies are equated to the university credit recommendations provided by the American Council on Education (ACE) and our university partners.
| Ofqual level | Bridge courses and hours / University equivalency & credit |
|---|---|
| Level 7 |
IDELTOnline™ 150 hours International Diploma in English Language Teaching
|
| Level 6 |
Global TEFL Certificate 120 hours
|
| Level 5 |
Specialized Certificates 20–60 hours
|
| Level 4 |
Micro-Credentials 10–30 hours
|
Accredited by
![ACCET]()
Courses recognized by
![AQUEDUTO]()
Recommended for credit by
![ACE]()
Requirements
Age
18 years of age or older.
Education
High school diploma or the equivalent. Proof of graduation or transcript is NOT required.
Language
An intermediate or higher level of English proficiency (B1 level, according to the CEFR, the Common European Framework Reference for Language). Proof of language proficiency is NOT required.
Technology
Internet access with the ability to stream and watch videos. Access to desktop/laptop computer highly recommended.
40-Hour Basic Certificate Course Information
Self-paced but never unsupported.
A personal tutor reviews your assignments, answers your questions, and signs off on your certificate.
You work on your own schedule, with three months of access. Most people finish sooner.
University credits
Recommended for 3 university credits by the American Council on Education, and eligible for 1 CEU per 10 course hours. Real academic currency on a foundational credential.
- 3 university credits
- 1 CEU per 10 course hours
Common Questions about the
40-Hour Basic Certificate
You must be at least 18 years and have a high school diploma or the equivalent to take this course. If English is not your first language, you must also have an English proficiency level of at least B1 (according to the Common European Framework), which is a score of approximately 5.0 on the IELTS test.
The average amount of time most students take to complete the 40-hour course is 3 weeks, but you may take more or less time, depending on factors such as your other time obligations, how quickly you work, and how many hours you are able to dedicate to the course per week.
You have three months to complete this course. If you need more time, you may purchase a 3-month extension. This may be done while your course is still active or up to a year after it has expired.
No textbook is required for this course. All the materials you’ll need are available in the online platform.
Yes, it is. You can log in anytime and work on your own schedule when it’s convenient for you. Please note, however, that this course includes two written assignments, and your personal tutor requires one business day to provide feedback and a grade on each one.
There is no final exam in the 40-Hour Basic Certificate course. Each of the 6 modules has required a final, multiple-choice quiz at the end, and your final grade in the course is an average of your grade in all 6 modules and the two written assignment grades.
Yes. There are two written assignments in this course. Each assignment is about 500-800 words. When you submit an assignment, your tutor will provide feedback and a grade on it by end of the following business day.
It is unlikely you will fail the course since your final grade is an average of 6 end-of-module quiz grades and your grade on the two written assignments. However, if you were to fail the course, you could register again.
Bridge online courses require access to the Internet, including the ability to watch online videos using a flash player, such as Adobe. The courses may be completed on any device, including a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone.
For most paid positions, no. Schools typically ask for 120 hours, and for that goal we would point you to the 120-Hour Global TEFL Certificate. The 40-Hour is the honest fit for volunteering, informal teaching, and finding out if you want more.
No, it does not, but you can add one by registering for the 20-hour Guided Teaching Practicum. This practicum provides the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a real ESL classroom and meet the requirements of more teaching jobs.
Yes! Our online TEFL courses are ACCET-accredited and may be taken for CEUs. You earn 1 CEU for every 10 hours of TEFL certification. For example, an online TEFL course of 100 hours would be eligible for 10 CEUs. Click here to learn more about CEUs.
Yes! The Basic Certificate has been recommended for 3 undergraduate-level credits each by the American Council on Education (ACE).
For trainees interested in requesting a nationally recognized transcript from ACE to present to the university of their choice for the potential award of academic credit, we recommend meeting the following requirements:
• A graduate of or currently enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program
• For upper division credit, at least a junior with a GPA of 3.0 or higher
We don't place graduates in jobs, but you won't job-hunt alone. Every course includes Career Resources to help you build your applications, plus access to the Bridge Job Board, where our Recommended Employers post open teaching roles both online and worldwide. From there, you choose where to apply.
You must be at least 18 years and have a high school diploma or the equivalent to take this course. If English is not your first language, you must also have an English proficiency level of at least B1 (according to the Common European Framework), which is a score of approximately 5.0 on the IELTS test.
The average amount of time most students take to complete the 40-hour course is 3 weeks, but you may take more or less time, depending on factors such as your other time obligations, how quickly you work, and how many hours you are able to dedicate to the course per week.
You have three months to complete this course. If you need more time, you may purchase a 3-month extension. This may be done while your course is still active or up to a year after it has expired.
No textbook is required for this course. All the materials you’ll need are available in the online platform.
Yes, it is. You can log in anytime and work on your own schedule when it’s convenient for you. Please note, however, that this course includes two written assignments, and your personal tutor requires one business day to provide feedback and a grade on each one.
There is no final exam in the 40-Hour Basic Certificate course. Each of the 6 modules has required a final, multiple-choice quiz at the end, and your final grade in the course is an average of your grade in all 6 modules and the two written assignment grades.
Yes. There are two written assignments in this course. Each assignment is about 500-800 words. When you submit an assignment, your tutor will provide feedback and a grade on it by end of the following business day.
It is unlikely you will fail the course since your final grade is an average of 6 end-of-module quiz grades and your grade on the two written assignments. However, if you were to fail the course, you could register again.
Bridge online courses require access to the Internet, including the ability to watch online videos using a flash player, such as Adobe. The courses may be completed on any device, including a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone.
For most paid positions, no. Schools typically ask for 120 hours, and for that goal we would point you to the 120-Hour Global TEFL Certificate. The 40-Hour is the honest fit for volunteering, informal teaching, and finding out if you want more.
No, it does not, but you can add one by registering for the 20-hour Guided Teaching Practicum. This practicum provides the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a real ESL classroom and meet the requirements of more teaching jobs.
Yes! Our online TEFL courses are ACCET-accredited and may be taken for CEUs. You earn 1 CEU for every 10 hours of TEFL certification. For example, an online TEFL course of 100 hours would be eligible for 10 CEUs. Click here to learn more about CEUs.
Yes! The Basic Certificate has been recommended for 3 undergraduate-level credits each by the American Council on Education (ACE).
For trainees interested in requesting a nationally recognized transcript from ACE to present to the university of their choice for the potential award of academic credit, we recommend meeting the following requirements:
• A graduate of or currently enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program
• For upper division credit, at least a junior with a GPA of 3.0 or higher
We don't place graduates in jobs, but you won't job-hunt alone. Every course includes Career Resources to help you build your applications, plus access to the Bridge Job Board, where our Recommended Employers post open teaching roles both online and worldwide. From there, you choose where to apply.
Subscriber Exclusive
Get pricing you won’t find on the site.
Subscribers receive exclusive discount codes plus course recommendations matched to your goals and experience
The Right Size Is the Honest Size
Bridge builds credentials at every scale because teaching lives come in different shapes. Pick the course that matches yours. If you are not sure, ask a human.
