The Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, known as CELTA, is the most widely recognised pre-service qualification in the world for teachers of English to speakers of other languages.
The Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, known as CELTA, is the most widely recognised pre-service qualification in the world for teachers of English to speakers of other languages.
Application dependant
FT 5 weeks, PT 15 weeks
Melbourne, Australia or Online
AU$3,100
See dates below
The Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults, known as CELTA, is the most widely recognised pre-service qualification in the world for teachers of English to speakers of other languages.
CELTA is accredited and administered by Cambridge English Language Assessment, part of the University of Cambridge. Once you have completed the course and met the assessment criteria for all written and practical assignments, you will receive a CELTA qualification.
We are offering a discount for all past and present RMIT students, and current RMIT staff for the CELTA course. The bursary provides a 20% reduction of tuition fees: a saving of $620, bringing the course fee to $2,480.
During the application process you will be asked to provide proof of enrolment or employment in the form of enrolment documents, or staff/student cards.
The bursary is available for all 2023 CELTA courses.
CELTA is for people with little or no previous teaching experience. It opens the door to exciting opportunities to teach English all over the world. When you enrol in CELTA with RMIT English Worldwide, we work with you to develop:
Skills and confidence in language teaching and classroom management.
Improved awareness and understanding of the English language.
Familiarity with methods and materials for developing English language proficiency.
CELTA graduates are:
"Highly recommend this course at RMIT. Teachers here make the entire learning experience so much fun and rewarding. Always grateful to teachers David, Scott and Stephanie for being so helpful."
- Jacqueline D'Cruze, ESL trainer, Masters in English, Bachelor in Education and CELTA
The course is divided into four main areas:
Applicants must:
Be aged 18 years or over (preferably aged 20 or over)
Have completed secondary education in their country of origin
Understand written and spoken English well enough to follow and complete assignments
- Recommended high C1 or low C2 (Council of Europe threshold)
The CELTA course comprises:
Nine teaching practice lessons (total 6 hours)
One-on-one meetings with the tutor to check your progress
Four written assignments
There are a maximum of 18 candidates per course. For each group there is a maximum of six candidates for teaching practice. Candidates give their teaching practice lessons to international students at two different levels of English language proficiency.
RMIT Training offers full-time and part-time face to face, blended (online + face to face) and 100% online CELTA courses.
The full time course is extremely intensive. Classes are held from 8.30 am to 5.00 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays for 5 weeks.
Wednesdays are non contact days. Candidates are expected to use Wednesdays for private study and to attend two 2 hour sessions observing experienced teachers running a class. Wednesdays also replace public holidays.
This is a sample timetable.
Time | Schedule |
8.30–10.00 am | Workshop 1 |
10.00–10.15 am | Break |
10.15–11.30 am | Workshop 2 |
11.30 am –1.00 pm | Lunch break |
1.00–3.00 pm | Teaching practice |
3.15–4.00 pm | Feedback on teaching practice |
4.00–5.00 pm | Lesson preparation/consultation with tutor |
Part-time courses are held from 5.00 pm to 9.00 pm on Mondays and Wednesdays for 15 weeks. Tuesdays replace public holidays. Workshops and input sessions are held on Monday nights and teaching practice and feedback on Wednesdays.
The part-time blended course runs online for 8 weeks followed by 3 weeks face to face teaching practice. Students work on the input sessions at their own pace week-by-week with regular contact online with tutors for the first 8 weeks. Teaching practice takes place face to face from 10am to 12.30pm, Monday to Friday in a three-week block following the online component.
The part-time online course runs online for 9 weeks, and both the input and teaching practice is conducted online. The input section is self-directed reading of weekly online units, which will be supplemented by weekly tutor-led meetings. The teaching section runs every Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5pm to 7pm during the 9-week course.
Start date |
End Date |
Duration |
Mode |
18 July 2022 |
4 Nov 2022 |
15 weeks (Mon & Wed) 1-week break between weeks 10 & 11 |
Part-time Face-to-Face Input Face-to-Face Teaching Practice |
24 Oct 2022 |
27 Jan 2023 |
11 weeks (8 weeks online 24 Oct – 16 Dec, F2F 02-27Jan) |
Part-time Online Input Face-to-Face Teaching Practice |
7 Nov 2022 |
9 Dec 2022 |
5 weeks (Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri) |
Full-time Face-to-Face Input Face-to-Face Teaching Practice |
6 Feb 2023 | 10 Mar 2023 | 5 weeks (Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri) | Full-time Face-to-Face Input |
20 Feb 2023 | 26 May 2023 | 14 weeks (Mon, Wed). | Part-time Face-to-Face Input |
14 Mar 2023 | 19 May 2023 | 9 weeks | Online |
29 May 2023 | 30 June 2023 | 4 weeks (Mon, Tues, Thurs, and Fri) | Full-time Face-to-Face Input |
17 July 2023 | 3 Nov 2023 | 16 weeks (Mon, Wed) | Part-time Face-to-Face Input |
24 Jul 2023 | 22 Sep 2023 | 8 weeks | Online |
23 Oct 2023 | 26 Jan 2024 | 13 weeks (online 23 Nov 2023 - 16 Dec 2023, F2F 2 Jan 2024 - 26 Jan 2024) | Part-time Face-to-Face Input Online |
13 Nov 2023 | 15 Dec 2023 | 4 weeks ( Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri) | Full-time Face-to-Face Input |
The CELTA qualification can lead to many opportunities. RMIT English Worldwide teacher, Nenia shares her experience.
Ron is originally from Scotland and has been teaching EFL/ESL since 1981 and a CELTA tutor since 1989. He has worked in the UK, the Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia and Libya), the Far East (Hong Kong) and latterly Australia. He has also been a DELTA tutor and holds a degree in English, an MA in TESOL and a CELTA and DELTA.
Ron plays tennis regularly and likes doing cryptic crosswords.
Molly has been an ESL teacher since 2002. She has taught in Brisbane, Chile and Canada. She has taught learners at all levels from Beginner to Advanced, in General English, Business English and Academic English, including IELTS Preparation classes. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Spanish), and a Master of Applied Linguistics (TESOL).
Molly loves gardening, travelling and playing Ultimate Frisbee.
Denise has been working at REW since her return to Australia from the UAE, where she spent 6 years coordinating, designing and teaching English for Academic Purposes programmes to tertiary students at the University of Wollongong in Dubai. She is also an IELTS examiner, which has taken her to Iran, Oman and Bahrain. She previously taught Japanese in Melbourne and English in Tokushima, Japan. She has a primary teaching diploma, a BA with majors in Japanese and linguistics, an M.Ed in TESOL and a Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training.
Denise’s interests include reading and travelling.
Lynda has been involved in the English language field for more than 30 years as a teacher, teacher trainer, CELTA assessor, Director of Studies and IELTS examiner. She has worked in England, Spain, Australia, Vietnam, China and Costa Rica. She has a Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts (Applied Linguistics) and Graduate Certificate in Flexible Delivery.
Lynda’s interests include sewing, cooking, gardening and border collies.
Jon is originally from the UK and has been an English language teacher for over 30 years.
He is also an experienced CELTA tutor and assessor and holds a CELTA and DELTA, BA
and Master of Arts (Applied Linguistics) and Graduate Certificate in TESOL. He has lived and worked in China, Brunei, the UK and Australia.
Jon has lived in Melbourne for many years now, and his interests include travel, walking, playing music and archery.
Applicants must:
CELTA is accredited and administered by the University of Cambridge and is a globally recognised qualification. Other courses may not be recognised by international authorities and so could cause problems getting a visa. Shorter courses are unlikely to meet the National ELICOS Standards of a minimum of 100 contact hours and 6 hours of supervised, assessed teaching practice for teachers in Australian institutions.
Your certificate, issued by Cambridge English Language Assessment, will be accompanied by a report issued in the name of the university or college where you train. A reputable institution with global recognition will open more doors for you.
The application process includes a pre-interview language task (see the CELTA online application form) and an interview. These are used to assess your ability to complete the course successfully and your commitment to its intensive schedule.
Not every applicant is offered a place. CELTA candidates are selected based on their performance in a pre-interview language task and interview. Our expert trainers will assess your application and interview to see if you have the potential to succeed in this demanding course.
The focus of CELTA is on teaching you to teach, not teaching you grammar. This is why the application process is so important, and why we may recommend you take our Grammar Fundamentals short course before you start.
CELTA is for teachers who want to teach English to students in their home country or overseas. TEFL, however, is only an entry-level English teaching certification covering basic teacher training to teach non-native English speakers overseas.
Applicants should:
There are several places to start your job search as a CELTA graduate, including:
After the course, CELTA graduates will be able to work as an English language teacher to adults anywhere in the world. Employment opportunities are usually on a casual basis. Towards the end of the course, there is a session on future pathways in which tutors offer help and guidance for finding work.
Everything you need to know for your first few weeks at RMIT including enrolment information, timetables and orientation.
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Acknowledgement of Country
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.