In order to gain recognition, course providers are required to comply with the minimum Key Standards and Guidelines (Initial TEFL Qualification Awards: Key Standards and Guidelines file here for downloading as a Word Document).

Please find below the 2006 list of course providers offering recognised Initial TEFL Qualification Awards. You can find more information on the recognised courses by logging onto the websites as given below. Please note that this list should be checked regularly as there will be additional award bodies added to the list as they are conferred with recognition

In order to gain recognition course providers are required to comply with the minimum Key Standards and Guidelines (Certificate for the Teaching of English as a Foreign Language to Secondary Level Students (State Qualified Teachers): Key Standards and Guidelines file click here to download as a Word document)

One section of the recognised Preparatory Certificate requires the teacher to do her/his Supervised Teaching Component (STC) in their first post in an Irish Dept. of Education & Science recognised school or Irish state school. Please note that the STC is required before the teacher can be fully certified for working in the recognised Junior EFL sector in Ireland, and that it needs to be done within a maximum of 3 years of completing the first part of the course with the recognised course provider. The STC involves one observed lesson overseen by a supervisor (often the Director of Studies or school teacher trainer). Please find the STC Report Pro Forma and the Notes for the Supervisor of the STC here available for downloading. If a course participant or school requires more information on this component, please contact the course provider or ACELS directly.

Please find below the 2006 list of course providers offering recognised Preparatory TEFL Qualification Awards. You can find more information on the recognised courses by logging onto the websites as given below. Please note that this list should be checked regularly as there will be additional award bodies added to the list as they are conferred with recognition

TEACHING IN THE RECOGNISED SECTOR IN IRELAND

For the purposes of employment in the recognised ELT sector in Ireland, all academic staff need to hold

1. a Level 7 qualification, normally an Ordinary Bachelor degree
2. a TEFL certificate from one of the following categories:

1.1
TEFL programmes leading to an ACELS Initial Certificate for the Teaching of English as a Foreign Language.

Notes:
a) the list of recognised Initial TEFL certificate providers can be found on the ACELS website at www.acels.ie/acelstefl.html.
b) This requirement (see Regulation 4k) applies to applicants who have done TEFL courses post January 1st 2005. Qualifications required by regulations prior to January 1st 2005 continue to apply to those teachers qualified at that time.

1.2
TEFL programmes of a minimum 115 hours duration leading to awards which are validated by the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC), the Dublin Institute of Technology, Institutes of Technology which have delegated authority from HETAC to make their own awards, the National University of Ireland and universities recognised under the Universities Act 1997.

1.3
TEFL programmes leading to awards which are validated or accredited by national awarding bodies which have a status in law or are otherwise recognised as having authority to make awards which have national recognition in their host jurisdiction (e.g. recognised universities, the British Council in the UK etc)

Notes:
c) the list of these awards can be found below.
Cambridge ESOL CELTA
Trinity College London CertTESOL

Holders of other awards that are demonstrated to meet the Key Standards set out on www.acels.ie are required to present copies of certificates and transcripts to ACELS. Applicants will receive either a standard letter signed by the Chief Executive confirming that their award meets requirements and they are eligible to teach in the recognised sector in Ireland, or informing them that their award is not acceptable and does not enfranchise them for employment in the recognised sector in Ireland.

2.0 Teaching EFL in the junior sector (state-qualified teachers)

2.1
Any of the above (Section 1).

2.2
TEFL programmes leading to an ACELS Preparatory Certificate for the Teaching of English as a Foreign Language (awarded to state-qualified teachers).

Notes:
e) the list of recognised Preparatory TEFL certificate providers can be found on the ACELS website at www.acels.ie/acelstefl.html.
f) this requirement applies to teachers who have started working in this sector post January 1st 2005. Qualifications required by regulations prior to January 1st 2005 continue to apply to those teachers qualified at that time.