What you need to teach English in Spain

The real checklist is shorter than most people fear. You need the right to be in Spain, and a qualification that proves you can teach. That's the heart of it. Let's kill the two big myths first, then run through the details.

Do you have to be a native speaker?

No. You need to speak and write English to a high standard (roughly C1 and up), and that's it. Around 1 in 5 of the teachers we train aren't native speakers, and they go on to teach all over Spain. A strong command of English and the right certificate matter far more than where you were born.

Do you need a university degree?

For most private academy work, no, not strictly. A degree helps and opens a few extra doors, but solid life or work experience counts too. Where a degree is required: the government language assistant programmes and international schools. So it depends entirely on the route you choose.

Which certificate do you need?

This is the one thing nearly every employer wants. The standard that opens doors is an accredited course of at least 120 hours that includes real, observed teaching practice with actual students. Be wary of cheap online only certificates with no teaching practice, employers see straight through them.

The two gold standard options are the Trinity CertTESOL and the Cambridge CELTA. People agonise over which is "better", but they're equivalent: both are regulated at the same level and recognised worldwide, and no employer favours one over the other. Pick the course with the better teacher, the better job support and the city you want to be in. More on this in the certificate comparison.

The right to be in Spain

If you hold an EU, EEA or Irish passport, you can simply move and work, no visa needed. If you're from outside the EU, you'll need a route in: a student visa tied to a course, a language assistant placement, a working holiday visa (for some nationalities) or, for online teachers, a digital nomad visa. The full picture is on the visas page, or you can run the free check for your exact route.

Age, English level and background checks

• Age: there's no age limit for academy work, but the working holiday visa caps at 30 (35 for Canada), and the government assistant programme now caps new applicants at under 45.
• English level: a high standard of spoken and written English (around C1+).
• Criminal record check: for visa routes you'll need a background check from home (the ACRO for the UK, the FBI federal check for the US, and so on), with an apostille and a sworn translation.

Requirements at a glance, by route

Frequently asked questions