A TESOL certificate (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) is a serious investment of time and money. Also called TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language), a TESOL certificate signifies that the holder has completed an accredited course to teach English abroad. There is no one TESOL course that is recognized by every school. However, the Cambridge and the DELTA certificates are universally recognized by overseas schools. These courses are expensive, often costing thousands of dollars. There are many private schools that cost significantly less, but there are a few things you should look for.

If you have a particular country in mind, check the school requirements of the schools in that country. On every school's website, there is a list of requirements for teachers. Every country and every school is different in their requirements for TESOL instructors.

When you are researching TESOL schools, always make sure that they are accredited. The U.S. Department of Education's website has a list of all accredited schools. Some online TESOL classes run scams that are little more than diploma mills, and these schools are not accredited.

Legitimate TESOL schools offer instruction of at least 120 hours (but some schools may require 140 hours) of instruction. Most schools want at least some face-to-face instruction time, even if some of the class is done online.

Try to incorporate student teaching in your TESOL class, especially if you do not have prior teaching experience. There are many TESOL courses that include student teaching.

Before committing to a TESOL school, ask the school for a list of graduates you can contact, as well as a list of schools that have hired graduates. If the TESOL school is legitimate, they will have no problems giving you the information.

Make sure that your TESOL certificate comes with a transcript. Your certificate will mean more if you are able to give employers the chance to review your education on the basis of grades and subjects.