These companies make it possible to teach English online without a degree! Here’s what you need to know to start earning an income online, now.
In recent years, the opportunity to work from home as an English teacher online has skyrocketed! As more and more people around the world are making English a priority, they are looking to native English speakers to share their wisdom as an online tutor, teacher, or course instructor.
One of the pros of teaching English online is the ability to live and work anywhere. It’s also one of the quickest and easiest ways to make some money online and I highly recommend it! But before you can start teaching online, you must fulfill a few job requirements. Unfortunately, many online teaching companies require teachers to have a college education.
But not all! This list shares all of the companies that’ll hire you to teach English online without a degree. How great is that? You just have to fulfill a few other essential teaching requirements to get the job. Here’s how you can start teaching English online without a degree today!
*This list is meant to be a helpful resource sharing the various online teaching jobs out there. Be sure to do your own due diligence and properly vet each company to ensure it’s a good fit for you.
Read more: 18 Best Companies to Teach English Online
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, if you click my links and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. Learn more on my disclosure page. Thank you for your support!
What do you need to teach without a degree?
Every English tutoring job has special hiring requirements, but in general, if you want to teach English online without a college degree, you’ll need to meet these three requirements.
1. Be a native English speaker
If you’re from the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, or Ireland, you’ve fulfilled the first requirement needed to become an online English teacher!
Some companies will consider hiring you if you’re from South Africa, or have high English ability, but some are quite picky and particular about the accents of their English teachers.
2. Have some experience teaching or with kids
Many English teaching platforms usually prefer that applicants have some experience with children and/or teaching and tutoring, but it’s not usually mandatory. It just depends on the specific company, but getting experience may be the competitive edge needed for a successful application.
3. Have a TEFL certificate or teaching qualification
Wait, this is a post about teaching English online without a degree, right? Absolutely!
But while you don’t need a full-on college degree, many online English teaching jobs do require teachers to have a TEFL certificate or teaching license.
If you’re wondering – what’s a TEFL certification? – it’s essentially a document that proves you’ve received formal training to teach English as a foreign language. There are many affordable online TEFL courses for those in need of a TEFL, making the certification process fairly painless.
Read more: 10 Best TEFL Courses For Teaching English Online and Abroad in 2023
How to Get TEFL Certified:
Choosing the Best Online TEFL Course
If you don’t have a TEFL certification yet, then your very first step is to choose the course that’s best for you. If you’re only looking to teach English online and not abroad or in an international school, a cheap TEFL course online is all you need.
Most online courses require just a few month’s worth of effort and range in price from as little as $150 – $500. I recommend budget-friendly TEFL providers like iTTT TEFL and PremierTEFL.
If you choose iTTT, you can save 20% on your future TEFL course by using my iTTT link here! The discount is applied directly at checkout.
10 Places Where You Can Teach English Online Without a Degree
To help you jumpstart your ESL job search, here are some of the best companies that hire teachers that haven’t been to college.
1. Cambly: Tutor Adults or Children Online
Pay: $10.20/hour regular classes, $12/hour Cambly Kids
Hours: 24/7, no peak times, no min time commitment
Equipment needed: Computer w/ webcam, headphones, reliable WIFI
How to apply: Application form, network check + video recording
Cambly is one of the few online platforms where you only need to be a native English speaker in order to teach English online. While having related experience or a TEFL certificate can help you stand out amongst tutors, Cambly is great for first-time teachers or those curious if ESL teaching is right for them.
Tutors can apply to teach adults or with Cambly Kids, both of which require separate approval process. Tutors may teach solo or group classes, that can last 15, 30, or 60 minutes long.
Apply to teach with Cambly here.
2. Twenix: Teach Professional Adults Based in Spain and Italy
Pay: Up to $16/€15/£14
Hours: 24/7
Equipment needed: Headset or microphone, speakers, and a webcam
How to apply: Submit application, record intro videos, complete the on-boarding program
Twenix offers 26-minute online one-to-one English conversation classes for adults in Spain and Italy. It provides great flexibility for teachers; you can work as much or as little as you choose. You simply open slots in your schedule, and the system matches you with students.
No setup or self-marketing is needed – once hired, you can start earning immediately. What’s more, Twenix supplies all lesson materials, requiring minimal preparation and no homework grading. It’s ideal for both full-time and part-time work.
Both native & non-native speakers are welcome to teach with Twenix! The only requirement is that you must be fluent in English, no degree, TEFL certificate or experience necessary.
Apply to teach with Twenix here.
3. Lingoda: Teach Adults Your Native Language
Pay: €11/hour lesson, rate set by Lingoda
Hours: 24/7, no peak times, no min time commitment
Equipment needed: Computer w/ webcam, reliable WIFI
How to apply: Application form, interview + video training
Lingoda teachers can teach more than just English online; you could also teach Spanish, French, or German if you’re a native speaker or are certified to teach them. All lesson materials are provided for you in PDF format, and class sessions are for one hour. Your classes may have between 1-5 students.
While you don’t need an actual college degree, you do need to have a TEFL certification or foreign language certificate for what you want to teach, plus at least two years’ experience teaching.
To apply, you must fill out an application explaining your experience and certification and then undergo an interview process. If you pass the interview, you must then watch a few training videos before you can start teaching.
Become a teacher with Lingoda here.
4. Amazing Talker: Tutor Adult Language Learners
Pay: ~$10 – $25, set your own rate
Hours: 24/7, no minimum hours required
Equipment needed: Computer, webcam, microphone, reliable WIFI
How to apply: Application form + trial lesson video recording + online training
Amazing Talker hires not only English teachers but teachers for over 50 languages ranging from Chinese, Korean, Spanish, French and more! Trial lessons with Amazing Talker are set at 25 minutes long while official private lessons run for 50 minutes.
As a teacher, you can choose what to charge, and you have the freedom to determine your teaching hours. However, Amazing Talker takes a commission fee of 15% to cover the costs associated with running their online platform.
Although no certificate or degree is required for native speakers, their application process claims to be super strict and competitive, with only a 3% acceptance rate. If you wish to teach a language that you’re not a native in, you need to have a degree or certificate proving you’re qualified to teach it.
Learn more and apply to teach with Amazing Talker here!
5. SkimaTalk: Teach Japanese Business Professionals
Pay: $10-$16+/hour, rate set by SkimaTalk + set your own rate
Hours: 24/7, no min weekly hours required
Equipment needed: Skype, computer, webcam + microphone, reliable WIFI
How to apply: Registration, teacher profile, intro video + simple tests
SkimaTalk connects Japanese adult professionals seeking to better their English abilities with a native teacher. SkimaTalk recommends that teachers charge $8 per 25-minute lesson 16/hour), but after you’ve completed the three probationary classes required by SkimaTalk, you’re free to charge as you wish. SkimaTalk charges a 20% fee of all class fees.
To be competitive as a teacher, you must maintain great reviews from students and have an active profile on their online platform. Payment is issued monthly via PayPal, and teachers aren’t required to have a degree or TEFL certificate, they just need to be native speakers from America, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland.
Learn more about applying to be a teacher with SkimaTalk.
Read more: 10 Platforms to Teach English Online to Japanese Students
6. italki: Practice A Foreign Language with International Adults
Pay: $9 – $15/hour, set your own rate
Hours: Peak times in Russia, Brazil, US, China
Equipment needed: VOIP software, computer, webcam + microphone, reliable WIFI
How to apply: Application form, teacher video, training quizzes + video chat interview
italki is a multi-language learning platform that connects prospective students predominantly from Russia, Brazil, the US, and China with native speakers of the language they wish to learn. There are two ways to teach or tutor with italki – as a “community tutor” or “professional teacher.”
As a community tutor, you can tutor English online without a degree or an ESL certificate. You just need to be a native speaker. There are no structured lesson plans as a community tutor. Instead, you’re offering language exchange services.
Professional teachers need to have a degree or TEFL certification to be accepted and must also create and upload their lesson plans.
You set your own rate on italki, but community tutors, on average, make about $9-$13/hour, and professional teachers make $15-$19/hour. italki takes a 15% fee from all class fees. Check out more on italki’s English teacher manual and see their other language manuals here.
Apply to be a teacher with italki here.
7. Preply: Teach English + More Online
Pay: $10 – 20/hour, set your own rate
Hours: 24/7, no minimum time required
Equipment needed: Computer, microphone, webcam + reliable WIFI
How to apply: Application form, video introduction, + verify documents
Preply is a platform that connects teachers of all subjects with prospective students. There are 55 subjects taught on Preply from languages to university subjects, hobbies, and art. Teachers are responsible for creating their own lesson plans and for setting their own rate.
Be warned, Preply does take some hefty fees. The first lesson with every new student is taken as 100% commission by Preply, and then 18 – 30% of each lesson fee after.
Lessons run one hour, and payments are made via PayPal, Payoneer, or Skrill. You don’t need a degree or to be certified to tutor on Preply, but a TEFL certificate or teaching experience will make you a more competitive tutor.
Apply here to teach with Preply.
8. Verbling: Native Speakers Teaching Their Native Language
Pay: $15-$20/hour, set your own rate
Hours: 24/7, no minimum hours
Equipment needed: Computer, webcam + microphone, Chrome browser, reliable internet
How to apply: Application form + video introduction
Verbling is a website based out of Sweden. They hire native speakers of various languages and sell their services to students looking to better their language skills. You don’t need to have a degree or be ESL certified to teach online, but they do want to see verifiable teaching experience and that you’re a native speaker of the language you wish to teach.
All lessons are one-on-one via video chat, and teachers have the freedom to set their own rates minus a 15% commission fee taken by Verbling. The company helps you find students, but you also must market yourself. You‘re also responsible for creating your own lesson materials and assignments.
Sign up and apply for Verbling here.
Read more: 14 Platforms to Teach English Online to Korean Students
9. Create Your Own Course with Udemy
Pay: Super variable!
Udemy is a platform that allows any and teachers to plan, create, and upload an online video course for students. You can create a course for pretty much anything from language instruction to knitting, blogging, and beyond – whatever skill you have to share with the world, you’re free to do so!
You earn money after you’ve created your course and uploaded it Udemy for others to purchase. Udemy takes a fee from your earnings, usually about 50%, but you have complete freedom to charge whatever you want for your course.
People have reported insane online earnings with Udemy, but be warned, a lot of time and energy goes into planning and producing a single course. And after it’s made, it’s up to people to buy. Payment is distrusted via PayPal or Payoneer monthly.
See more for insider tips into creating a profitable Udemy course.
Sign up to be an instructor on Udemy.
I hope this guide sharing how teach English online without a degree was helpful! Please share any questions or comments below!
In times like this, this comes really in handy!! Thanks for sharing
Thank you so much dear!!! I hoped it might be helpful ❤️
This is actually super helpful! I’ve been thinking about doing something like this lately 😁
Thanks so much !!! If you have any questions at all please shoot me a PM!! I teach with PalFish and love it!!!
Good post! Thank you! I use Edactis to teach Spanish classes. I like it because it is like the other platforms but the classes generate free classes for NGOs and it offers me the possibility of recovering part of the commission if I teach solidarity classes.
Wow that’s a great tip! Thanks so much for sharing – it’s always helpful to have more options ☺️
Relevant and useful information here, particularly for some of us trying to navigate the tefl jungle!