About the TESOL Core Certificate Program
Key Takeaways
The TESOL Core Certificate Program (TCCP) is a 140-hour blended program: a 60-hour foundation course, a 60-hour adult or young learner course, and a 20-hour practicum.
TESOL grades the Part 1 and Part 2 online courses pass (80% or greater) or fail; the TCCP has no separate timed certification exam.
The TCCP practicum requires 10 hours of observation, 10 hours of practice teaching, and two 15-minute videos, completed within 7 months.
TESOL lists TCCP tuition of US$1,780 (member standard rate), US$775 (member reduced rate), and US$2,170 (nonmember) and offers 14 IACET CEUs.
TESOL states that the TCCP is a certificate program, not a certification or state teaching license, and that it is not accredited.
About the TESOL Core Certificate Program (TCCP)
Note
Quick answer: The TESOL Core Certificate Program (TCCP) is TESOL International Association's 140-hour blended certificate for new English language teachers. There is no single timed exam. You pass two six-week online courses with 80% or greater and complete a 20-hour practicum: 10 hours of observation, 10 hours of practice teaching, and two 15-minute videos. When this guide was checked on October 1, 2026, TESOL's program page listed applications as currently closed and invited organizations to ask about private cohorts.
Who Offers It and Who It Is For
The TCCP is offered by TESOL International Association, the professional association for English language teaching based in Alexandria, Virginia. TESOL's Professional Development Committee developed the program, an advisory group of experienced members provides ongoing review, and TESOL's Education Programs Department administers it.
TESOL designed the program for current or prospective teachers and administrators worldwide with less than two years of English language teaching experience. Participants focus on teaching adults or young learners in English as a second language (ESL) and/or English as a foreign language (EFL) settings. TESOL notes that the program is not designed for highly experienced teachers who already hold advanced degrees in the field.
TESOL says the TCCP is based on its Standards for Short-Term TEFL/TESL Certificate Programs, which provide a framework for entry-level programs requiring 120–180 interactive hours.
The Three Parts
| Part | Hours | Format | What you complete |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1: Foundation course | 60 (6 weeks) | Online, instructor-led, asynchronous | Fundamentals of TESOL: language, language learning, teaching methodology, and classroom practice |
| Part 2: Specialty course | 60 (6 weeks) | Online, instructor-led, asynchronous | Teaching adults or young learners (choose one) |
| Part 3: Practicum | 20 | In person or virtual | 10 hours of classroom observation, 10 hours of practice teaching, and two 15-minute videos |
"Blended" means that part of the program happens online and part happens in real classrooms, whether physical or virtual.
Requirements and Policies
- Overall timeline: TESOL states that the 140 hours of coursework and practicum can be completed in 6 to 11 months.
- Online workload: The Part 1 and Part 2 courses are asynchronous, with no live events. TESOL recommends at least 10 hours per week of online work and expects you to log in at least weekly, if not daily.
- Grading: The online courses are graded pass (80% or greater) or fail (less than 80%).
- Practicum window: You have 7 months to complete Part 3, and you must find an appropriate school or virtual classroom for your observations and practice teaching.
- Continuing education units: TESOL is authorized by IACET to offer 14 CEUs for the program; no partial CEUs are given to participants who do not finish.
- Tuition: US$1,780 for TESOL members at the standard rate, US$775 for TESOL members at the reduced rate, and US$2,170 for nonmembers. TESOL's course pages explain that member rates depend on membership type: Pre-Career members and members in Tiers 3 and 4 (tiers are based on World Bank income groups) pay the reduced rate.
- Careers: TESOL does not place participants in jobs, although it runs an online career center and encourages networking through TESOL and its affiliates.
Certificate, Not Certification
TESOL states that the TCCP is not accredited at this time. It says the program was informed by TESOL position statements and standards and by the standards and best practices of ACCET, NOCA, and IACET.
TESOL also distinguishes an assessment-based certificate program, which provides instruction and then evaluates whether participants met that program's learning outcomes, from professional certification, which assesses people against predetermined standards independently of any one course and awards a time-limited credential that must be maintained. The TCCP is the first kind. It is also not state teacher licensure: TESOL's career guidance notes that elementary and secondary teachers in most U.S. states need a degree in education with an endorsement or add-on certification in English as an additional language, and that TESOL certificates do not count toward employment qualifications for most U.S. schools.
Self-Study Courses Are Separate
TESOL also sells three 60-hour self-paced courses, Fundamentals of TESOL, Teaching & Assessing Adult Learners, and Teaching & Assessing Young Learners, each with six modules and an 80% quiz threshold per module. TESOL states that self-study courses do not count toward the TCCP, but their published module lists are the clearest public outline of what each strand covers:
| Strand | Published modules |
|---|---|
| Fundamentals of TESOL | Introduction to Language; Introduction to Language Learning; Introduction to Language Teaching; Understanding the English Language; Facilitating Language Learning; Preparing Lessons |
| Adult learners | Overview of Adult ESOL Instruction; Reading & Literacy; Listening & Vocabulary; Speaking & Pronunciation; Grammar; Writing |
| Young learners | Child Development; Language Acquisition & Learning; Instructional Approaches to Teaching English to Young Learners; Young Learners in an English Language Classroom; Monitoring Student Learning and Assessment; Planning for Learning |
How This Guide Maps to the Program
| Program part | Guide chapters |
|---|---|
| Part 1 foundations | Chapters 1–5: language, language learning, methods, the four skills, planning, materials, and classroom management |
| Part 2 adult learners | Chapters 6–8, plus Chapter 12 on assessment |
| Part 2 young learners | Chapters 9–11, plus Chapter 12 on assessment |
| Part 3 practicum | Chapter 13: observation, practice teaching, recorded lessons, and reflection |
Study the foundation chapters first, then your chosen specialty in depth. Reading the other specialty is still useful for comparison questions and for mixed-age classes. Use the section quizzes to rehearse the 80% standard, and start a practicum journal early so your observation notes are ready when Part 3 begins.
A participant has passed the Part 1 foundation course and the Part 2 young learner course. According to TESOL's program page, what must the Part 3 practicum include?
20 hours of practice teaching in a physical classroom, with observation optional if the host school agrees
A 60-hour teaching placement that TESOL staff assign at a partner school in the participant's region
10 hours of observation, 10 hours of practice teaching, and two 15-minute videos, in person or virtually
A proctored final exam on both specialty tracks, followed by one recorded 30-minute demonstration lesson
Which statement correctly describes how the TCCP's Part 1 and Part 2 online courses are graded?
Only the practicum is graded; the courses just require attendance at live sessions.
Courses receive letter grades, and a cumulative B average is needed to finish.
Each course is scored on a 200–800 scale, and 500 is the published pass mark.
Each online course is graded pass (80% or greater) or fail (below 80%).
A U.S. elementary teacher asks whether completing the TCCP will add an ESL endorsement to a state teaching license. Which response reflects TESOL's own descriptions?
No, but holding the TCCP for two years converts it into a time-limited TESOL professional certification.
Yes, as long as the teacher chooses the young learner track and finishes within the 7-month window.
No. The TCCP is a certificate program, not certification or licensure; endorsements follow state rules.
Yes. TESOL accredits state ESL endorsements, so a completed TCCP transfers to every U.S. state.
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.