Do You Need A Degree To TEFL In Vietnam?

20th April 2022

Many people around you are passionate about living and working abroad where one can find plenty of opportunities and absorb themselves in its fascinating culture. Teaching in Asia can make a smooth way to ex-pat life.

Travelers dream of waking up to the sight of a Southeast Asian beachfront decorated by palm trees or foggy rice paddies in the mountains. That is why Vietnam is a popular choice for graduate TEFL teachers. It boasts of both coastline and highlands, along with bustling cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Ha Long Bay, and enthralling ancient history between the palaces of Hue and ruined settlements of Ninh Binh.

Being a teacher in Asia can be quite rewarding. You can explore all around, make new friends and immerse yourself in the various intricacies of life. A career after teaching English will be quite satisfying. It is also considered the most suitable place in the world to teach without a degree. So, irrespective of the fact that you have or have not graduated, it won’t prevent you from going through the options on offer.

Can anyone teach English in Vietnam without degree qualifications?

Yes! You can teach English in Vietnam without a degree.

That does not imply it would be easier to get a job. It probably will not. And it might also happen that all the good job positions will be out of reach. But that is not the main point.

The main point is as straight as a line that having a university qualification will not prevent you from being an English teacher in Vietnam on a legal basis. You must keep in mind that Vietnamese working visas ask for college-level education and they also require a valid experience in the field. Officially, applicants need up to five years of training on the job, but working documents are regularly awarded for much less than that.

The requirement does not imply that you’ll have to get down in Vietnam fresh off a five-year contract working as a teacher elsewhere. It just means that you have to show that you have adapted the skills and abilities required to work as a TEFL teacher, despite not having a college degree.

Let us know the formula for teaching in Vietnam without a degree!
 

• Get TEFL qualified

Vietnam is no doubt a breathtaking and enticing destination for TEFL teachers, and when you know that you are going to be competing for jobs with graduates having university degrees, it’s always suggested that you get yourself an advantage. And that is the reason why a TEFL certificate isalmost compulsory.

A heap of Vietnamese schools makes it one of the most crucial eligibility criteria for their recruitment process. It will be one of the highlighted points on your CV.A TEFL certificate should be your priority as it carries a lot of weight.
 

• Make sure you have a perfect application

You must make sure that you have a proper application and cover letter as they are more important than anything when you come for teaching English in Vietnam without degree qualifications.

In such a scenario, you will have to sell your skills, highlight your pros and talk about all those strong points. You should mention the experience you have gained while pursuing your TEFL course and in other teaching positions. Highlight the skills you think are relevant to the position.
 

Tips to find your first TEFL job!

What jobs can I get teaching English in Vietnam without a degree?

Remember that as long as fulfill the loophole criteria that require experience in place of a degree to attain a Vietnamese working permit, there’s no such job that’s out of reach. However, in practice, not having a college degree can put you in a less-powerful position compared to the international native speakers that come here after their graduation.

Where can I teach English in Vietnam without a degree?

When it comes to teaching English jobs, as long as you have the experience, you can teach anywhere that’s on the map. However, you might be looking for places where the competition is comparatively lessin the TEFL sector. It means you will be moving away from the bustling cities of HCMC and Hanoi and settling in more rustic and rural areas or towns like Hue, Da Nang, and Vinh.

Hence, if you’re taking a gap year or have decided to skip college and are interested in heading to Asia and teach for a while, there isn’t any reason that not having a degree will hold you back. You just need to keep in mind that you have to do thorough research before you set for your TEFL journey. Also, signing up for a TEFL qualification as basic as an online 120 hours International Certificate in TEFL or having classroom experience will be more of real help than walking in with no experience at all.