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Do You Need a Degree to Teach in Thailand?

This question deserves its own post because there's a lot of misinformation surrounding it.

I have answered this question in reply to various comments around the blog, but think it's important to clear this up so that people wanting to teach in Thailand, who don't have a degree, know where they stand.

The short answer is yes, you can teach in Thailand without a degree.

Over the years I have met numerous teachers, many who have been teaching for 10, 15 and even 20 years in Thailand without a degree. And they have no trouble staying employed.

So why do people say it is illegal to teach in Thailand without a degree?

Why do people say that to do so you would have to work for a school without a work permit or proper paperwork?

teaching-in-thailand-no-degree

What the Law Says About Degrees

It is true that the law states that schools are not allowed to sponsor the work permits of foreign nationals who do not have a degree.

So then, how are all these teachers teaching without a degree?

Well, like many areas of law, there are a number of loopholes that can be exploited.

1. The first loophole is that a school can classify a teacher as a “classroom assistant”.

In many cases this is not technically untrue, because although the teacher is working full-time, he/she is part of an English program that is assisting the other teachers in teaching children English.

So, for example, an English teacher may be employed to teach English to a number of form classes belonging to other teachers, and therefore the foreign English teacher can be classified as an assistant.

Even if this is not absolutely the case, it is unlikely that a government official is ever going to visit the school and investigate this matter. The point here is that the word assistant is broad and can be interpreted in a number of ways.

2. The second loophole is that teachers without a degree can find employment through agencies. Indeed, a large majority of those who end up teaching in Thailand do go through agencies.

Agencies actively advertise and recruit teachers, often through job boards  such as my own. The reason an agency can recruit the teacher without a degree is because an agency is a non-formal school.

The law only stipulates that a formal, government school cannot sponsor the work permit of a foreign English teacher without a degree.

So the agency can provide the  job offer letter required to obtain the non-immigrant B Visa, and the subsequent work permit. The agency then subcontracts the teacher out to a formal school.

A Lack of Teachers

The reality is that Thailand cannot afford to be picky and solely employ teachers with degrees. The reason for this is because the demand for foreign English teachers is very high.

In the big cities of Bangkok, Chang Mai, Phuket, and Khon Kaen, parents are willing to pay extra to get their children into classrooms led by foreign English teachers and schools that provide an English program.

There simply isn't enough teachers to meet the demand.

Thailand has a very immediate need to better its overall grasp of the English language to compete in the worldwide economy.

So if you don't have a degree, you might have to go through an agency, but this is not going to prevent you from getting a job.

If you have a TEFL certificate, and you are polite and enthusiastic and want a job, the likelihood is you are going to get one.

every single week there are jobs published on my job board seeking English teachers, particularly for native speakers from the UK, US, Australia, and New Zealand.

If you meet the requirements and the school has an urgent need, then you will get the job.

In many cases one of the requirements is a degree, but this is often waived if the school is hiring for an agency and thinks the candidate is suitable.

=> Your Next Read: The Beginner's Guide to Teaching in Thailand

Is a Degree Really Necessary?

I think a degree serves as a good barrier for entry, so that you don't just get any Tom, Dick, or Harry applying for a position, but at the same time I don't think it's really necessary.

If a person isn't up to the job and is a bad teacher, the school will replace that person. A problematic person won't last long in a Thai school.

Moreover, a degree from a western country doesn't necessarily prepare you in anyway to teach children in a classroom setting in rural Thailand.

Okay, if you have a teaching degree, or some other degree relating to working with children, that's a different story.

Me, I have a degree in commercial music. This is not going to help me teach grammar rules to children. I would still need to do a TEFL certification and have some pre-job and on-the-job training to ensure that I am delivering the correct lessons in a way that is optimal for the children.

There are TEFL courses held in Thailand that not only provide a TEFL certification but also provide in-class training to prepare teachers for teaching children in Thailand.

So before you enter the classroom you have a grasp on the environment, the culture, the kind of children you can expect to interact with and their level of understanding of English.

It's my opinion that the government is well aware of the loopholes and help people get around teaching without a degree, but they don't bother challenging this with the agencies and the schools because they understand that the demand outstrips the supply and that they would risk losing a lot of good teachers who don't have degrees.

Glad we have cleared that up.

=> Now go here to get your TEFL certification

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  2. Ian says

    Hi John

    Many thanks for this article. I am a native English speaker from the UK and have just recently gained a CELTA certification, however I do not possess a degree and during the lead up and duration of the course I was unaware of how much of a barrier this would present itself to be when looking for work.

    Could you tell me what my next course of action should be please? Should I apply for jobs in Thailand here in the UK despite all the vacancies I have seen advertised explicitly state the need for a degree, or should I head over to Thailand CELTA in hand and look for work in person?

    Any other advice would be greatly appreciated.
    Reply

  6. Nancy Russell says

    I taught ESL at AUA in Bangkok 25 years ago. And, even though I had only a BA in Art, I was in Thailand for only 3 days when they hired me fulltime teaching adults. They gave all the new hires training. Within a few months they transferred me to Bhurapa University to teach English to students and professors. I worked 7 days a week!
    It did help that I had lived in Thailand for half a year twenty years earlier, I think. I don't speak more than a several dozen Thai words but I just love Thia people!!!
    Reply

    • Nancy Russell says

      One thing I forgot to mention...I never was given a contract or a work permit. Every 3 months I traveled to a nearby country to renew my tourist visa. But I was able to experience Malayasia and Cambodia. A plus for me.
      Reply

  7. Will says

    Hi thank you so much for providing this information! I'm curious, would a Bachelors from a University that is Nationally Accredited in the U.S. but not Regionally Accredited be a problem at all? Also, if you were to travel to Thailand and apply for a job with an agency without a degree, would the agency use that as leverage to give you a lower salary? Do you know what kind of salary someone without a Bachelors or someone with only an Associates + TEFL Cert. can expect from an agency? Appreciate any help you can offer!
    Reply

  10. Pensri says

    Hello ,
    I am a native English speaker from the US with a tefl/tesol certificate only with a high school diploma though . I am planning on moving to Chiang Mai and was wondering if there are any agencies that you can recommend ? Or also any places that would offer onsite training
    Reply

    • Shevriano says

      Hey Pensri,
      (Not to answer your question . But i was hoping you'd answer mine )
      Did you end up moving to Chang Mai ?
      What was it like ?
      Did you find an Agency ?
      Im planning on moving to Thailand in 2023 . Fyi , just like you, I just hold a TEFL certificate and high school diploma.
      Reply

  13. Charles says

    Hello, I’m currently in Thailand and applying for teaching jobs. I’ve had a number of interviews that have all been successful but the final question is “do you have a degree?”

    This is a huge problem for me as I’ve travelled during Covid and have been led a long by an agency to be hit with this question on arrival.

    Could you offer some advice or guidance on this please?

    I’ve only got 2 months left on my TR visa.

    Thanks,

    Charles
    Reply

  14. jamie mcc says

    I am currently considering becoming the latest ajarn to land in Thailand with big hopes and dreams, and have been doing my research on this and other similar websites but still have many questions!

    I am adding the finishing touches to my PhD dissertation in Anthropology. I do not have any specific TEFL or CELTA qualification, however I do have experience teaching university tutorial classes to undergrads over the past few years.

    I am not too concerned if the job would 'match' my qualifications, as I would be very happy to teach anywhere at any level, but I was wondering if my PhD would be sufficient to unlock any doors to a teaching job in Thailand.

    Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks
    Reply

  16. Monica says

    Hi there!

    Would you say it's still true it's possible to get work and a visa that will allow you to stay longer than 90 days without a degree. I've got 5 years experience teaching ESL and TEFL certificate, but no degree, for reference. Secondly, would you say it's possible to work part time and sustain yourself in Thailand? Thirdly, is it possible to teach privately and stay on a tourist visa and just leave every 60 days?

    Many Thanks,

    Monica
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      Hi Monica,1. Yes. If you get a job you will get a work permit. You can stay in the country but will have to report to immigration every 90 days.2. Not as a teacher I don't think. That would be half the money, around 15-17k Baht a month. It's doable but probably not sustainable long term.3. No. You can't work on a tourist visa. You would have a work permit.Hope this helps!
      Reply

      • Monica says

        Thanks so much. I see so many people saying it's impossible to get a job without a degree, is that just because it's a preference for many companies? Do you think it's better to go to Thailand first, and look for work once I'm there? Thanks again!
        Reply

        • TheThailandLife says

          The reality is there aren't enough teachers to fill the positions, and as noted in the post it's easy to get around a teacher not having a degree. There are plenty of agencies who can place you in a job. You have teaching experience too, and that's a big plus point.Everything is always easier to do once you have boots on the ground, so yes I'd recommend moving there first, finding your feet, testing out a few different places to live, and then finding a job in the city/town you feel most at home in.
          Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      It really depends on your plans. Some people want the experience of studying in Thailand and the work experience that is often provided with that, and others just want to hit the ground running and start looking for work immediately. In the current COVID climate you might find it easier to do the TEFL at home first. There are still courses running in Thailand, but like much of the world the situation is unpredictable at the moment.
      Reply

  18. Ryan says

    Have you heard of anyone using a "Life Experience" bachelors degree? I could get a visa on my own because my wife is Thai, but I would prefer to work at a government school without an agency. I'm just not sure how deeply into these degrees they actually check.
    Reply

  19. Swim Genius says

    Hi, so I am a coach and I have an offer to teach part time at an international school. I do not have a degree though but do have 11 years of experience and have certificates for coaching. would that suffice in getting a work permit? the school is the one who will be applying for my work permit.
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      I don’t think this would be a problem because a swimming coach requires coaching certificates not a degree. The degree is useless for the position without the coaching experience. I’m sure the school will apply for the work permit based on needing to bring in specific expertise outside of the standard teacher role.Go for it.
      Reply

  22. Rose says

    Hi there, Fantastic article by the way! Its opened my eyes to what really goes on for people who want to become an English teacher here in Thailand. My story is that I moved to Thailand in july 2019 From Australia, I am a native Australian..my mother is Thai. I've been making my income through freelance one-on-one tutoring to Thais around my area but ever since I got to Bangkok I wanted to teach in a proper school but was told I couldnt unless I held a Bachelor degree or higher. Is there still hope for me to teach in a school? > what do you suggest I do? thanks!
    Reply

  24. Trent Stewart says

    Hello, thank you for the great article.

    Is it possible to get some names on good effective agencies that can assist with the above and I am particular interested in Chiang Rai area.

    Your help and input would be hugely appreciated.

    Regards.

    Trent .
    Reply

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