Online CELTA Training

Fully online CELTA courses are offered in our Centre. 

All components of the course will be delivered online and trainees will be given guidance and support on how to employ the technology to good effect in their online teaching practice.

You can learn more about CELTA, both from a tutor's and a trainee's perspective by reading the blog of a fully online CELTA course. On our blog, you can also read interviews with trainees who have completed fully-online courses.

CELTA (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)

CELTA is an introductory course for people with little or no teaching experience in English language teaching. Candidates with some experience but little or no formal ELT training are also considered.

CELTA courses are highly practical. They are approximately 120 hours in duration and comprise methodology, language analysis, lesson planning, practice teaching and feedback, the observation of practising teachers and writing.

Entry & Course Requirements

Candidates must be educated to the standard required for entry into higher education and be at least 18 years of age. It is recommended, however, that candidates should hold a primary degree or have entered or be about to enter the final year of their primary degree.

Selection for all courses is by written application and interview. Acceptance onto a course is not automatic and the selection process is quite rigorous. Satisfactory references must be supplied. You are asked to provide the name and email contact details of two referees for us to contact when you submit your application form.

Candidates should have an awareness of language and a competence in both written and spoken English that will enable them to undertake the course and prepare for teaching a range of levels. They should also have the potential to develop the necessary skills to become effective teachers and to successfully complete the written assignments and the assessment of teaching practice.

Candidates whose first language is not English

We welcome all speakers of English, not just native speakers of English. All applicants must meet the minimum entry requirements set by Cambridge English. They must be a proficient English language user (between CEFR Level minimum C1 and C2 or above). Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to provide documentary proof of their current level, usually by way of a certificate from an English language competency test, which could be, for example, the Cambridge suite of examinations or IELTS.

Note: An IELTS Certificates more than two years old will not be accepted.

Candidates must have proficient computer skills. Read more about course requirements here.

Frequently asked questions

Are there differences between the fully online CELTA course and the classroom-based course?

There are, of course, some differences. The input sessions are taken independently by the trainee online, with a minimum of three units per week (the full course has 30 units). On the semi-intensive course, you will need to complete a minimum of 4 units per week. On an intensive five-week course, you will need to complete up to 6 units per week.

Note: there are also 5 live input sessions delivered by tutors on the course. These are scheduled outside of the normal contact hours.

Each afternoon there are two hours of teaching practice online. This will be divided so that trainee teachers give 40 or 60 minutes of teaching. Tutors provide guidance and feedback on TP and trainees are supported in using the technology effectively. Before the first assessed TP, all trainees have an unassessed teaching practice session where they can become familiar with the technology and also get to know their teaching practice students.

Feedback to teaching practice and the assisted lesson planning will also be delivered fully online.

All fully-online courses have a two-hour orientation session prior to the official course commencement.

In terms of technology, what do you need to participate in this course?

You do need to be fully computer literate. You will need to have access to reliable Wi-Fi and a desktop computer/laptop/tablet that has a camera and a microphone. The functions on a phone or tablet are inferior to those of a desktop or laptop and we do not recommend them for this course. It is also required that you have a quiet place where you will not be interrupted when you are teaching online or following the course input sessions.

Will this qualification only allow me to teach English online?

This course will equip you with the skills and techniques necessary to become a qualified English language teacher for both classroom-based and online teaching. Your final report from our Centre will state that this was an online course, but your official Cambridge certificate is exactly the same as awarded for face-to-face courses.

Is the qualification different from a classroom-based CELTA?

No. The qualification awarded for this fully online CELTA course by Cambridge is the same.

Do you still need to interview for the course?

Yes, but now the interview will also be fully online. This will give you a taste of what the course will be like.

Is there support in finding teaching jobs after the course?

Yes. We have a wide network of associates that regularly recruit our CELTA graduates. We have an active CELTA graduates’ LinkedIn group, and mentoring is informally provided by tutors. Also, all CELTA graduates have access to UCC’s Career Services.

What is the cost of the course?

The CELTA course fee is €2,065 

• If called for an interview, a fee of €50 is payable by credit/debit card (non-refundable)
• A deposit of €500, which is non-refundable is payable on the day of the interview (after acceptance on the course). Candidates must bring proof of payment to the interview. Failure to do so may result in the interview not taking place.
• The final payment of the balance is payable within four weeks of being offered a place on the course and in any event not later than four weeks before commencement of the course.
• Please note the policy on withdrawing from course within four weeks of course commencement.
•  Should you decide not to take your place within four weeks of course commencement and full fees have been paid, you lose your €500 deposit, plus the €50 registration fee, plus admin fee.
• Should you decide not to take your place within three weeks of course commencement and full fees have been paid, you lose your €500 deposit, plus the €50 registration fee, plus 20% of course fees paid, plus admin fee.

• o Should you decide not to take your place within two weeks of course commencement and full fees have been paid, you lose your €500 deposit, plus the €50 registration fee, plus 50% of course fees paid, plus admin fee.

  o Should you decide not to take your place within the final week prior to course commencement and full fees have been paid, you lose your €500 deposit, plus the €50 registration fee, plus 80% of course fees paid, plus admin fee.

You can read about the CELTA On Campus teacher training course on our CELTA On Campus page.

How To Apply

To register please complete the CELTA Application Form 2026 

For more specific information you can email us at TandD@ucc.ie

• All applicants will need to forward copies of their qualifications with their application.
• For payment of interview fee and course fees, see here: Bank details Language Centre

Please note that submitting an application form does not guarantee an interview. Courses will run only if minimum numbers are met to form a class. If the course does not run, a full refund will issue. Selection is at the discretion of the Course Director.

Course Dates

Please note, we offer the online CELTA when there is demand. Please email tand@ucc.ie to enquire about this.