How to List TEFL/TESOL Certifications on a Resume (With Examples)

Your TEFL or TESOL certificate is one of the first things ESL employers scan for — but listing it wrong can make ATS software skip you entirely. Here’s exactly where and how to write it.

Where to Put Your Certification (3 Options, Ranked)

1. In a dedicated “Certifications” section — best for most teachers

If teaching English is your main career, create a section directly below your work experience. ATS software looks for this exact heading, so use the literal word “Certifications” — not “My Qualifications” or “Professional Development.”

2. In your resume summary — best if the job posting demands it

If the posting says “120-hour TEFL required,” put the full acronym in your summary so it appears in the top third of the page:

TEFL-certified English teacher (120-hour, accredited) with 3 years of classroom experience across elementary and adult learners.

3. In your education section — acceptable, but weaker

Only do this if you have no other certifications. It buries the credential and some ATS parsers handle it inconsistently.

How to Write Each Entry

Use this exact format — it’s the one ATS systems parse most reliably:

• Full name of certificate (acronym), hours — Issuing organization — Year
• Example: Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), 120 hours — International TEFL Academy — 2024

Common acronyms and what they mean

• TEFL — Teaching English as a Foreign Language (most common for teaching abroad/online)
• TESOL — Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (umbrella term, common in North America)
• CELTA — Cambridge’s certificate; the most prestigious, always list hours and Pass grade if B or above
• DELTA — Cambridge’s advanced diploma; list it under Certifications AND mention it in your summary

Mistakes That Get Resumes Rejected

1. Writing only “TEFL certified” with no hours. Employers want to see 120+ hours; unaccredited 20-hour courses are often filtered out.
2. Listing it 5 times. Once in Certifications, once in the summary (if relevant) — that’s it. Repetition looks like padding.
3. Obscure formatting. Certifications inside text boxes, tables, or graphics get mangled by ATS. Plain bulleted text only.
4. Expired or unaccredited courses. If your course isn’t accredited, note the provider clearly — schools verify.

Copy-Paste Example

CERTIFICATIONS

Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), 120 hours — International TEFL Academy, 2024
Teaching English to Young Learners (TEYL), 40 hours — Premier TEFL, 2025
IELTS Instructor Training — British Council, 2025