Accreditation

All Tlc online courses are formally accredited by ACTDEC— The Accreditation Council for TESOL Distance Education Courses. Detailed information, including sample certificates, is available on the ACTDEC website at www.ACTDEC.org.uk. Apart from The College of Teachers this is the only internationally recognised independent professional accreditation body for standalone TESOL distance programmes.

Aims

Although the accredited members of ACTDEC benefit by being accredited the primary aim of this non-profit making independent body is to advance professionalism by maintaining and also improving on standards of TESOL distance-learning programmes.

Rigorous Code of Practice

Based on a rigorous code of practice ACTDEC accredits TESOL/TEFL distance course providers for four separate and uniform course levels graded from introductory to advanced.

Why is Accreditation Important?

Accreditation is the tool that can help school owners and directors of studies make sound employment decisions. It also offers protection for new entrants to the profession and, more importantly, provides a quality benchmark for both employers and prospective course applicants.

The ACTDEC Symbol of quality

The Accreditation Council is a non-profit making independent body governed by officers and Council, established to advance professionalism by maintaining and also improving on standards of distance TESOL/TEFL programmes.

What is ACTDEC and what does it do?

ACTDEC is for the benefit of the public and aimed at helping TESOL course applicants locate suitably accredited institutions offering distance teacher training courses and also responding to general enquiries relating to the English language teaching profession.

• ACTDEC is the Accreditation Council for TESOL Distance Education Courses, a non-profit making independent body responsible for maintaining professional standards in TESOL distance programmes.
• Based on a rigorous professional code of practice ACTDEC accredits TESOL/TEFL distance course providers for four separate course levels graded from introductory to advanced.
• The same syllabus content, at each level, is covered by all ACTDEC accredited providers though course methodology, approach and delivery may differ.
• ACTDEC accredited courses are regularly audited to ensure that quality expectations are being met.
• ACTDEC awards three certificates and a diploma to successful course participants. These awards state the level, syllabus and course content covered. They also serve to guarantee schools and institutions world wide of quality training assurance through accredited and regulated distance education provision.
• Together with sponsoring institutions ACTDEC also offers a two-month carefully structured, externally assessed, Teaching Practice Portfolio scheme for ACTDEC distance learning certificate holders.
• An ACTDEC Level Two qualification (or above) coupled with an ACTDEC Certificate of Teaching Practice Development in TESOL fulfil the requirements of the British Council Accreditation Scheme.

College of Teachers

Tlc courses also lead to the College of Teachers Certificate of Educational Studies and College Associateship. Trainees are required to register with the College of Teachers. Registration forms are sent with initial course material.

Under the terms of its Royal Charter granted by Queen Victoria in 1849, the College has the power to offer qualifications to teachers. In relation to higher education qualifications the College's awards equate to sub-degree and degree levels.

Further Details

Details about the College of Teachers qualifications are available on the College web site. (see Tlc links)

Distance learning is a really excellent study medium but one needs to take care when choosing a provider.

Concern

Concern has been expressed in the profession about the quality of some non-accredited distance course provision and providers claiming accreditation by bodies outside the English language teaching profession as well as a variety of spurious international bodies sometimes even invented by the providers themselves.

Take Care!

Rather than submit course material for a transparent accreditation process based on a professional code of practice and an English language teaching syllabus some providers attempt to avoid this process by seeking accreditation from organisations not qualified to judge their course content but instead consider other criteria. There is nothing wrong with accreditation offered by ODLQC, ISO9000 and others, but they only evaluate systems and procedures. They have no expertise in the field of TESOL/TEFL.

Why ACTDEC?

Only ACTDEC offers recognised ELT accreditation based on a rigorous professional code and syllabus. Watch out for those providers who claim there is no independent international accrediting body. Ask yourself why they make such a claim.

Finally, a question often asked.

Why are some accredited courses a little more expensive than others? ACTDEC and the College of Teachers accreditation is based on minimum professional requirements. Some providers, such as Tlc Online, offer much more than the minimum and through greater provision cover more ground and provide a more substantial and prestigious course.

It is in your interest and important, that you select a TESOL distance training course that is formally validated and accredited by a recognised independent external body. Ensure your certificate carries real weight with future employers.

Avoid providers who accredit themselves and, as a result, are not subject to regulated ELT standards, external moderation or audit.