43 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

They really need to look at volunteering again. I don't do it because it is illegal, but I would, not only English but high school math as well. They are not taking advantage of available resources.

 

19 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

Hence the need to look at the rules again.

 

It's working exactly as intended.  Your post even shows this.  The law is to prevent jobs that could potentially be done by Thai people to be taken by others.  Your volunteering takes away a teaching job.  Therefore it's doing what it is meant to do.

8 minutes ago, BrandonJT said:

 

 

It's working exactly as intended.  Your post even shows this.  The law is to prevent jobs that could potentially be done by Thai people to be taken by others.  Your volunteering takes away a teaching job.  Therefore it's doing what it is meant to do.

But there are not Thais qualified and willing to take those jobs. Therefore it is preventing the kids from getting educated.

5 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

But there are not Thais qualified and willing to take those jobs. Therefore it is preventing the kids from getting educated.

 

Nationalism foremost cares about ideology, not about kids...

58 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

They really need to look at volunteering again. I don't do it because it is illegal, but I would, not only English but high school math as well. They are not taking advantage of available resources.

Actually the same for myself.  I can teach English and computer technology as well as the underlying subjects which are required to understand computer tech.  It would give me something to do with my spare time.
But? 
It will never happen.  The concept of "giving to your community for free" and volunteerism is just totally foreign to Thais, most of whom will insist that our volunteerism is taking jobs away from native Thais with English degrees who can't speak English. 

There is more truth to this skit then you can believe:

 

On 12/1/2025 at 9:40 AM, brewsterbudgen said:

I know of quite a few.  All are on Extensions based on marriage or retirement and have been for many years.  They don't have work permits as they do not have a degree, despite being excellent and experienced teachers.  

Even people with degrees work no permit.  Most Thai schools can't afford or are too lazy. Also all these companies that supply only care if you have tefl.  It would cost them too much to get permits and the schools only want to advertise farNg teacher

On 12/1/2025 at 10:11 AM, connda said:

"A retired friend of mine living in Thailand - a former (farang) English teacher - told me that the 'vast majority' of foreign teachers do not have work permits."

As a retired guy living in Thailand for now close to 19 years and a former (farang) English teacher, having worked in the business I can vouch that "a large number" of foreign teachers do not have work permits.
The "vast majority?"  Nah. The vast majority who work at reputable private and public schools have work permits.

Both the school and the foreign teacher are responsible for the work permit.  Forms with the proper sign-offs from both the teacher and the employer must be submitted the the Ministry of Labor.   
But the sanctions for working without a work permit are harsh for the illegal teacher, and generally a hand-slap for the employer.  Why is that.  Corruption. Is it fair. No.  But "life is not fair." Take the word, "Fair" out of your personal dictionary. 

Now - do I care?  No. I stopped caring a longggggg time ago.  It is what it is. And it doesn't affect me. 

Harsh for the teacher? Isn't it just deportation? I guess deportation (and possible blacklisting) would be hard for folks with family in Thailand. 

My friend went to live in Thailand a few years back, he took with him about $12,000 he can speak Thai not fluent but mediocre, he is friends with a director of a school, he got an education visa to start then switched to a work permit in country but only after the director falsifying his degree in teaching which he doesn’t have and is totally made up. I think he was earning approximately $750 a month, he doesn’t eat Thai food only western, despite all this he managed to survive but he had to leave after 9 months as he became an alcoholic and ran out of money, having spent about $20,000 😅

One quick question: I heard from two sources that a Master's Degree in education is not enough, you also need a permanent teaching license from you home country to be fully qualified by Krusapha.

Last I checked to get a permanent teaching license in the US (Most states) you need to pass some state tests (I say "some" because states do vary) and must be teaching in a school that has been accredited by the state for three years. The tests are independents of tests needed to be certified in a particular subject, for example, Science Grades 6 -12.

Does anyone know for sure if Krusapha accepts only Master's degrees in Education or Master's in Education plus a permanent teaching license from the applicants home country in order to get a 5 year Teaching License? 

Also, how many years can you teach with the Krusapha one year licenses? I know two teachers who must get their work permits renewed every three months.

I have heard teaches say the goal of the  Thai educaiton department is to generate revenue.

 

On 12/1/2025 at 12:09 PM, cjinchiangrai said:

But there are not Thais qualified and willing to take those jobs. Therefore it is preventing the kids from getting educated.

 

 Which, I'm afraid is just what the Thai gov want. They only want decent education to the class of Thais who can afford to send their kids to at least international schools here if not abroad...

On 12/1/2025 at 9:24 AM, ronnie50 said:

A retired friend of mine living in Thailand - a former (farang) English teacher - told me that the 'vast majority' of foreign teachers do not have work permits. I was a bit surprised by the term 'vast majority' - but not surprised that some don't have work permits. From time to time, we hear news reports of Immigration raids and arrests of teachers at private and international schools.

 

But is it true the vast majority are working illegally? That's my first question. My second question regards whose responsibility it is for the teacher to have a work permit - the teacher? Or the employer (the school)? If the latter, why don't they arrest and charge the school's manager or owner as well as the teacher?

 

Pretty sure there are members here who have very good knowledge on this.

 

 

I think your retired friend has a vivid imagination🤣. Sure, there are some who teach privately, without a visa and for a wage – that's a tall tale... but for the majority, working as a teacher in Thailand means first finding a school that will hire you; without that, you won't get a work visa along with the necessary qualifications.

On 12/1/2025 at 10:16 AM, connda said:

I could legally get a job as an English teacher with my extension based on marriage.  That one of the reason guys get that extension - you can legally obtain a work permit on that extension. 

 

Isn't the issue that they don't have a degree? 

I know someone who's working at an international school teaching chemistry with a chemistry degree from the US. He never mentioned anything about being a certified teacher though... is he illegal?

In my opinion .thailand needs good English native language speakers for so many of the younger students. Don't need masters degrees in education for that. Frankly with the young kids it is as much a baby sitting job as basic conversational language teaching. Basic alphabet,  pronunciation etc.  Subject verb object sentences etc. A short two day refresher is all that should be needed for teachers to pass.  Not dwelling on split infinitives,  and things.

The grammar in the title is wrong- it should be " the number of foreign teachers " not " the amount " . Teachers are individuals,  not a general quantity like " inflation " or " manure " .

Surprised nobody picked up on this glaring mistake. 

2 minutes ago, persimmon said:

The grammar in the title is wrong- it should be " the number of foreign teachers " not " the amount " . Teachers are individuals,  not a general quantity like " inflation " or " manure " .

Surprised nobody picked up on this glaring mistake. 

 

 

They surely did.

 

 

But, like me, couldn't be ar5ed to make a fuss about it.

46 minutes ago, persimmon said:

The grammar in the title is wrong- it should be " the number of foreign teachers " not " the amount " . Teachers are individuals,  not a general quantity like " inflation " or " manure " .

Surprised nobody picked up on this glaring mistake. 

Correcting grammar is not allowed on this Forum. 

2 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Correcting grammar is not allowed on this Forum. 

 

forum

 

On 11/30/2025 at 9:36 PM, connda said:

Nor in mine.  After I quit teaching and when I moved to our village, I offered to volunteer teach at local schools.  My only demand was that they work with myself and the Ministry of Labor to obtain a work permit.  
They refuse.
I refused.
End of story.  

I know other guys on retirement and marriage visas.  No one I know works. 

Me too.

On 11/30/2025 at 11:20 PM, connda said:

Actually the same for myself.  I can teach English and computer technology as well as the underlying subjects which are required to understand computer tech.  It would give me something to do with my spare time.
But? 
It will never happen.  The concept of "giving to your community for free" and volunteerism is just totally foreign to Thais, most of whom will insist that our volunteerism is taking jobs away from native Thais with English degrees who can't speak English. 

There is more truth to this skit then you can believe:

 

This video is accurate.  I always avoided Thai English teachers, because I could not understand them.  Thai science and math teachers were easier to understand.  But Thai English sure did know the grammar rules.

11 hours ago, chawbdurian said:

I know someone who's working at an international school teaching chemistry with a chemistry degree from the US. He never mentioned anything about being a certified teacher though... is he illegal?

I have a bs in engineering and a ms in applied math. I taught entire pre calculus and calculus classes while in graduate school, and have been doing contract engineerin gwork ths last 40 years. . I'm quite sure I could teach up to first or second-year college students. But would I meet the thailand qualifications? 

On 12/1/2025 at 12:20 PM, connda said:

Actually the same for myself.  I can teach English and computer technology as well as the underlying subjects which are required to understand computer tech.  It would give me something to do with my spare time.
But? 
It will never happen.  The concept of "giving to your community for free" and volunteerism is just totally foreign to Thais, most of whom will insist that our volunteerism is taking jobs away from native Thais with English degrees who can't speak English. 

There is more truth to this skit then you can believe:

Mildly amusing.   Of. Course should not start with confusing or words that are exeptions. Silent k in  Knife versus kitten for example.  Debut is not a beginning english word. 

 

When i lived in surin many students came to my home asked for help with their englishtests so i did,

For free of course.One day a guy from the high school in surin visit me and offered me a 2-4 hour daily teaching at the school.I said no because i didn't want to travel 80 I'm everyday when i was on leave from my work.

 

There used to be a lot, but nowadays it's too risky doing border runs or back to back tourist visas, it's been that way for 10+ years now.  Also a lot of the Western teachers without degrees are being replaced by Filipino / African teachers who do have degrees.  As with the cost of living having increased by quite a fair amount in the past 10+ years, but the average foreign teacher's salary remaining static, a lot of those without degrees have simply returned home, found work elsewhere or are now too old to teach anyway.  Teaching in Thailand isn't really worth it for the money unless you're teaching at an international school or teaching a lot of special classes on top.

But a lot depends on where in Thailand you are, it used to always be that in the cities you needed a work permit, but if you were in more rural areas they were a bit more relaxed so long as you could sort out your own visa.  I've regularly taught without a work permit, but only because I had the paperwork and just didn't nag the staff too much about getting it sorted, since I'm on a marriage visa and knew that if the police were to have a problem they'd likely let me off since I have the correct paperwork & was just waiting for it to be filed.

Generally speaking immigration are pretty relaxed about it anyway, they came to my house about 8-10 years ago for a 90 day report (They sometimes visit your house if you live in the countryside).  I was working that day, but popped home quickly before they arrived and changed out of my work clothes so that it wouldn't be obvious that I'd been working.  I had no intention of lying, but if they didn't ask then I wouldn't tell.  First thing my wife did though (Who considers "lying by omission" to be a thing lol), was ask them if it was fine for me to work without a work permit.  They were pretty relaxed and basically said I should get that sorted, but that it wasn't their job.

On 12/6/2025 at 5:38 PM, chawbdurian said:

I know someone who's working at an international school teaching chemistry with a chemistry degree from the US. He never mentioned anything about being a certified teacher though... is he illegal?

 

You better contact the department of labor and inform them of his personal details and workplace. So they can do a raid and check. 

 

If he doesn't have a work permit he could be doing all sorts of science demonstrations with those kids, if you know what I mean. 

On 12/6/2025 at 4:10 PM, jingjai9 said:

One quick question: I heard from two sources that a Master's Degree in education is not enough, you also need a permanent teaching license from you home country to be fully qualified by Krusapha.

Last I checked to get a permanent teaching license in the US (Most states) you need to pass some state tests (I say "some" because states do vary) and must be teaching in a school that has been accredited by the state for three years. The tests are independents of tests needed to be certified in a particular subject, for example, Science Grades 6 -12.

Does anyone know for sure if Krusapha accepts only Master's degrees in Education or Master's in Education plus a permanent teaching license from the applicants home country in order to get a 5 year Teaching License? 

Also, how many years can you teach with the Krusapha one year licenses? I know two teachers who must get their work permits renewed every three months.

I have heard teaches say the goal of the  Thai educaiton department is to generate revenue.

 

The answer is "It depends", some guys have masters degrees that they earnt online, or which didn't include a practical teaching component, as education and teaching aren't necessarily the same thing.

But if you have a bachelor degree in any subject that'll get you a 2 year teaching license waiver, you can have 2 or maybe even 3 of them before you're at risk of not getting another.  Although many teachers (like myself) have had 4 or 5 waivers as they removed the easier pathways towards getting a teachers license.

 

Now they have the 7 modules which aren't too tricky, it's essentially just 7x 10 week online courses, each the equivalent of a university paper (but not a university paper, so not of much value outside of Thailand lol).  The costs aren't too much if compared to a 1 year graduate diploma in teaching or similar.  Once you've completed the 7 modules you can get a P license, which is a 2 year license which is essentially very similar to the 5 year license (5 year requires an extra exam, but that's it).

Teachers getting their work permits renewed every 3 months are likely doing something in a grey area, e.g. "Trainers" instead of teachers, or a visa that allows work but is a multi-entry rather than extension of stay.

On 12/6/2025 at 5:38 PM, chawbdurian said:

I know someone who's working at an international school teaching chemistry with a chemistry degree from the US. He never mentioned anything about being a certified teacher though... is he illegal?

No he'll be using a teacher's license waiver.  All you need to get a teacher's license waiver is a bachelor degree in any subject.

International schools often just want certified teachers from other countries because they want to teach the US or UK curriculum and in general want to have better qualified teachers because their students are paying them truckloads of cash and so they want the best.

Certainly no good teachers

 

I'd worked at five good to epic schools. WP came in 20-45 days with perhaps one around 60. I would tell the school flat out that if you do not have a work permit in hand in 90 days you will not be staying on. 

 

You don't want to work anywhere that will not permit you. You open yourself up to all sorts of problems. List is endless 

4 hours ago, MarcusAurelius said:

You don't want to work anywhere that will not permit you. You open yourself up to all sorts of problems. List is endless 

Yup.

Some good responses to this thread and the original question by those with first-hand knowledge. So, from what I've read so far, in summary, it seems that:

 

The number of native-English teachers (with previous experience teaching) has declined for various reasons - comparatively low pay, trouble getting the school to help with/endorse a work permit, increasing demands by employers for unpaid extra-curricular work, increasing demands by government/quango agencies for proof of higher degree, specifically as educators, just more hassle in general and it's easier to go somewhere else, schools increasingly hiring non-native-language English speakers (Filipinos, Indians, etc., though have excellent English skills, but who can be paid less by Thai employers).

 

Some, however, have said things have remained roughly the same, and Thai schools remain a draw for younger teachers looking for some international experience (close to a beach).

 

If the initial summary above is true, and native-English teachers have/are leaving, or working illegally, and non-English-native speakers are replacing them (particularly in the really expensive international schools), it raises the question 'are children and parents getting hoodwinked or cheated by paying the same fees year on year?'

 

 

On 12/8/2025 at 11:28 PM, SlyAnimal said:

The answer is "It depends", some guys have masters degrees that they earnt online, or which didn't include a practical teaching component, as education and teaching aren't necessarily the same thing.

But if you have a bachelor degree in any subject that'll get you a 2 year teaching license waiver, you can have 2 or maybe even 3 of them before you're at risk of not getting another.  Although many teachers (like myself) have had 4 or 5 waivers as they removed the easier pathways towards getting a teachers license.

 

Now they have the 7 modules which aren't too tricky, it's essentially just 7x 10 week online courses, each the equivalent of a university paper (but not a university paper, so not of much value outside of Thailand lol).  The costs aren't too much if compared to a 1 year graduate diploma in teaching or similar.  Once you've completed the 7 modules you can get a P license, which is a 2 year license which is essentially very similar to the 5 year license (5 year requires an extra exam, but that's it).

Teachers getting their work permits renewed every 3 months are likely doing something in a grey area, e.g. "Trainers" instead of teachers, or a visa that allows work but is a multi-entry rather than extension of stay.

 

I've been out of The game for 2 years but this is fairly accurate and good information 

 

I do believe though that after your first waiver you need to be finished with the seven modules or at least currently working on them. 

 

Too much riffraff and things a bit more serious now.