I (along with 12 other foreign teachers from my EP) received 2 year TL exemptions from the TC. Our director made a simple phone call and the exemption letters were in the mail. The exemption letter acts as your 'temporary license." I also heard that these exemptions can be extended beyond 2 years if necessary.

2 years is a long time in the LOS. to shell out 60+ thousand baht for some "TL certification course" is ridiculous. Invest your time and resources into finding a reputable school or program who has experience with employing foreign teachers, and who know how to get around these recent implementations. try to avoid the dodgy "we are JUST looking for an Anglo for our brochure" type institutions.

Surely this is a retrogressive step in any country, not just Thailand.

I read recently that teachers in the UK with only an O-level in the subject

are teaching. This cannot be good for the pupils.

A better approach is to improve opportunities for teacher training

and pay the teachers produced, a decent salary.