Need A Teachers License

[gosompoi]

I have been teaching English at a Thai government high school for the past few years. I have been told to renew my work permit I need a new teachers license. I have been getting a provisional (temp) license but they refused renew provisional license. I was told I need to take some classes/training to qualify and get a full license. I already have a bachelors degree in computer science from the States and English teaching experience in Thailand. What are the steps I need to take next. Has anyone recently received a teacher's license or take the required training and can share how to!

[Scott]

We have a number of teachers in the same position. I know several have signed up for internet courses in education. Whether this will be accepted or not, I am not positive, but when I find out, I will post it.

[thaicbr]

Same problem for a few teachers at my school. As far as i'm aware if you start taking the teachers council tests that will give you another 2 years.. next booking period from 14 -31 March. (i think)

[gosompoi]

anyone know of a good way to prepare for the tests?

Edited December 28, 2011 by gosompoi

[aidenai]

Teachers without a B.Ed., PGCE, Grad. Dip. T.P., have to sit and pass the professional knowledge tests conducted by The Teachers' Council of Thailand. Further more, everybody who wants to apply for a TCT Teacher License, regardless of the type of prior education, has to do the Thai Language, Culture and Ethics Course.

Loads of information is available on this forum. Please search around.

For detailed information you might want to visit: www.thailandteaching.asia/teacher-licensing/

[glaswegian]

i think they should put more stress on their teachers rather than forcing us to sit for a teacher licence, all the english teachers working at my school have got their master degrees in english but none of them cant understand me or speak it as good as it should be

kind regards

william

[talk2sam]

i think they should put more stress on their teachers rather than forcing us to sit for a teacher licence, all the english teachers working at my school have got their master degrees in english but none of them cant understand me or speak it as good as it should be

kind regards

william

Amazing thailand....It's everywhere....

[Scott]

Thai teachers are held to the same standard as Foreign Teachers. They also must get a Teacher's License.

[Credo]

We have a lot of Thai teachers who are attending school on weekends and evenings to be eligible for the TL. It's a hardship for those affected by the flooding because some of the schools now teach on Saturday.

[Scott]

Troll post and reply deleted.

[NormanW]

We have a lot of Thai teachers who are attending school on weekends and evenings to be eligible for the TL. It's a hardship for those affected by the flooding because some of the schools now teach on Saturday.

I heard a while ago that if you are currently studying for a PGCE then they grant you a TL.

Not sure though, I've got a PGCE in EAL from England and they (MOE) gave me a TL.

As for the Thai culture course well, that's another thread I'm sure.

Just as an aside, getting a PGCE would put you in good stead for your teaching career.

My school is currently crying out for a fully qualified Business teacher.

Contact me for more details if interested.

Keep those good times rolling.

[gosompoi]

My latest problem has been been finding where to go to get the required education for TL. I am issan and those Universities listed in Issan as providing the hours of education required no longer offer the coarse. After contacting 15+ educational institutions listed on Thai ministers of education website only a quarter still offer the coarse. Only weekend classes in Bangkok over many weekends 600km from home.

[aidenai]

My latest problem has been been finding where to go to get the required education for TL. I am issan and those Universities listed in Issan as providing the hours of education required no longer offer the coarse. After contacting 15+ educational institutions listed on Thai ministers of education website only a quarter still offer the coarse. Only weekend classes in Bangkok over many weekends 600km from home.

Please note that your route to a TCT Teacher License involves two things:

• Thai Language, Culture and Ethics Course and
  
• Sitting and passing the TCT Professional Knowledge Tests OR studying the Grad. Dip. T.P. or PGCE.
  

Which do you want to do? Which one did you look for in you area?

[gosompoi]

My latest problem has been been finding where to go to get the required education for TL. I am issan and those Universities listed in Issan as providing the hours of education required no longer offer the coarse. After contacting 15+ educational institutions listed on Thai ministers of education website only a quarter still offer the coarse. Only weekend classes in Bangkok over many weekends 600km from home.

Please note that your route to a TCT Teacher License involves two things:

• Thai Language, Culture and Ethics Course and
  
• Sitting and passing the TCT Professional Knowledge Tests OR studying the Grad. Dip. T.P. or PGCE.
  

Which do you want to do? Which one did you look for in you area?

I need the Thai Language, Culture and Ethics Courses. After contacting 15+ educational institutions listed on Thai ministers of education website only a quarter of them still offer the courses. None in Issan, only can find weekend classes in Bangkok over many weekends 600km from home.

Edited January 10, 2012 by gosompoi

[aidenai]

only can find weekend classes in Bangkok over many weekends 600km from home.

I don't know where you got your information from, gosompoi.

Thai Language, Culture and Ethics Courses take 20 hours in total. Often that's done in 3 days. Here's the link to the one by Suan Dusit Rajabhat University in Bangkok. http://education.dus...re/culture.html

This one will be held Saturday 4 February until Monday 6 February 2012.

The one above was published on the website of The Teachers' Council of Thailand. I haven't heard of any other one being operational in the country.

Edited January 10, 2012 by aidenai

[emecompanie]

Hello,

Thai teachers licence is not accepted outside Thailand. If you want to continue teaching in Thailand you should decide on a weekend b.d in education for 2 years. Good luck. The law keeps changing even after this post. Good luck. I just can't justify the expense.

[gosompoi]

only can find weekend classes in Bangkok over many weekends 600km from home.

I don't know where you got your information from, gosompoi.

Thai Language, Culture and Ethics Courses take 20 hours in total. Often that's done in 3 days. Here's the link to the one by Suan Dusit Rajabhat University in Bangkok. http://education.dus...re/culture.html

This one will be held Saturday 4 February until Monday 6 February 2012.

The one above was published on the website of The Teachers' Council of Thailand. I haven't heard of any other one being operational in the country.

I got my information by contacting the institutes here http://www.ksp.or.th/Khurusapha/en/userfiles/List%20of%20institutes.pdf'>http://www.ksp.or.th/Khurusapha/en/userfiles/List%20of%20institutes.pdf at http://www.ksp.or.th but Suan Dusit Rajabhat University in Bangkok was not one I was able to contact. Thank you for the information.

[gosompoi]

Hello,

Thai teachers licence is not accepted outside Thailand. If you want to continue teaching in Thailand you should decide on a weekend b.d in education for 2 years. Good luck. The law keeps changing even after this post. Good luck. I just can't justify the expense.

I live in Sisaket and I had my wife call all the colleges and universities for just as you suggested and many had weekend b.a. in education. But could not find a school within 300km that would accept a farang. Everyone just kept saying need to go to Bangkok. 6 years of teaching English 30 hrs a week, now stuck at home until I can get the requirements done. I plan to get the 40 hrs of required courses next month in Bangkok. But the next big questions is, "When are the next tests?"

Edited January 10, 2012 by gosompoi

[emecompanie]

Hello,

Most Thai teachers are generally helpful. Talk to them and they might help you prepare and pass your tests. Be warned, most don't pass. You might be the luckier ones to do so. The British Council on Education will provide details when and where to do the tests. There are four parts costing 1,000 baht each. You should shop around to find an Education Institute that serves your needs in a short space of time. Good Luck!

[emecompanie]

The Thai teachers council and Minstry of Education do require time spent in the classroom. Those with Tesol, Tefl, or online courses are being viewed as outdated or rejected.

[emecompanie]

Go or call both the Thai teachers council of Thailand or Ministry of Education what is acceptable and follow from that. I view a degree in education far better than 1-4 week courses.

[emecompanie]

If you get a letter from your university stating you are doing the course, they will waiver.

[FiscalFizz]

I am kinda getting scarred in this thread. You guys are making it sounds as if you need a bachelors degree in education to come teach in thailand now? Is the teacher's liscense required to get a work permit now? I have a B.B.A in Marketing with no teaching experience.

[Scott]

If you start teaching, you will likely get a waiver, instead of a TL. You will have to take the Thai Culture Course before being granted a 2nd waiver. You will then have to start to 'upgrade' your degree to an education degree or take the exams in order to get the 3rd and final waiver. Once you have the education courses, or pass the exams, you get the TL.

The exams, as I understand it, are rather difficult with a fairly significant number of people not passing.

A lot of teachers are taking the education courses on-line.

[FiscalFizz]

If you start teaching, you will likely get a waiver, instead of a TL. You will have to take the Thai Culture Course before being granted a 2nd waiver. You will then have to start to 'upgrade' your degree to an education degree or take the exams in order to get the 3rd and final waiver. Once you have the education courses, or pass the exams, you get the TL.

The exams, as I understand it, are rather difficult with a fairly significant number of people not passing.

A lot of teachers are taking the education courses on-line.

do I just have to show intent to upgrade? Is each waiver good for a 1 year period? How strict are they on this whole thing? I know nothing is written in stone. Do I just have to show them that I signed up for 1 online class? Do I have to complete the class? I am not trying to get another entire college degree just to teach in Thailand.

I heard that while those test are pretty hard, there are currently no limits to how many times you can take them ( loophole?)

[Scott]

I'll give you my take on this, but that is all it is, but it is based on being involved in the administrative end of teaching.

When you start, you will get a waiver that is good for 2 years. Most teachers will take the Thai Culture course during that time. There have been reports of immigration officers asking for compliance on this before renewing the Work Permit. In theory, you should be able to teach for the 2 years that the waiver is in effect.

When the school applies for the 2nd 2 year waiver, they will present the Thai Culture Course to the Teacher's Council and the 2nd waiver should be forthcoming. During that time, you will either need to start to 'upgrade' your education credits to meet the requirements of an education degree, or sign up for the exams sponsored by the TC. You do not need to pass the exams, but you do need to show you have paid for them and are signed up.

The 3rd waiver would be a continuation of the same type of rules as the 2nd waiver. However, if by the time that waiver has expired, you are expected to have either completed your education or passed the tests, I think. There is no provision for a 4th waiver.

We are now entering the time when a significant number of teachers are on their 3rd waiver. There are teachers who have, by hook-or-by-crook, managed to bypass the TC and the TL altogether. There are some where the 1st & 2nd waivers were granted on nothing more than the Culture Course.

Turn over of teachers in Thailand is rather high, so it will be a while before we know what has happened to some who are further behind the 8 ball than others.

[aidenai]

The 3rd waiver would be a continuation of the same type of rules as the 2nd waiver. However, if by the time that waiver has expired, you are expected to have either completed your education or passed the tests, I think. There is no provision for a 4th waiver.

I haven't heard about this (yet) from the side of The Teachers' Council of Thailand.

2012 is the year that the 3rd provisional teaching permits will be issued.

The 4th provisional teaching permit is due to 2014.

[Scott]

I hope you are correct. I know a few years back, I had staff who went to the MOE to discuss the regulations and the impact on our school. At that time, they were told there would only be 3 waivers.

At that time, however, they seemed pretty unsure of anything.

[sirchai]

i think they should put more stress on their teachers rather than forcing us to sit for a teacher licence, all the english teachers working at my school have got their master degrees in english but none of them cant understand me or speak it as good as it should be

kind regards

william

The majority of Thai English teachers do not have a good command in English; most of the time foreigners write their thesis for their master’s.

But they are Thais and they could lose face. You can’t. .......

Edited February 1, 2012 by sirchai

[sirchai]

I hope you are correct. I know a few years back, I had staff who went to the MOE to discuss the regulations and the impact on our school. At that time, they were told there would only be 3 waivers.

At that time, however, they seemed pretty unsure of anything.

Hi Scott,

I'm on my fourth waiver letter now, just received it from TCT last August and also a colleague received his fourth at the same time. I'm holding a BA, but not in education. But it could also be that our director's connection to the TCT made it happen...........

Edited February 1, 2012 by sirchai