Short answer
Not always. Requirements split sharply by employer type: most large online schools hiring for children require a bachelor's degree and often a TEFL certificate, while open marketplaces where tutors set their own rates generally do not require a degree at all. On marketplaces, demonstrated ability and reviews usually matter more than credentials.
It depends entirely on who you are teaching for, and the two main routes have very different requirements.
Route one: online schools and agencies
Companies that hire tutors as contractors to teach their own curriculum - particularly to children - tend to require:
- a bachelor's degree in any subject,
- a TEFL, TESOL or CELTA certificate (typically 120 hours),
- sometimes a minimum period of teaching experience,
- and often nationality or residency requirements tied to their marketing.
These roles pay a fixed hourly rate, supply the lesson material, and fill your calendar for you.
Route two: marketplaces
On a marketplace you are not hired. You publish a profile, set your own rate, and students choose you. Most do not require a degree.
What they require instead is that you can convince a student, which in practice means:
- a profile and introduction video that show you can actually teach,
- a clearly defined speciality - "conversational English for nurses" beats "English",
- reviews from lessons you have taught,
- and availability that overlaps with the students you want.
Does a certificate help even when it is not required?
Usually yes, though less than people expect. A TEFL is worth having if you have never taught, mostly because it gives you a structure for a first lesson and something concrete to say about your method. It is worth much less than three good reviews.
What tends to matter more:
- A speciality. Business English, exam preparation (IELTS, TOEFL), a specific profession, or a specific first language you can teach through.
- Being a subject expert who also speaks English. Someone who worked in finance teaching English to finance people is a far stronger listing than a generalist.
- Teaching in your own second language. Learners often prefer a tutor who has visibly made the journey they are on and can explain the grammar in their first language.
Native speaker or not?
Non-native tutors are hired constantly on marketplaces and some of the most in-demand tutors are non-native, because they can explain why a rule works to someone who shares their first language. Some agencies do restrict by nationality; marketplaces generally do not, and students select on results.
The practical answer
If you want a filled calendar, fixed pay and no marketing, you probably need the degree and the certificate, and should look at schools.
If you want to set your own rate and keep the difference, start on a marketplace, price low enough to earn your first reviews quickly, and raise your rate as they accumulate. On TutorBoost the commission is 20% on the free plan and 10% on Pro, neither of which has to be earned over hundreds of hours.
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