Is it possible to work in Japan as an English teacher with a TEFAL or TESOL certificate but no undergraduate degree?

The requirements may vary depending on the specific school, but in accordance with the guidelines established by the Association for the Promotion of Japanese Language Education (AFJ), to work as an English language instructor in Japan, either:

1. a university degree with at least 18 credits from a university or community college in areas of English language and literature, OR





2. a university degree with at least 18 credits in a content area or an associate degree plus 24 credits of a community college in English language and literature





3. a bachelor's degree in any subject from an accredited university that has an English major, minor or concentration, AND

In all cases, the above criteria should be combined with a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language), TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), or similar qualification that covers the theory, methodology, principles and practice of the English language training. If you do not meet either of these educational criteria, you may still be able to teach English in Japan if you have several years of experience as a language instructor. Some schools may consider teaching experience as an equivalent to a formal education in the above areas.

So although it is theoretically possible to work in Japan as an English teacher with a TEFL or TESOL certificate but no undergraduate degree, meeting at least one of the outlined education criteria will improve your chances of finding employment.