How to acquire a Teacher's License from the Teachers Council of Thailand (TCT)?

Here we delve into the Five-Year Thai Teacher's License, the temporary teacher's License/Waiver, formal and non-formal schools, and the Teachers Council of Thailand (TCT).

What is the TCT?

The TCT is an acronym for The Teachers Council of Thailand. They were established in 1999 as a component of the National Education Act of 1999, which enclosed creating the Teachers Council of Thailand (TCT).

What are TCT Responsibilities?

The TCT is accountable for establishing professional standards, disseminating and withdrawing licenses, supervising the maintenance of professional standards and ethics, and evolving the profession of teachers and educational administrators. 

The TCT summarized the requirements to be licensed in Thailand as part of the licensing process. The most important of these was the educational prerequisite which we shall delve into later.

What is the TCT's Role within the Government?

The TCT incorporates highly qualified individuals who work in the field of education, and they can guide the Government but cannot form legislation. Government officials in the department of education manage it.

This relationship between the two parties means when a newly elected government gains power with a new Minister of Education, the Ministry and the TCT can sometimes clash over ideology and policy.

Is the TCT License Mandatory to Teach in Thailand?

Does a teacher need clearance from the TCT to teach in Thailand? The answer is yes and no, as it depends on the school category, which we will discuss later. 

The Government of Thailand understands the need for well-qualified EFL/ESL teachers, and we can all comprehend the need to guarantee that foreign teachers in Thailand meet the standards of the TCT.

Political Importance of the TCT License Requirement:

The political need for this is crucial as it's easy to understand the resentment of a fresh Thai graduate teacher, only to see a freshly graduated foreign Teacher earning 3 times the amount per month.

Thai teachers must meet much higher standards than foreign teachers and continuously show their personal development every five years when renewing their Full Teachers License. 

A Foreign Teacher without a degree in education does not need a Full five-year TCT License immediately.

Thailand acknowledges the need to enhance its citizens' English language ability, so the TCT instituted the temporary teaching license, also defined as a 'waiver' from the TCT's complete five-year license requirements. 

Components of how to get one are provided below, and what comprises a formal and non-formal school.

Formal and Non-formal Schools in Thailand:

• Formal schools can approximately be characterized as schools where students are positioned in classes along with other students of the same age and pursue the Thai curriculum stipulated by the Ministry of Education (MOE). 

• Formal schools include Public or private institutions.

• Non-formal schools can be depicted as teaching a curriculum with supervision from the Ministry of Education (MOE). 

• Non-formal schools are typically language institutes or language centers, massage training centers, hairdressing schools, or even cooking schools.

• Non-formal schools are excused from the TCT's requirements, which means a foreign teacher teaching English in a language school is exempt from all The Teachers Council of Thailand (TCT) requirements.

• To recapitulate, if a teacher teaches at a formal school in Thailand, they must meet the TCT's provisions concerning the teacher license.

Temporary Teaching License in Thailand:

A temporary teaching license is something that the school or, if working for Kids English Thailand, the KET team will process. This is because much of the documentation is in the Thai language, and it is a complex process. 

• The temporary teacher's license is a waiver of the entire five-year teacher's license provisions. 

• It is issued for two years and allows the teacher time to meet the provisions to be granted a full five-year teacher's license.

• The Teachers Council of Thailand will issue only three temporary teacher licenses, which provide a teacher six years to meet the provisions outlined by The Teachers Council of Thailand (TCT).

Five-Year Teaching License Requirements For Foreign Teachers:

The following criteria are listed on The Teachers Council of Thailand (TCT) website. 

• At least 20 years of age

• Own a bachelor's degree in education or its equivalent from a recognized university or institute.

• Own a bachelor's degree in any other specialization plus a teaching license from another country.

• Posses a bachelor's degree in any other discipline and a one-year graduate diploma specializing in teaching or education.

• Posses a bachelor's degree in any other discipline and holds other professional credentials following the professional criteria of the Teachers' Council of Thailand (TCT).

• At least one year of documented and referenced teaching experience.

• In possession of a Thai work permit

• Must have the correct visa from the Immigration Bureau of Thailand.

Forbidden Attributes According to the Teachers' Council of Thailand (TCT):

Also, the Teachers' Council of Thailand (TCT) has a list of forbidden attributes according to the Educational Personnel Council Act B.E. 2003; see below:

• Acting in an immoral manner or displaying improper behavioral traits.

• If you are an unqualified or inexperienced person.

• A person with prior criminal convictions that led to imprisonment.

Approved Universities and Institutions:

The Teachers Council of Thailand (TCT) has a list of universities and institutions they recognize as accredited and will only accept bachelor's degrees from the approved list of institutions. 

One-Year Graduate Diploma Specializing in Teaching or Education:

If you are already teaching in Thailand, some universities in the Philippines and the U.K. provide a one-year graduate diploma specializing in teaching or education. A teacher should not regard personal development and extra qualifications as a hindrance. Instead, it should be considered a chance to cultivate relevant and fresh skills for further professional development.

Moving Schools in Thailand:

Finally, when a temporary teacher's license is issued, it lasts two years and is only for the school it was issued for. 

If you move schools, a new temporary teacher's license is required. As mentioned above, The Teachers Council of Thailand (TCT) will only issue three temporary teacher's licenses/waivers. 

Three waivers provide a teacher six years to meet The Teachers Council of Thailand (TCT) requirements for a full five-year license. 

However, by moving schools, this period will be reduced and is something people who want to work in Thailand long-term should consider.

Thai Teacher’s License/ Waiver Bilingual-English & Thai:

The temporary teacher's license/waiver used to be in Thai and used to have a photograph of the teacher. 

However, in 2019 the Teachers Council of Thailand changed the format, removed the photograph, and made the license bilingual (English and Thai, see below.) 

A Thai Temporary Teacher's License | Thai Temporary Teacher's License Waiver

Teacher's License FAQS:

Who's Responsible for Applying for a Teacher's License in Thailand?

A temporary teaching license or even a full five-year license is something that the school or, if working for Kids English Thailand, the KET will process on your behalf.

When Can a Teacher's License Be Applied For?

A temporary teacher's license or a full five-year license needs to be applied for as soon as you have the correct visa and before the Thai Work Permit is applied for, as the Ministry requires the license of labor.

Relevant: 

1. Go to kidsenglishthailand.org/blog/thai-work-permit to understand the requirements and process of applying for a Thai Work Permit.
   

2. Go to kidsenglishthailand.org/blog/understanding-thai-visa-categories-employment-document-process to understand Thai Visa categories and the employment document process for teaching in Thailand.

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