5 Year Teaching License in Thailand: Thai Teacher's License | Teachers Council of Thailand (TCT) | Khurusapha — Teach English in Thailand with Kids English
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).
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 included creating the Teachers Council of Thailand (TCT).
The Educational Personnel Council Act plays a crucial role in regulating teaching standards and outlining specific prohibited attributes for teaching positions as mandated by the Teachers' Council of Thailand.
Overview of the Teacher’s Council of Thailand
The Teachers Council of Thailand (TCT) is a professional organization responsible for regulating the teaching profession in Thailand. Established in 1999 as part of the National Education Act, the TCT sets professional standards, handles license distribution and revocation, ensures the upkeep of professional standards and ethics, and works towards the development of the teaching profession and educational administration. The TCT is composed of highly qualified individuals from the education sector and provides guidance to the government, albeit without the power to shape legislation.
What are the TCT’s 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. Ensuring that only qualified teachers are licensed is crucial for maintaining these standards.
The TCT summarized all the documents and requirements for licensing 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. 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 that 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 Teacher’s License Mandatory?
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 in their home country, and we can all comprehend the need to guarantee that foreign teachers in Thailand meet the standards of the TCT. Teaching jobs in Thailand require adherence to professional requirements and licensure standards set by the Teachers' Council of Thailand, ensuring that not all available teaching jobs meet professional standards.
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 three 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 qualified teacher, whether Thai or foreign, must possess the necessary educational credentials and certifications to meet these standards.
A Foreign Teacher without a degree in education does not need a Full five-year TCT License immediately; a professional two-year waiver certificate will be granted instead.
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.
Below are the components of how to get one, as well as what comprises formal and non-formal schools in Thailand.
Types of Teaching License
There are several types of teaching licenses in Thailand, each catering to different qualifications and experience levels. The temporary teaching license is a two-year waiver of the full five-year teaching license conditions, allowing teachers time to meet the necessary requirements. The standard teaching license is a five-year license that requires a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university, a TEFL or TESOL certification, and a minimum of two years of teaching experience. For those with extensive experience, the permanent teaching license is a long-term option that requires a degree in education or a related field, as well as a minimum of five years of teaching experience.
Formal & Non-Formal Schools in Thailand?
Formal schools can be characterized as schools where students are positioned in classes 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 under the supervision of 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 Teacher’s License in Thailand
A temporary teacher's license is a provisional credential allowing individuals to teach in Thailand for two years, with options for renewal. The school or, if working for Kids English Thailand, the KET team will process this license. 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, which allows the teacher time to meet the requirements for being 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).
Teacher Education & Training
Teacher education and training are essential components of the teaching profession in Thailand. The TCT mandates that teachers complete a minimum of 420 hours of training, which includes courses in educational psychology, curriculum design, and teaching science. To maintain their teaching license, teachers must also complete at least 30 hours of professional development every five years. The TCT offers various training programs and workshops to help teachers enhance their teaching skills and stay updated on the latest educational trends.
Five-Year Teacher’s License Requirements
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.
Possesses a bachelor's degree in any other discipline and a one-year graduate diploma specializing in teaching or education.
Possesses 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 TCT
Also, the Teachers' Council of Thailand (TCT) has a list of forbidden attributes for teaching jobs 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 & Institutions
The TCT has a list of approved universities and institutions that offer teacher education programs designed to meet its standards and requirements. Graduates from these programs are eligible to apply for a teaching license in Thailand. Additionally, the TCT recognizes teacher education programs from other countries, provided they meet the TCT’s standards and requirements, ensuring that foreign teachers can also qualify for a Thai teaching license.
One Year Graduate Diploma Specialing in Thailand
If you already teach in Thailand, some universities in the Philippines and the U.K. provide a one-year postgraduate qualification or 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 given to.
If you move schools, you need a new temporary teacher's license. As mentioned, the Teachers' Council of Thailand (TCT) will only issue three temporary teachers’ 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, moving schools will reduce this period, and people who want to work in Thailand long-term should consider it.
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
Maintain a Teacher's License
To maintain a teaching license in Thailand, teachers are required to complete a minimum of 30 hours of professional development every five years. This can include attending workshops, conferences, and training programs, as well as completing online courses and modules. Teachers must also submit a portfolio of their teaching experience and professional development activities to the TCT for review. Additionally, teachers who wish to renew their teaching license must meet the TCT’s requirements for educational quality assurance, demonstrating a commitment to ongoing professional development and a willingness to adapt to changing educational trends and technologies.
Teacher’s License FAQ’s
Who is responsible for Applying for a License?
A temporary teaching license or even a full five-year license is something the school or, if working for Kids English Thailand, the KET will process on your behalf.
When can a License be Applied for?
A temporary teacher's license or a complete five-year, standard teaching license requirements needs to be applied for as soon as you have the correct visa and before the Thai Work Permit is used because the Ministry of Labor requires a Teacher's License before they can issue the work permit for a formal Thai school.
Related
Go to kidsenglishthailand.org/blog/laosvisaguide to read the guidelines for a visa run to Savannakhet, Laos.
Go to kidsenglishthailand.org/blog/savankhet-laos-thai-visa-application-form-guidelines to read the guidelines for completing the visa application form.
Go to kidsenglishthailand.org/blog//understanding-thai-visa-categories-employment-document-process to read about the various categories of Thai visas and information for teaching in Thailand.
Go to kidsenglishthailand.org/teacher-training-program-thailand to read about Meaningful Work and Travel Teaching Positions starting in May 2023 with teacher training in April 2023.
Go to kidsenglishthailand.org/blog/lantern-festival-loy-krathong-lamphun-thailand to read about Teacher Olga’s experience in Lamphun Province Thailand during Loy Krathong Festival 2022.
Go to kidsenglishthailand.org/blog/seasons-in-thailand-explained to read about the seasons and climate in Thailand.
Go to kidsenglishthailand.org/blog/the-thai-school-calendar to read about Thailand's school year and how it differs from most other countries.
Go to kidsenglishthailand.org/blog/loy-krathong-lantern-yipeng-2022 to read about Loy Krathong and Yi-Ping/Ye-Peng Festivals in Thailand.
Go to https://kidsenglishthailand.org/blog/the-complete-guide-to-the-thai-alphabet to read a detailed guide to Thai and Alphabet languages.
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