The importance of an Accredited TESOL/TEFL Qualification

Accreditation is recognition from an external validating body that an organisation and/or Certificate Course meets a particular standard.

Most people are familiar with Trinity College and UCLES/RSA/Cambridge, which are both validating bodies for 150-hour residential TEFL courses.

The examining body responsible for validating INTESOL distance learning courses is Ascentis. This validating body is authorised to provide professional qualifications to teachers in the UK and abroad.

Quality Assurance

Knowing that the TESOL/TEFL qualification you seek to obtain is internationally recognised, and the course leading to that qualification is formally accredited by an external validating body, is important. Before deciding on a course it is essential that you check that the course provider can satisfy you with answers to the following questions:

Is the provider independently accredited and inspected?
Can potential employers check directly with the independent authority responsible for accreditation?
Is a contact address, name, telephone and fax number provided?
Does the advertising and promotional material give a clear and truthful account of the course offered, especially regarding level?
Is a course syllabus available?
Is tutor support of high quality and consistent throughout the provision and do all the tutors have appropriate qualifications and experience?
Is the prospective learner made aware, prior to enrolment, of all terms and conditions of the course?
Can prospective learners talk to a responsible person at the provider institution and ask any questions they wish?
Is there adequate course documentation, describing the goals, scope, nature and procedures of the course to enable participants to make informed decisions about enrolment?
Is assessment linked to accreditation by nationally recognised bodies?

At INTESOL we are proud to:

Provide courses which are submitted for external accreditation
Use external moderators to assure: academic quality of materials; fair assessment and marking procedures; maintenance of the highest professional standards in both face to face and distance training
Tell you as honest members of the profession that TESOL and TEFL mean the same thing and are used interchangeably
Offer supervised teaching practice to our trainees
Provide access to positions overseas through our placement scheme
Guarantee that we will not misinform you even if that leads you to apply for a course elsewhere

Invest your money wisely and choose a course that is properly validated or accredited. Any course that is not accredited is not a good investment of your time, energy and money.

Ascentis Accreditation

As the leading provider of quality TEFL/TESOL courses across the world INTESOL is proud to be accredited by Ascentis (formerly OCNW) to bring you, the student, qualifications which have been accredited as being at NQF Levels 4 and 5 by Ascentis National Awarding Body.

The Awarding Body for your TESOL qualification is of paramount importance, consider it carefully.

Ascentis is a unique organisation, enjoying the status of a National Awarding Body (NAB), approved by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) and an Authorised Validating Agency (AVA), licensed by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA).

What does this mean to you, the student?

It means your training is of the highest quality.

It means your course has been accredited as being at an NQF level, a requirement often asked for by potential employers worldwide.

It means your course work is externally moderated as all courses should be!

It means you will receive 2 certificates, one from INTESOL and one from Ascentis with no extra expense to you.

It means that you will receive a Course Transcript with your qualification.

It means that employers worldwide will know that your course is of a high academic standard:

Certificate in TESOL - Level 4

Certificate in TESOL PLUS - Level 4

Diploma in TESOL - Level 5

Background to Ascentis

Ascentis (formerly OCNW) was established in 1975 as a partnership scheme between universities and colleges of further education. It was the very first 'Open College' and its initial aim was to provide innovative Access to Higher Education Qualifications for adult learners. Over the past thirty years the membership has increased significantly and the portfolio of qualifications has expanded to include a wide range of curriculum areas.

Throughout this period, Ascentis has maintained its independence in order to ensure that it can continue to respond promptly to the requirements of its customers and provide a consistently high standard of service.

Ascentis is distinctive in that it is both:

A) a National Awarding Body, approved by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA)

and

B) an Authorised Validating Agency for 'Access to Higher Education' Programmes, licensed by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA)

Ascentis is an unincorporated association of its members institutions and is governed by a Board, supported by three committees:

Quality Standards
Finance and General Purposes
Access Co-ordinators

Ascentis is managed by a Chief Executive, a Deputy Chief Executive and managers responsible for - Qualification Development and Marketing, Operations, Finance and Systems and Secretariat Services.

Lancaster University functions as the employer of the Ascentis staff and provides a range of services, including personnel, financial accounting and information and communications technology.

Membership at HE level consists of :- Lancaster University, the University of Liverpool, the University of Central Lancashire, Edge Hill University, St Martin's College and Northumbria University. They supply both educational expertise and academic validation.

For further information on Ascentis please email ocnw@lancaster.ac.uk or visit the website at www.ocnw.com

Open and Distance Learning Quality Council (ODLQC)

INTESOL WORLDWIDE is an ODLQC Accredited Course Provider working to a strict Code of Practice.

The Open and Distance Learning Quality Council was set up by the UK Government in 1968 to enhance quality in education and training. It aims to protect the interests of learners by operating a voluntary registration scheme for providers of home study, distance learning, online and other open learning courses.

INTESOL WORLDWIDE has passed stringent evaluation to achieve Provider Accreditation Status from the ODLQC. This means INTESOL WORLDWIDE is recognised as a quality provider of training courses which are monitored by an independent, external awarding body.

As an INTESOL trainee, you have the right to contact the ODLQC if you are dissatisfied with the academic quality or content of our courses.

The ODLQC Guarantee

INTESOL is accredited by ODLQC, the national body for quality in open and distance learning.

This means that INTESOL has achieved the standards set by the Council, who are satisfied

that the service you, the learner, receive from INTESOL will be of good quality.

If it is not, or you cannot resolve a dispute with INTESOL, please let us know at ODLQC. Write to: Learner Support, ODLQC, 16 Park Crescent, London W1B 1AH and we will look into your case.

The ODLQC Code of Practice

To maintain the quality of service to our students, in terms of learning materials, tutorial and administrative support, to at least the standards being achieved at the time when accreditation was granted;
To ensure that any requirements stipulated by Council as a result of the accreditation process are met as soon as practicable and the actions taken are reported to Council;
To observe at all times the standards required by Council;
To take all possible steps to enhance the quality of service to our students;
To ensure that any major changes affecting the services offered to our open and/or distance learning students are formally brought to the attention of the Council's Secretary without delay;
To take prompt action when dealing with student complaints;
To act in partnership with the Council in promoting good practice in open and distance learning;
To submit an annual report as required by Council.