  
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 NCFE. 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.
NCFE - Investing in Quality
About NCFE
NCFE is a national awarding organisation. Awarding organisations design and award qualifications which recognise the skills, knowledge and understanding achieved by a learner at a particular level and in a particular subject.
NCFE offer over 400 qualifications at different levels and in a wide range of subject areas. NCFE also offer a growing portfolio of NVQs, as well as Basic and Functional Skills qualifications.
NCFE have produced a variety of support materials to help plan and deliver our products and services, the majority of which are available free to download from our website.
NCFE is passionate about providing exceptional customer service and exceeding your expectations. NCFE think their approach to customer service makes them different – easy to do business with, flexible and responsive.
NCFE are a registered educational charity and a company limited by guarantee. Their charitable aim is 'to promote and advance the education and training of young persons and adults'.
NCFE is recognised as an awarding organisation by the qualification regulators ('regulators') for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The regulators are the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator (Ofqual) in England, the Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (DCELLS) in Wales and the Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) in Northern Ireland.
What does 'NCFE' stand for?
In 1981, the Northern Advisory Council for Further Education (NACFE), which was established in 1947 to co-ordinate further education provision throughout the nine LEAs, merged with the NCTEC to become the Northern Council for Further Education.
When the further education sector was incorporated (made independent of the government) in the early 1990s the company felt the old name was incompatible with our new national focus and has since then been identified simply as NCFE with the letters no longer being an acronym.
Open and Distance Learning Quality Council (ODLQC)
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.
Accreditation is awarded only after a rigorous assessment, by independent experts, of the educational service offered by a provider, to ensure that it meets the Standards set by the Council. Accredited colleges are re-assessed annually.
Established in 1969 by a joint government/private sector initiative, ODLQC is the national body which assesses quality in open and distance learning in the UK. Its role is to recognise quality of service
through its accreditation scheme, and to protect the interests of the learner.
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.
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