The short answer
Yes, you can start without teaching experience, but your options are narrower and the first months are about building a track record. Some platforms say on their own pages that no experience is needed (examples below). Many other companies in the directory list a degree, a TEFL/TESOL certificate or experience. In our directory, 238 of 383 companies are listed as open and don't mention experience in their saved qualifications, and 34 say no degree is required. Always confirm on the company's own site, because requirements change.
Platforms whose own pages say experience isn't required
| Platform | What its official page says | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Preply | "No specific certification or teaching experience is required!" (Preply teach page) | A marketplace: you set your rate. Preply keeps 100% of each trial lesson with a new student, then a 33% to 18% commission. |
| Cambly | "While helpful, no prior teaching certificate or experience is required to apply." (Cambly Help Center) | Cambly says you must be a native English speaker. Its tutor page also says it is "temporarily limiting the number of new tutors". |
| italki (Community Tutor) | "italki requires only Professional Teachers to upload their Teaching certificates." Community Tutors provide conversation practice. (italki application page) | You need native proficiency or C2 level. italki opens and closes languages weekly: English was closed for 26 October to 1 November 2026 (open languages list). |
| Engoo | Requirements listed: "At least 18 years old", "Proficient in English", headset and webcam, laptop or desktop, high-speed internet. Experience isn't listed. (Engoo teach page) | Engoo provides lesson plans. It doesn't publish a pay rate on that page. |
| NativeCamp | "To become our teacher you do not need a professional certificate or previous experience." (NativeCamp tutor page) | The same site's FAQ lists "Experienced English Teacher (Online / Offline)" as a requirement, so ask them before you rely on either statement. |
Step 1: Check what you can apply for
Before anything else, check three things on each company page: who they hire (some only hire native speakers or residents of certain countries), qualifications, and status (open or closed). Start with the no-degree list, and if English isn't your first language, the non-native speakers guide (196 companies in the directory are listed as hiring non-native speakers).
Step 2: Get your setup right
- A laptop or desktop computer. Several platforms say phones and tablets can't be used to apply or teach.
- A headset with a microphone and a webcam.
- A stable, fast internet connection. NativeCamp, for example, asks for at least 2 Mbps; most companies run their own test.
- A quiet, well-lit space with a tidy background.
Step 3: Decide whether you need a TEFL certificate
You don't need one for the platforms above, but many companies in the directory list TEFL, TESOL or CELTA, and a certificate gives you a structure for planning lessons. If you're unsure, start on a platform that doesn't require one, and take a course once you know you enjoy teaching. Check the companies that require TEFL to see what it would open up.
Step 4: Record a short, clear intro video
Almost every platform asks for an introduction video (Preply's asks for one of up to two minutes). Speak slowly and clearly, smile, say who you'd like to teach and how a first lesson with you works. Without experience, this video and your profile text are what students and reviewers judge you on.
Step 5: Apply to several, then build reviews
Apply to three to five companies that fit you, because hiring opens and closes and reviews take time. On marketplaces, a lower starting rate can help you get your first students (Preply's own page suggests this), and then you raise it as reviews come in. Keep notes on every student. After a few months you'll have the experience that other companies ask for.
Step 6: Don't do it alone
Ask teachers who already work at a company before you apply. In Online Teachers Club (free to join) you can ask questions, see the free job board and find teaching resources. Before applying anywhere, read the company's page on this list for pay, requirements and teacher votes.
Good places to start on this list:
- Preply review No specific certification or teaching experience required
- italki review TESOL
- Engoo review N/A
- NativeCamp review No degree required
- Cambly review No degree required, TESOL
Tools for online teachers
Once you have shortlisted a few companies, it helps to have one page that shows who you are as a teacher. You can create a free online teacher profile page on Teacher4.me and share it with students, parents, and schools alongside your company applications.
