What is the difference between a teacher's licence and a waiver in Thailand, and do I need one for my current Non B visa?

James - I don't know. I'm not a teacher. I had just read of this long list somewhere before and used my Googling skills to find this list.

@Gordon ****

, you can check if you have a 2 year temp license here...



Just type your passport number in, check the box "Teaching permit without the license" and search.

but this is isaan

95% of the Native English language teachers regardless of having a license or not are doing 100% better than any English language trained Thai Teacher... Over 4 years I have have made the acquaintance of five Thai English language school teachers -- ONE could speak decent English. The others could not hold a three word conversation ... and even those three words were barely understandable... It is a matter of job protection. The internal workings of the Government school systems aim very hard to retain every teaching job for Thai Nationals ... Understandable ... but it leads no where when learning English.

No,once you start with a new school you have to start all over again, if you have a 5 year teaching licence its fine because you can teach any where with out the hassle of getting a new teaching licence.your 2 year teaching licence is only contracted with the school you are currently at. but I have friends who have got there 3rd time 2year teaching licence, and I have also had friends who could only get two. This is Thailand, so I would get a year teaching license to teach anywhere, but its out of your own pocket, schools do not pay for that.

@Gordon ****

yes and its a big problem for the education as there are a large majority of foreigner that are working in the thai schools with no experience at all. its even damaging for students. the best prove can be seen everydays. try in dep. store to find someone that can speak EN ! All students from primary school are supposed to have learn the basic EN.

Any teacher working officially in a Govt't school MUST have one to get a WPermit, and every time you move school you use one life, as it were, on your temorary teacher waiver licence, so if you move 3 times to 3 different schools you're knackered if you want to move to a 4th school, and wont get the temporary licence a 4th time( thats how it usually works) but, if you stay in the same school you can get more than 3 issued.

A teacher license issued by The Teachers' Council of Thailand is required when teaching in OBEC schools (K12). If you don't have a teacher license you can apply for a temporary teaching permit aka provisional teaching permit aka waiver. Such a permit is tied to the employer you work for and is valid for 2 years. New employer means a new permit. You can get a maximum of 3 permits (latest rules). Immi and Labour want to see the license or permit when extending the visa or applying or renewing the work permit. These are the official rules.

What institution are you/did you work at ? That is important to know before we can answer about licence waivers.

Teaching License Requirements

1. Be at least 20 years of age

2. Hold a degree in Education or an equivalent or in other related fields accredited by the Teachers Council

of Thailand or

• Hold other degrees and a teaching license from abroad or

• Hold other,, degrees and a graduate diploma in Education with 1 year course of study

3. Completion of training course on Thai Language, Culture and Professional Ethics from a training

institution approved by the Teachers’ Council of Thailand

4. Not Possess any of the prohibited characteristics pursuant to section 44 of the Teachers and Educational

Personnel Council Act B.E. 2003

• Having improper behavior or immorality

• Being an incompetent or quasi-incompetent person

• Having been sentenced to imprisonment in any case, in the opinion of the Teachers Council of

Thailand, which may bring dishonor upon the profession.

5. Have experience in teaching with not less than 1 year

Required Documents

1. Completed Application form (KS.01)

2. A copy of all the used pages of the applicant’s passport, particularly the latest update current school

NON-B Visa

3. A copy of all pages of work permit

4. A copy of educational background or certificates-holding at least a bachelor’s degree in a field of

education / teaching or its equivalent (If the documents are in a foreign language besides English,

it must be translated into Thai. Translation must be certified by a competent translator and

notarized by notary organizations)

5. A copy of official transcripts (if any)

6. A copy of teaching license/certificate from abroad (if any)

7. Work experience verification (a letter from employer in Thailand or overseas with not less than 1

year, clearly identify the period of teaching)

8. A copy of certificate, having completed a training course on Thai Language, Culture and Professional

Ethics from a training institution approved by the Teachers’ Council of Thailand

9. A copy of certification of professional knowledge test-9 subject matters for teaching Profession (In

case of holding other degrees without a teaching license from abroad or a graduate diploma in

Education)

10. A copy of employment contract

11. Two 1-inch photos, wearing formal clothing and do not wear hat and sunglasses

12. Registration fee is 500 Baht

Note: Applicants must certify true copy of all documents

What and where you can perform your job is described in your Work Permit. It is limited to the working place and the job prescription.