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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?

Oct 19, 2017
9 years ago
Gord *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
[Teacher Licence & Waiver]

Good afternoon

I have been asked by a prospective employer what visa I am on and if I have a teacher's licence and does my school provide a waiver for my teacher's licence.

I am currently on a Non B visa which I obtained in Savannakhet and I applied for an extension of stay, which was granted. I also hold a valid work permit.

I assume because I don't know what a teacher's licence is - I probably don't have one? Assuming it's different to a work permit?

I ask the question in this group because I have been given incorrect information previously elsewhere and so wanted to be certain of what I'm, talking about before I reply.

Many thanks in advance...
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The original poster is currently on a Non B visa with a valid work permit but is unsure if they have a teacher's licence or need one for their employment. They seek clarification, indicating a lack of knowledge regarding the teacher's licence and its difference from a work permit. Comments from others in the group provide a variety of insights about teaching requirements in Thailand, specifically around the need for a teacher's licence to teach in government schools and the usage of waivers when moving between schools.
Joe ***********
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.
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Sean *************
@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.
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Gord *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Oh that's maybe not a bad thing then unless I'm misunderstanding what's been said
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Sean *************
It means you haven't been issued one
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Gord *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks but no information came up for any of the options and tried both buttons (they were in Thai). Is that what you would expect?
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Gord *******
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James **************
but this is isaan
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Joe ***********
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.
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James **************
it may sound harsh or bad, but its the truth, I have a head of a English department with a masters degree in English, who can not speak any English,truth,
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James **************
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James **************
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.
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Johnsuma ******
@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.
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Dai **********
Parmentier Jean for teaching at the levels you complain about, yes. For communicating with native speakers it is transatable.
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Johnsuma ******
oooh NOO even for 1.000.000 monthly. lol

i never work in thailand.

Does my EN so bad ?
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Dai **********
Hope you aren't teaching English
@Parmentier *****
???
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Dai **********
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Dai **********
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.
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Dai **********
Yep , it caught me out once a few years ago, but was lucky and landed a job in a university, where it is not a requirement. I now have a new passport and it is not a problem for me anymore. Anyway, I am out of it now in Thailand and working for higher salaries at a lower cost of living in another country.
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Gord *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Some very interesting info which I was and I imagine quite a few others were ignorant of...
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Gord *******
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Gord *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
So even if you work in a bona fide school it doesn't necessarily mean that you have a teachers licence. So I assume that the vast majority of teachers in Thailand don't have one or need one - as many work in Govt/private schools and don't have education degrees. Is that correct?
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John **********
Others move after 4-6 years and others don't have the proper permission of stay or work without a work permit.
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John **********
That's correct. Foreign teachers who built up a new life in Thailand are studying for a Filipine Grad. Dip. In Education. Cost about 60k and takes 1 year of study. Those courses are (still) accredited by the TCT and will lead to the teacher license.
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John **********
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John **********
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.
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Lloyd ********
What institution are you/did you work at ? That is important to know before we can answer about licence waivers.
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Lloyd ********
Yes Steve
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Steve *******
@Ll***
. What about
@Gor***
s' extention of stay, would that become invalid if he left his job?
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Lloyd ********
Language school rules are different.
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Johnsuma ******
ah so that document do not allow to work in school or high school, maybe ok for private language school.
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Lloyd ********
A waiver is a 2 year dispensation of the requirement of a licence. But a waiver is only valid for 1 place of work, so move school after 1 month = 1 waiver used.
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Johnsuma ******
sorry to ask but what is exactly a "waiver" ? is it in this case an attestation in education or else ?
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Gord *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Lloyd *******
Thanks for your replies Lloyd that could be very awkward for me getting that info as they are not stupid and would suspect I'm thinking of leaving and they may cause me issues
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Gord *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Crikey - so if I moved jobs now then left a new job within a year - I'm knackered...
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Lloyd ********
"school status apparently" means nothing, find out if you have used a waiver.
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Lloyd ********
2 waivers is normal, but some get more
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Gord *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Lloyd *******
It now has school status apparently
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Gord *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Just out of interest - how many waivers do you get?
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Lloyd ********
No, it depends on the institute that you are working for, that is why I said you need to check with them
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Gord *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I wish it was simple lol or maybe it's me....
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Lloyd ********
You most certainly do not have a licence , but you may have used a waiver
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Gord *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
So basically once you get your first work permit that's a waiver used?
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Lloyd ********
Yes, but because you now have that, you may have used one of your waivers. You need to confirm with your current employer.
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Gord *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Judging by the requirements for a teaching licence, previously posted, I don't have one. I have an ordinary BA degree but don't possess a degree in education for example
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Gord *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I am sure I haven't because previously I was part of an 'education project' but now have a valid work permit and extension of stay
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Lloyd ********
(licence or waiver is needed, but the amount of waivers is limited)
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Lloyd ********
Not concerned about the new job, I am asking about the old one. Because you may or may not have used a waiver already.
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Gord *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Apologies I'm a little confused - are you saying that every teacher should have a teachers licence who works at a school?
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Gord *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Sorry the prospective job would be a high school...
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Lloyd ********
Well you need to check, because language schools don't require teachers to have a licence or waiver, but schools do.
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Gord *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
It was a language school but apparently now has school status I am told
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Gord *******
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Joe ***********
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

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Gord *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks for the replies. Yes the work permit is definitely only valid for my current school. From previous replies it would seem I clearly don't have a teacher's licence or waiver
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Robert *******
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.
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Robert *******
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