Do free online courses count as CPD?

Yes, they can. Many employers and associations count a wide range of activities as CPD, including free courses and webinars. What matters is that the course is relevant, that you can show you completed it and ideally what you changed in your practice afterwards.

What is the difference between a certificate of attendance and an assessed qualification?

A certificate of attendance confirms you took part. An assessed qualification involves tasks, observed teaching or exams marked against criteria, and you can fail. Employers usually give more weight to assessed qualifications, especially for promotions or senior roles.

Is DELTA available online?

Cambridge English offers DELTA in modules, and some centres run parts of it online or in blended formats. Requirements, formats and fees vary by centre, so check directly with the centres you are considering.

How many hours of CPD should I do each year?

There is no universal number for language teachers. Some employers, associations or accreditation schemes set their own expectations. If none applies to you, set a realistic personal target and focus on quality and relevance.

Online CPD Courses for Language Teachers

Online CPD (continuing professional development) for language teachers covers a broad spectrum: free MOOCs and webinars, short paid courses from exam providers and training organisations, university certificates and full professional qualifications such as Cambridge DELTA delivered partly online. The key question is not whether a course is online, but what it proves at the end and whether it moves you towards a concrete career goal.

The main types of online CPD

Type	Typical format	What you get	Typical use
MOOCs	Self-paced or scheduled online courses on large platforms	Certificate of completion, sometimes optional paid upgrade	Exploring a new area at low cost
Association webinars and events	Live or recorded sessions	Attendance confirmation	Staying current, networking
Exam-provider courses	Courses for teachers preparing learners for specific exams	Certificate, sometimes assessed	Specialising in exam preparation
Short specialist courses	Several weeks with tasks and tutor feedback	Certificate, often assessed	Adding a specialism such as Business English or young learners
University certificates	Credit-bearing modules, often part-time	Academic credits	Formal progression, preparation for a master’s degree
Professional qualifications	Modules with assessed teaching and exams, e.g. DELTA	Recognised qualification	Senior roles, teacher training, academic management

Attendance vs assessment

This distinction matters more than the course title:

Certificate of attendance or completion: proves you took part. Useful for showing commitment.
Assessed certificate: includes tasks, projects or observed teaching marked against criteria. Carries more weight with employers.
Credit-bearing or regulated qualification: recognised in formal frameworks, often required for senior roles.

If a course claims to be “accredited”, ask by whom and what that means in practice. There is no single global authority for language teaching CPD, so look at the assessment and the reputation of the institution behind it.

Where to look

Exam providers. Cambridge English offers teaching qualifications (including CELTA, DELTA and the Teaching Knowledge Test) and resources for teachers. If you are thinking about the next step after an initial certificate, our guide to the CELTA course puts it in context.
Professional associations. Associations for language teachers regularly run webinars, online conferences and special interest group events, often included in membership.
Universities. Many universities offer online certificates or individual modules in TESOL, applied linguistics or teaching German as a foreign language.
MOOC platforms. Large course platforms host free or low-cost courses from universities and organisations, including some on language teaching.
For German teachers. The Goethe-Institut runs further training for teachers of German, including online formats; see our overview of qualifications for teaching German.

This page focuses on courses as a career step. If you are looking specifically for training in teaching methodology and classroom practice, our sister site didacticlang.eu covers that side in depth.

How to choose a course

Ask these questions before you enrol:

What is my goal? A new specialism, an examiner role, a promotion, a move abroad or simply staying current?
What does the course prove? Attendance, assessed work or a recognised qualification?
Who recognises it? Check job adverts in your target market for the qualifications they mention.
How much time does it need? Be realistic alongside a full teaching load.
What does it really cost? Include materials, exam fees and any time you cannot teach. Prices change; check the provider’s current page.
Is there feedback? Courses with tutor feedback or peer interaction usually have more impact than video-only formats.

Making CPD count

Courses only pay off if you use what you learn and can show it:

Keep a simple CPD log: date, course, hours, what you learned, what you changed.
Combine courses with practice: discuss what you are learning with a colleague. Peer mentoring is a good way to do this.
Use your network: your personal learning network can recommend courses and warn you about weak ones.
Update your CV and profiles when you complete something relevant.

CPD and the changing job market

As tools change what learners expect from teachers, CPD is one way to stay ahead. Courses on assessment, exam preparation, coaching or a specialist field tend to age better than courses focused on a single app. We look at that broader shift in how AI is changing language teaching jobs.

Continuing professional development does not have to be expensive or time-consuming, but it works best when it is deliberate. Pick one goal, one or two courses that serve it, and a way to put them into practice. More ideas are in our professional development section.