5 Ways a U.S. Teaching License Expands Your Career Options in South Korea
Published: | by Hannah Sparling
Seul Lee had already checked one goal off her list: Become a teacher. Lee had wanted to be a teacher since she was a young child, so earning her initial English education license in South Korea was a dream come true.
Now she had another goal: Become a better teacher. For that, and to expand her opportunities in South Korea and around the world, Lee decided to earn her U.S. teaching license.
“I feel like it actually opened up a lot of opportunities for me, even right now,” she said. “Since I got the license, I feel more confident in myself, and I feel like I am a better teacher than I was before. I got my growth mindset because of this. I got my confidence as a teacher.”
5 Benefits of a U.S. Teaching License in South Korea
1. Expanded Job Opportunities
Teachers have plenty of options in South Korea: public schools and the government’s EPIK program (English Program in Korea), private schools (called Hagwons), and international schools. In some cases, you might be able to land a job with your bachelor’s degree and a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certificate. But for other roles, especially the higher-paying roles at international schools, a teaching license is a requirement.
International educator Zibusiso “Zee” Ngwenya said she got opportunities “like hotcakes” after earning her U.S. license through Moreland University.
“The Moreland program prepares you,” Ngwenya said. “It equips you [on] how to unpack the curriculum, how to meet the diversity in the classroom with classroom management…and also integrating technology in teaching, which is something that we are moving to as far as technology or AI is concerned. So, it’s a fully packed program.”
2. Increased Salary
South Korea is No. 6 on Go Overseas’ list of the highest paying countries for teaching English abroad. The catch? The top of that range is at international schools, and international schools typically require a teaching license.
- Public school teacher salary: $1,500 to $2,000 USD per month
- Hagwon teacher salary: $1,650 to $2,200 USD per month
- International school teacher salary: $1,700 to $2,500 USD per month
When you’re considering teaching salaries internationally, it’s also important to consider the different benefits schools may offer. In South Korea, which already has a lower cost of living than the U.S., your school may offer housing, airplane tickets to and from your home country, health insurance, paid summer and winter vacations, and/or a bonus for completing your contract.
3. Advanced Teaching Skills
Your U.S. license is more than a piece of paper. You’ll gain a new toolkit of skills and strategies that will make you a better teacher. In Moreland University’s online TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program, candidates are immersed in classroom management, lesson planning, differentiated learning, student assessments, and more. The final 12 weeks of the program are student teaching, where candidates put everything they’ve learned into practice, incorporating ongoing feedback from their instructors and peers.
4. More Leadership Opportunities
A U.S. teaching license sets you apart from other applicants and signals to hiring managers that you are highly qualified and deeply committed to the profession.
From there, like Moreland University alumna Miya Hourani, you could earn your master’s degree to open even more doors. The day after she submitted the final assignment for her Master’s in Educational Leadership, Hourani got a notice from her school that there was a job opening for an assistant principal. She thought it was a long shot, but she applied anyway, and she landed the job. Without Moreland and her master’s, it never would have happened, she said.
“I did a whole victory dance,” she said. “They just looked at me, and I’m like, ‘Just let me have my moment. Let me do my dance.'”
5. Globally Respected Credential
A U.S. teaching license travels with you. If you ever decide to leave South Korea and explore opportunities in another country, your teaching license ensures your resume remains highly competitive.
Next Steps: Earning Your U.S. Teaching License from South Korea
You could earn your U.S. teaching license in just 9 months with Moreland University. Our programs are accredited and 100% online, with rolling admissions and monthly start dates.
If you’re ready, you can apply for free here, and you’ll hear back within 2 business days.
If you have questions, here are a few options:
- Join an upcoming info session. These are small-group sessions where you’ll learn about Moreland’s online programs and ask questions during a Q/A. If you’re interested in earning your U.S. license, look for a “Teacher Certification Info Session.” If you’re already licensed and are interested in a master’s degree, look for a “Master’s Info Session.”
- Chat 1:1 with someone from Moreland. You can book a meeting at a time that’s convenient for you. We’d be happy to talk about your specific situation and walk you through your options.
- Download our Guide to U.S. Certification in South Korea. It will walk you through the steps and benefits of earning your U.S. license as an international educator in the Land of the Morning Calm.
