TEFL Jobs in Israel
Make a positive impact and see the world with our exciting TEFL jobs.
Teach English in Israel and experience a country of holy locations and unique attractions. There are a plethora of welcoming, lively cities, stunning Mediterranean beaches, and breathtaking natural wonders. With such diversity for its small size, Israel is truly a world-beating destination. Enjoy seaside cities, forested mountains, ski resorts, deserts, the lowest point on the planet, the holiest city of Jerusalem, and one of the best cities for architecture, Tel Aviv. Take a look at our exciting teaching jobs in Israel today.
A supported first year in the classroom, if you're eligible
Israel has a standing shortage of English teachers, a working language that is already half English, and a fully supported fellowship that puts graduates with no experience into state schools with housing, a stipend and Hebrew lessons thrown in. What it doesn't have is an open door: the visa rules make Israel a different market from Asia or Europe, and which route is open to you depends on your heritage as much as your CV. Read the eligibility section before you get attached to the beaches.
- Tel Aviv
- Jerusalem
- Haifa
- Beer Sheva
- Netanya
- Akko
What you need to teach English in Israel
The qualifications are ordinary. The eligibility is not. There are three routes into an Israeli classroom, and the first thing to work out is which one applies to you.
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A TEFL certificate
Expected on every Masa Israel Teaching Fellows application and by every reputable language school, and the qualification that gets a graduate without a teaching licence into a classroom. Most Israeli jobs are with children aged 6–18 in state schools, so a course that covers young learners matters.
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A bachelor's degree, in any subject
Required for the fellowship, for a B/1 work visa and by the Ministry of Education. Language schools occasionally take experienced teachers without one if they already have the right to work, but a degree plus a regulated TEFL is what employers expect.
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One of three routes to legal work
The Masa Israel Teaching Fellows programme sponsors a visa for its own fellows, and is the realistic route for a first-timer who has never lived in Israel. Aliyah under the Law of Return gives anyone with a Jewish grandparent citizenship and an immediate right to work. A B/1 work visa is the route for everyone else and must be employer-sponsored, which in practice means international schools, a few large language-school chains and universities.
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Fellowship eligibility, if that's your route
MITF applicants must be aged 22–35, hold a degree and identify as Jewish, culturally or religiously, because Masa is funded to bring young diaspora Jews to Israel. No teaching experience is needed. If you don't meet that description and have no Jewish heritage, the honest path is to gain a year's experience elsewhere, then approach international schools and business-English providers in Tel Aviv.
You cannot legally work on a B/2 tourist visa, and schools that suggest it should be avoided. Visa sponsors and the Ministry will ask for legalised copies of your degree and certificate; see our guide on how to legalise your TEFL certificate.
Which TEFL course should you take for Israel?
Israel is one of the markets where the regulated certificate earns its price. A fellowship year is a start, not a destination: fellows who stay on, make aliyah and move into Ministry of Education posts, international schools or Tel Aviv's business-English market are the ones who need a qualification that holds up in front of a licensing office.
120hr Professional TEFL
£99
The certificate the fellowship application asks for, at the lowest price. Fine if your plan is one year in Israel and nothing after it; thinner than the schools would like if you intend to stay.
- Meets MITF and language-school requirements
- Finish in 2–4 weeks
- Lifetime access to materials
170hr Combined TEFL
£279
Includes 20 hours of assessed practice with real ESL learners. Fellowship work is small-group teaching alongside Israeli staff; this is the one that means you've already stood in front of learners before you arrive.
- Confidence for small-group school work
- Answers the "no experience" objection
- Free lesson plan bundle included
168hr Level 5 TEFL
£269
Ofqual-regulated and awarded by TQUK, sitting at the same framework level as a CELTA. Recognised by the Ministry of Education as a higher qualification than a 120-hour certificate, it can be legalised by the FCDO for a work visa or licensing application and is what gets your CV to the top of an international school's pile.
- Regulated, not just accredited
- Holds up for Ministry and visa applications
- Travels with you to any market
Tel Aviv and Herzliya are home to the R&D centres of Google, Microsoft, Intel and hundreds of start-ups whose engineers need English for investors and customers. Add the 70hr Business English course to either qualification to open up that market, the best-paid in the country. Or compare every package side by side.
What to expect teaching English in Israel
Pay and package
Israel is expensive by Middle East standards, which is why the fellowship package, with rent and bills covered, is such a strong deal for a first year.
- MITF fellowship: monthly living stipend, with rent, bills, health insurance and transport covered; $1,200 programme fee
- Ministry of Education state schools: ILS 9,000–14,000 a month (£1,950–£3,050), rising with a licence
- Language schools: ILS 70–120 an hour, or ILS 8,000–13,000 a month full-time
- Business English and hi-tech training: ILS 150–300 an hour, freelance
- International schools: ILS 15,000–25,000+ for licensed teachers, sometimes with housing
- Private tutoring for bagrut and psychometric exams tops up almost every teacher's income
Where you might teach
The fellowship is the door most people walk through. The others exist, but they want the right to work and, usually, experience.
- MITF placements in state schools across twelve cities in Israel's periphery, co-teaching in small groups
- Ministry of Education posts, open to olim, citizens and permanent residents
- Private language schools in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa and Herzliya — evenings and weekends
- Corporate and hi-tech training in Tel Aviv and Herzliya Pituach
- International schools and university academic-English programmes — licence and experience expected
Getting hired
The school year runs from 1 September to the end of June, and the fellowship recruits a full year ahead of it.
- MITF runs late August to early July; apply by spring for your preferred city
- Online interview, then a city-preference process across the twelve placements
- Language schools recruit in September and January
- International schools recruit January to April for August starts
- Legalised degree and certificate, criminal record check and, for MITF, Masa eligibility documents
| City | Climate | What it's like | Job market |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tel Aviv | Mediterranean, humid summers, mild winters | Beaches, start-ups, nightlife and the best food in the country; expensive | Language schools, business English, international schools; few fellowship places |
| Jerusalem | Hill climate, cool winters, occasional snow | The Old City, a quieter pace, a mix of secular, religious and Arab neighbourhoods | Fellowship placements, Ministry schools, international schools |
| Haifa | Coastal, milder than Tel Aviv | Hillside port city, mixed Jewish and Arab population, the Baha'i Gardens | Fellowship placements and language schools; 20–40% cheaper than Tel Aviv |
| Beer Sheva | Desert, hot and dry | Gateway to the Negev, a big university and the cheapest rents of the large cities | One of the largest fellowship cohorts; strong demand in state schools |
| Netanya and Rishon LeZion | Coastal | Commuter cities on the coast, large immigrant communities, a short train from Tel Aviv | Fellowship placements; Tel Aviv's market within reach |
| Akko, Nazareth and the Galilee | Warm, greener than the south | Historic towns, Arab and Jewish communities side by side, the Sea of Galilee nearby | Fellowship placements where the need for English is greatest |
Teaching in Israel: your questions answered
Do I have to be Jewish to teach English in Israel?
Only for the Masa Israel Teaching Fellows programme and for aliyah, both of which are designed for people with Jewish heritage. Anyone can teach in Israel on a B/1 work visa sponsored by an employer, but sponsorship is mostly limited to international schools, large language-school chains and universities, and usually requires experience.
Can I teach in Israel without experience?
Yes, through the fellowship, which is built for first-time teachers: you need a degree, a TEFL certificate and fluent English, and you get training, weekly professional development and an experienced local team behind you. Language schools and international schools generally want at least a year of experience. See the Teach Israel – MITF listing.
How does the fellowship work?
Ten months from late August to early July in one of twelve cities, from Beer Sheva and Bat Yam to Haifa, Akko and Jerusalem, working alongside Israeli teachers to raise English levels in small groups. Rent, bills, health insurance and transport are covered, you receive a monthly stipend, Hebrew lessons and weekly professional development, and the programme fee is $1,200. Many fellows make aliyah at the end of the year and move into Ministry of Education posts.
How much do English teachers earn in Israel?
Fellows receive a stipend with living costs covered. Ministry teachers earn ILS 9,000–14,000 a month, language schools pay ILS 70–120 an hour, international schools ILS 15,000–25,000 or more, and business-English trainers charge ILS 150–300 an hour. A room in a shared Tel Aviv flat is ILS 3,500–5,000 a month; Jerusalem, Haifa and Beer Sheva are 20–40% cheaper. See our guide to how much you can earn as a TEFL teacher.
Do I need to speak Hebrew?
No. Lessons are taught in English, the fellowship provides Hebrew lessons, and most Israelis, particularly in Tel Aviv, speak good English. New immigrants get subsidised ulpan classes. Learning Hebrew makes staffrooms and daily life easier, but it is not a job requirement.
Is a Level 5 TEFL recognised in Israel?
Yes. The 168hr Level 5 is regulated by Ofqual and certified by TQUK, which places it on the UK's national qualifications framework. Israeli schools and the Ministry of Education treat it as a higher qualification than a standard 120-hour certificate, and it can be legalised by the FCDO for a work visa or licensing application.
Is it safe to teach in Israel?
Daily life in Tel Aviv, Haifa and Jerusalem is normal the vast majority of the time, with one of the lowest violent-crime rates in the OECD, but the security situation can change quickly. Fellows have 24-hour support from a local team and follow the programme's security guidance, and every teacher should check the FCDO's current travel advice for Israel before committing.
What is life like for teachers there?
Sunny, sociable and fast-moving. The working week runs Sunday to Thursday, so weekends start on Friday afternoon, and the beaches, the Galilee, the Negev, the Dead Sea and Eilat are all a short drive or bus ride away. The fellowship cohort and Masa's alumni network make it easy to build a social circle from the first week.
Not certified yet? Start there.
The fellowship and every school on this page expect a TEFL certificate at the application stage. Get qualified in a few weeks, then our team will help you apply for the next cohort and sort the paperwork.
