Teaching Nomad
Teaching Nomad is a bootstrapped teacher recruitment and certification company founded in 2011 that connects individual teachers with English-teaching roles at international and U.S. schools, offering TEFL certification, U.S. teaching license pathways, document authentication, visa processing, and placement services across 21+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersDenver, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Teaching Nomad does
Teaching Nomad is a privately held, bootstrapped teacher recruitment and certification company founded in March 2011 by Brett. Operating from Austin, Texas and Shanghai, China, the company serves two primary customer bases: (1) individual teachers (mostly U.S. bachelor's-degree holders) seeking English-teaching roles abroad or online, and (2) schools and educational institutions across 21+ countries needing qualified English teachers, including international schools, language centers, and U.S. substitute-teaching deployments via the HelloSubs sub-brand.
The company's product surface is organized as an end-to-end funnel: TEFL certification (120-hour self-paced online course at $249 plus in-class courses across 15+ international destinations), credentialing pathways (U.S. State Teaching License via the Moreland University partnership at $6,950–$14,000, and UK Qualified Teacher Status assessment-only program), a job placement layer (proprietary Job Board plus B2B recruitment services for international, online, and substitute roles), and supporting services including document authentication for five Gulf and Asian countries and a newly launched 2025 Visa Processing Service. Technology is a web-based platform combining a custom job board, a Teachable-hosted LMS, document authentication workflow tooling, and a mobile app presence. The HelloSubs platform is a separately branded self-serve U.S. substitute-teaching product.
Teaching Nomad earns revenue through a mix of one-time course fees ($249 TEFL, $6,950–$14,000 teaching-license programs with revenue-share through Moreland), per-transaction document authentication fees (with bundled discounts when paired with TEFL), and recruiter/placement transaction fees from schools. Marketing is heavily content-led: a 450+ article blog, SEO, organic social, email, and webinars. The company reports 4,000+ teachers placed since 2011, 96% and 94% ratings on Go Overseas (309 reviews) and Go Abroad (163 reviews), and a 2021 Teach Abroad Award.
Teaching Nomad firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Teaching Nomad
- Legal name
- Teaching Nomad
- Website
- https://teachingnomad.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Teaching Nomad is a bootstrapped teacher recruitment and certification company founded in 2011 that connects individual teachers with English-teaching roles at international and U.S. schools, offering TEFL certification, U.S. teaching license pathways, document authentication, visa processing, and placement services across 21+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Teaching Nomad industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Teacher Recruitment & Certification Services
- NAICS
- Language Schools (611630), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Teacher Training & Language Teaching Certifications (e.g., CELTA/DELTA) (EDAIAEAI)
Keywords
Where Teaching Nomad is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Denver
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Teaching Nomad business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- TEFL Certification Courses: Online and in-class TEFL certification courses sold directly to teachers. 120-hour self-paced online course priced at $249. In-class courses available across multiple international destinations. Revenue generated from one-time course fees with lifetime job placement support included.
- Teaching License Programs: Partnership with Moreland University offering U.S. teaching license and Master's in Education programs. License-only program costs $6,950; License plus M.Ed. costs $14,000. Revenue shared with partner institution.
- Document Authentication Services: Document authentication/legalization service for teachers working overseas. Handles TEFL certificates, degrees, criminal background checks, and other documents required for work permits and visas. Discount offered when bundled with TEFL course purchase.
- Teacher Recruitment Services: Recruitment services for schools seeking to hire qualified English teachers internationally or for substitute teaching positions. Schools pay for access to candidate pool and placement services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | 120-Hour Self-Paced Online TEFL Course - $249 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | U.S. Teaching License Program - $6,950 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | U.S. Teaching License + Master's in Education - $14,000 |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | QTS Assessment Only Program - Not publicly priced |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Teaching Nomad product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Teaching Nomad is a teacher recruitment and certification agency that connects individual teachers with schools seeking English teachers internationally, online, and in the U.S. Its core offerings include TEFL certification courses (120-hour online and in-class formats), U.S. teaching license and UK QTS programs, a job board enabling direct teacher-to-school applications, document authentication and visa processing services, and dedicated recruitment services for schools. Since 2011, the company has helped over 4,000 teachers secure positions across more than 20 countries.
Product overview
Teaching Nomad is a teacher recruitment and certification agency offering a unified platform of services for teachers seeking international and online teaching opportunities. The core offerings include: (1) TEFL certification programs—comprising a 120-hour self-paced online TEFL course and in-class TEFL courses across multiple international destinations; (2) teaching license programs including a U.S. State Teaching License (via Moreland University partnership) and UK Qualified Teacher Status (QTS); (3) job placement services including an online job board, international/online/substitute teacher recruitment for schools; (4) supporting services including document authentication, visa processing, and the HelloSubs substitute teaching platform. The company connects teachers directly with schools and provides lifetime job placement assistance.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- HelloSubs: Platform for substitute teaching recruitment in the U.S.
Products and services
- 120-Hour Online TEFL Course Self-paced online TEFL certification program with 8 modules, 20+ training videos, 15+ real classroom scenario videos, 10 theory chapters, and observed teaching practice. Priced at $249 with lifetime job placement assistance. Completed in 2 weeks to 6 months; certificate issued within 48 business hours.
- In-Class TEFL Courses Classroom-based 120-hour TEFL training offered across destinations including Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Myanmar, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Argentina, Costa Rica, Mexico, Brazil, Czech Republic, Spain, France, and New York. Some courses offer graduate-level credits toward a Master's in TESOL through the University of Northern Colorado partnership.
- U.S. State Teaching License Program 9-month online program in partnership with Moreland University that qualifies graduates to teach in the U.S. and at international schools abroad. License-only priced at $6,950; license plus Master of Education priced at $14,000. Open to new teachers.
- Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) Program
Quantifiable outcome
- 96% rating from Go Overseas (309 reviews)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Teaching Nomad
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Teaching Nomad technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Teaching Nomad partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Moreland UniversitycoreTeaching Nomad has partnered with Moreland University to offer U.S. teaching license programs that can be completed online while teachers work abroad. The partnership enables teachers to earn their U.S. teaching license remotely without returning to the U.S. Programs include license-only ($6,950) and license plus Master's in Education ($14,000).
- University of Northern ColoradocoreTeaching Nomad's in-class TEFL course in Shanghai is recognized by the University of Northern Colorado. The partnership ensures academic standards and international credibility for the TEFL certification. Some in-class courses also offer three graduate-level credits applicable toward a Master's in TESOL or similar degree.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Teaching Nomad competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- International TEFL Academy (ITA): One of the largest dedicated TEFL certification providers globally. Directly comparable to Teaching Nomad on the 120-hour online TEFL course product and on placement support to international schools.
- The TEFL Org: UK-based online TEFL course provider with placement assistance. Competes head-to-head on price, hours, and lifetime job support for candidates seeking to teach abroad.
- Premier TEFL: Online TEFL training provider with internationally recognized certifications and a job placement focus. Closely matches Teaching Nomad's online TEFL + placement bundle.
- CIQ TEFL (formerly The International TEFL Corp): High-volume, low-cost TEFL course provider with broad international presence. Direct competitor at the entry-level price point where Teaching Nomad's $249 course competes.
- Maximo Nivel: TEFL certification + study abroad + volunteer provider with in-class TEFL courses in Latin America. Strongly comparable product portfolio and destination footprint.
- Korvia Consulting: Recruitment firm specializing in placing native English teachers in South Korean public schools (EPIK program). Comparable on the international teacher recruitment side with Teaching Nomad's B2B service.
- Footprints Recruiting: Specialized recruiter placing teachers in China and other international schools. Directly comparable to Teaching Nomad's B2B school recruitment channel and the China-skewed candidate flow.
Broad incumbents
- Greenheart Travel / CIEE: Larger cultural-exchange and teach-abroad organizations with broader program portfolios. Adjacent to Teaching Nomad on the teaching-abroad placement experience but operates as a broader incumbent in international exchange.
- Santillana / Cambridge University Press (ELT division): Larger English Language Teaching (ELT) publishers and credentialing bodies that compete for the institutional buyer (schools and teacher-training programs). Broad incumbent in the same teacher-training and certification category.
Others
- GoOverseas: Marketplace and review platform that lists and rates teach-abroad and TEFL providers, including Teaching Nomad. Comparable as an ecosystem participant — drives traffic and credibility — rather than a direct service competitor.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Teaching Nomad social profiles
Digital presenceTeaching Nomad financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Teaching Nomad leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Teaching Nomad funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Teaching Nomad M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Teaching Nomad
What does Teaching Nomad do?
Teaching Nomad is a teacher recruitment and certification agency that connects individual teachers with schools seeking English teachers internationally, online, and in the U.S. Its core offerings include TEFL certification courses (120-hour online and in-class formats), U.S. teaching license and UK QTS programs, a job board enabling direct teacher-to-school applications, document authentication and visa processing services, and dedicated recruitment services for schools. Since 2011, the company has helped over 4,000 teachers secure positions across more than 20 countries.
Is Teaching Nomad a public or private company?
Teaching Nomad is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Teaching Nomad founded?
Teaching Nomad was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Teaching Nomad based?
Teaching Nomad is headquartered in Denver, United States, in the North America region.
How does Teaching Nomad make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. TEFL Certification Courses are the primary driver. The others are teaching License Programs, document Authentication Services and teacher Recruitment Services.
Who are Teaching Nomad's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are International TEFL Academy (ITA), The TEFL Org, Premier TEFL, CIQ TEFL (formerly The International TEFL Corp), Maximo Nivel, Korvia Consulting and Footprints Recruiting. Broad incumbents are Greenheart Travel / CIEE and Santillana / Cambridge University Press (ELT division). GoOverseas is listed as an others.
Does Teaching Nomad have an API?
No public API is recorded for Teaching Nomad.
What industry is Teaching Nomad in?
Teaching Nomad's product category is Teacher Recruitment & Certification Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAIAEAI, Teacher Training & Language Teaching Certifications (e.g., CELTA/DELTA). Its NAICS code is 611630 and its SIC code is 8200.