Teacher licence and permission to teach for foreign teachers
Anyone teaching in a Thai school, including international schools, needs either a teaching licence or permission from the Teachers' Council of Thailand to teach without one. The school applies. You supply the documents.
Who regulates teachers
The Teachers' Council of Thailand, known in Thai as Khurusapha and often shortened to KSP, sets professional standards for teachers in basic education. Its rules apply to foreign teachers in government schools, private Thai schools, bilingual schools and international schools. They do not apply to university lecturers.
Permission to teach without a licence
Most foreign teachers start with what is commonly called a waiver: permission to teach without a teaching licence. The school applies on your behalf through the Council's online system for schools.
The permission is granted for two years at a time. A teacher can hold it for a maximum of six consecutive years. After that, the Council expects the teacher to hold a full licence to continue teaching in Thailand.
To be eligible, a teacher generally needs to:
- be at least 20 years old
- hold at least a bachelor's degree
- hold a Non-B visa and a work permit for the school
The school will also need copies of your degree and transcripts, your passport and photographs. Some schools ask for documents to be verified or legalised before they submit.
Licences
A full Thai teaching licence is open to foreign teachers who meet the Council's standards. In practice that usually means a degree in education, or a degree plus a recognised teaching qualification, and a period of supervised teaching practice. Foreign teachers with a qualification from their home country may be able to have it assessed. Requirements for different qualifications are set out by the Council and change from time to time, so check its current rules or ask your school's HR team.
Some foreign teachers obtain a provisional licence, which the Council has used for teachers working towards full licensing. Ask your school whether this applies to you and what it costs.
Thai culture and ethics training
Teachers on the waiver route have traditionally been asked to complete a short Thai language and culture course or test as a condition of later renewals or licensing. The format has changed over time. Your school will know the current requirement.
Why the order matters
The work permit and the visa extension both depend on your teaching status. If a waiver is refused or not renewed in time, the school cannot keep you in a teaching role legally. Keep copies of your permission letters, note their expiry dates and remind your school in good time.
What to ask a new school
- Will you apply for my permission to teach, and who pays the fee?
- Which documents need to be legalised, and by when?
- How long does the Council's approval usually take for your school?
- If I stay beyond six years, will you support me through licensing?
Related: the Non-B visa and work permit.
Written by the Charlie House editorial team. Last checked October 2026. Thai rules change often. Check with the school, the immigration office or the agency concerned before you act on anything here.