How to understand and verify a Trinity TESOL certificate

Trinity College London awards TESOL qualifications to teachers who successfully complete the relevant assessment requirements.

If you have received a Trinity TESOL certificate, you may want to understand the qualification it represents, its level or how to obtain further information about it.

Which Trinity TESOL qualification does my certificate represent?

Trinity offers five TESOL qualifications covering different stages of professional development.

RQF stands for Regulated Qualifications Framework. It describes the level of knowledge and skills associated with regulated qualifications in England.

For more information about qualification levels, visit the UK government's guide to qualification levels.

How can I understand the information on my certificate?

Trinity provides official guidance to help certificate holders understand their qualification certificates.

Understand your Trinity certificate

This resource includes an example of a Trinity qualification certificate.

For questions about the qualification you completed, you can also refer to the relevant qualification overview article.

What does the grade on my certificate mean?

Grades and assessment outcomes depend on the qualification.

For example, the DipTESOL qualification is awarded with one of two successful overall outcomes:

• Pass

• Pass with Distinction

DipTESOL unit-level results use a wider range of attainment bands, including Merit. These unit-level results should not be confused with the overall qualification award.

For information about assessment outcomes for another TESOL qualification, refer to its qualification guide or contact your course provider.

What is the difference between a DipTESOL unit certificate and the full qualification certificate?

Under the April 2026 DipTESOL specification, candidates receive a credential certificate of completion when they successfully complete an individual assessment unit.

Once all four units have been completed successfully, candidates receive the certificate for the full DipTESOL qualification.

An individual unit credential therefore represents successful completion of that unit, rather than the full diploma.

How can I verify a Trinity TESOL qualification?

If you need to confirm the authenticity of a Trinity TESOL qualification, refer to Trinity's official certificate information and contact Trinity for further guidance.

You can also contact your validated course provider if you need help identifying the qualification or understanding your results.

What if there is a problem with my certificate?

If you believe there is an error on your certificate, or you have not received it, contact your course provider for advice.

For CertOT, which follows a separate online registration and assessment process, refer to the guidance in Trinity Teach English Online and CertOT – Course and qualification guide.

If your certificate has been lost or damaged, see How to request a replacement Trinity TESOL certificate.