Does TEFL certification give me ESL certification in the USA

[blakenovotny]

Does TEFL certification give me ESL certification in the United States. My wife and I are currently certified teachers and working in illinois. If we are trained abroad and get TEFl certification does that get us ESL vertification in the United States? Please help...

[Mary]

Certification in the USA varies from state to state and it is best to check with the state that you are going to be living in. Our certification, the SIT TESOL Certificate, does not give you certification to teach in the USA, and I don't think others do either. We all use the term "certificate" but it means different things in different contexts!
Mary