Taiwan’s TFETP Programme Guide 2026
The Taiwan Foreign English Teacher Program (TFETP) is the Ministry of Education’s government-backed placement programme — Taiwan’s equivalent of South Korea’s EPIK. Here’s the complete picture: salary, benefits, requirements, and what teaching on the programme is actually like.
What is the TFETP?
The Taiwan Foreign English Teacher Program (TFETP) — previously known as the FET (Foreign English Teachers) Programme — is administered by Taiwan’s Ministry of Education through the K-12 Education Administration (K12EA). The programme places qualified foreign English teachers and teaching assistants in government (public) elementary and junior high schools throughout Taiwan, working alongside local Taiwanese English teachers in a co-teaching model.
The TFETP has two distinct tracks based on experience and qualifications:
- Foreign English Teacher (FET): The full teaching role. Takes on primary classroom responsibility for English instruction; leads lessons; contributes to curriculum planning and student assessment. Salary: NT$62,720–78,045/month based on the official MoE pay scale, determined by degree level and teaching experience. 40-hour work week; 15–20 classroom hours.
- Foreign English Teaching Assistant (FETA): The supporting role. Works alongside a qualified local Taiwanese English teacher; assists with instruction, pronunciation modelling, and cultural input; fewer independent curriculum responsibilities. Salary: NT$45,000/month (stipend). Better suited to teachers new to Taiwan or those who prefer a more collaborative, supportive entry into the public school system.
TFETP placements occur throughout Taiwan — from central Taipei districts to rural townships in Hualien, coastal villages in Pingtung, and mountain communities. City placements are more competitive; teachers who indicate flexibility about placement location consistently receive better placement options.
TFETP vs EPIK (South Korea) vs JET (Japan): All three are government-backed public school teacher placement programmes. TFETP is closest to EPIK in structure: direct ministry placement, competitive selection, formal pay scale, co-teaching model. JET is more institutionalised with a longer track record and higher visibility. EPIK is the largest in scale. TFETP is growing; the programme has expanded placements and improved benefits significantly in recent cycles. All three are excellent government programme choices — the choice largely comes down to which country and culture you specifically want to live in.
TFETP salary and benefits
The TFETP pay scale is set by the Ministry of Education and is transparent and consistent across all placements. Your salary is determined at the time of placement based on your highest degree and years of teaching experience — the same pay scale applies whether you’re placed in central Taipei or a rural elementary school in Hualien County.
TFETP full package breakdown (FET track)
Taiwan’s National Health Insurance (NHI): One of the best healthcare systems in Asia — universal, comprehensive, affordable (small co-pays), and including dental and mental health coverage. Once you have your ARC, you enrol in NHI. TFETP includes NHI as a programme benefit. Teacher testimony consistently describes Taiwan’s healthcare as dramatically cheaper and more accessible than equivalent coverage in the USA or Australia. This benefit adds real value to the total package.
Ready to teach English abroad?
Browse TEFL Heaven’s full range of teacher placement programs — from Southeast Asia to Europe and Latin America.
TFETP requirements
| Requirement | FETA track | FET track |
|---|---|---|
| Degree | Bachelor’s required | Bachelor’s required |
| Teaching qualification | TEFL 120hr or equivalent | TEFL + formal teaching licence preferred |
| Nationality | From official English-speaking countries | From official English-speaking countries |
| Teaching experience | Not strictly required | 1–2+ years preferred; affects pay scale |
| Criminal background | Required (apostilled) | Required (apostilled) |
| Medical check | Required on arrival | Required on arrival |
The official TFETP eligibility requirements are published on the K12EA website (tfetp.k12ea.gov.tw). Verify current requirements directly with the programme — these can change between cycles.
How to apply for the TFETP
Check the official TFETP website and timeline
Visit tfetp.k12ea.gov.tw (official K12EA website) for the current recruitment cycle. Application for August starts typically opens January–March; for February starts, September–November. Download the current application form and requirements. Check eligibility criteria — the official language requirement states that the official or common language of your passport country must be English, or the country must be endorsed by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Prepare your documents
Degree certificate (authenticated/apostilled) · Teaching certificate or TEFL/TESOL certificate · Criminal background check (from home country; apostilled) · Passport copy · Teaching licence if you have one (affects pay scale) · Reference letters · Resume/CV with teaching history. Document authentication takes 4–6 weeks — begin this as soon as you decide to apply, not after submission.
Submit online application; await shortlisting
Applications are submitted through the TFETP online portal. Shortlisted candidates are invited for video interviews conducted by local education authorities (LEAs). The interview assesses teaching philosophy, classroom experience, and adaptability. Indicate your city preferences and willingness to accept rural or less competitive placements — flexibility increases placement success.
Receive placement; complete ARC process
Successful applicants receive a placement notification with school details and contact information. The school and local education authority then initiate the ARC work permit process (see visa guide). Arrive in Taiwan, complete the health check at an approved hospital, receive your ARC, and begin teaching. Most TFETP placements include a school orientation week before regular teaching begins.
Apply through TECO or use a placement intermediary
For US teachers: the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in New York coordinates some TFETP recruitment directly. For international applicants: some licensed placement agencies (RVF International is one established option) facilitate TFETP applications. Using an agency provides guidance through the process — legitimate agencies do not charge teachers fees. The direct K12EA website application is also available for organised self-applicants.
What teaching on the TFETP is actually like
TFETP teachers co-teach with a Taiwanese English teacher — a collaborative model that has both significant advantages and occasional challenges. The advantage: you enter a classroom where a local teacher handles administration, discipline protocols, parent communication, and curriculum administration. You focus on what you’re specifically there for: bringing native-level English, authentic cultural input, and creative teaching approaches. Most TFETP teachers describe the co-teaching relationship as positive — particularly once mutual trust and complementary strengths are established.
The school environment is genuinely Taiwanese — schools are public government institutions with Taiwanese administrative culture, and understanding that context matters. The schedule is Monday–Friday daytime (approximately 8am–4:30pm), with evenings and weekends entirely free. This schedule is one of TFETP’s consistent lifestyle advantages over buxibans’ evening/weekend demands.
Placements vary dramatically. A placement in central Taipei’s Da’an District is a very different experience from a placement in a rural mountain township in Hualien County — both genuinely rewarding, but very different in terms of daily life, community integration, and the depth of Taiwanese cultural immersion. Teachers who indicate willingness to go rural frequently describe those placements as the most transformative experiences of their Taiwan posting.
TFETP FAQ
Can I choose my TFETP placement city?
You can indicate preferences; the programme cannot guarantee specific placements. Popular cities (Taipei districts, central Taichung, Kaohsiung urban areas) are oversubscribed in most cycles — teachers requesting these exclusively face higher competition. Teachers who indicate genuine flexibility — including smaller cities, rural areas, and less-requested districts — consistently report better placement outcomes and often describe their unexpected placements as the best aspect of their TFETP experience. Taiwan is compact and well-connected; even a “remote” placement is typically a 2–3 hour train ride from Taipei. Rural Taiwan has extraordinary landscapes, tight-knit communities, and a depth of cultural experience unavailable in the cities.
Can I renew my TFETP contract for a second year?
Yes — TFETP contracts are annual and renewable subject to satisfactory performance. Many teachers do 2–3 year postings. After 5 years of continuous legal residence, teachers become eligible to apply for Taiwan’s Alien Permanent Resident Certificate (APRC) — the equivalent of permanent residency, granting the right to live and work in Taiwan without a sponsored visa. Some long-term TFETP teachers who establish deep roots in Taiwan communities pursue this route.
Ready to teach English abroad?
Taiwan’s night markets, Taroko Gorge, bubble tea origin story, and one of Asia’s most welcoming TEFL markets. TEFL Heaven places teachers across Southeast Asia, Europe, and Latin America — browse our full program range to find your best fit.
TEFL Heaven · Placing teachers abroad since 2007 · 3,000+ teachers placed worldwide