Applicants with at least one (1) year of full-time teaching experience may qualify for a higher starting salary level if they are able to provide sufficient proof of their teaching experience (PTE). Please refer to the information below to confirm what details must be included within these letters.

IMPORTANT NOTES

The final determination for starting salary level is made by the employing Office of Education/educational institute, not the EPIK Office.

  • Recommendation letters cannot be used as proof of teaching experience. PTEs should be prepared as separate letters that only contain details regarding the employment (matching the criteria below) and should not include any character reference.

Required Information for PTEs

Institution Details
Proof of teaching experience letters must be issued with the official letterhead of the school/institution(s), including their name, physical address, and contact information (including phone numbers and email addresses).
  • For letters from schools within Korea, the school's official stamp/seal will be accepted as a substitute for both the letterhead and the signature.
  • Experience in Korean public schools can be proven through an official Certificate of Employment (경력증명서) issued by the school's administrative office or by the Office of Education.
    • Experience from private institutions (schools, hagwons, etc.) must include all the other required information listed below.
  • All letters must be issued by the proper authority (e.g., principal, HR, administration, etc.)
Typed Issuance Date
  • Must be a full-length date (e.g., MM/DD/YYYY)
  • If issued mid-contract, teaching experience will only be recognized up until the issuance date
    • Letters can be issued mid-contract, but a final one must be issued at the end of contract for full experience to be recognized
Applicant's Legal Name
  • Must match name as it appears in passport or Residence Card (if currently teaching in Korea)
  • Nicknames/preferred names can be used after at least one instancce of full legal name
Details of Employment
  • Only full-time teaching employment will be recognized
    • Volunteer teaching, student teaching, teaching assistant experience, and/or substitute/supply teaching experiences are not recognized
  • Must include full-length start and end dates for employment period (e.g., MM/DD/YYYY—MM/DD/YYYY)
  • Must be at least one (1) full year or more of teaching experience
    • Multiple contracts that were under one year each cannot be combined
    • For teachers working in public schools where the typical school year is less than a calendar year, the letter must specifically state the total number of "academic years" completed for experience to be recognized in years
      • If "academic years" are not specified, experience will be calculated and recogized based on total number of calendar years within the listed start and end dates
    • For teachers working in private institutions (e.g., hagwons), employment period must be at least one full calendar year
  • Must also include the following details:
    • Number of teaching hours per week
    • All subjects taught during employment period
    • All grade levels/ages taught during employment period
      • University teaching experience will only be recognized if applicant taught English as a Foreign/Second Language to non-native speakers
      • Kindergarten teaching experience (ages 5—7) will only be recognized if applicant has valid teaching credentials for the age range
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