International Open Academy Reviews 

1,308
TrustScore 4.5 out of 5

4.3

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Considering 67 reviews, reviewers overwhelmingly had a great experience with this company. Customers consistently found the courses easy to follow, well-structured, and flexible, enabling them to learn at their own pace and fit studies into their schedules. Many appreciated the informative and practical content, gaining useful knowledge and skills applicable to their careers. The overall user experience was described as positive, efficient, and engaging, significantly improving productivity for many. However, some customers also noted that certain courses could benefit from more real-life examples, interactive exercises, or increased difficulty to enhance the learning experience.

What people talk about most

User experience

Clients share positive opinions on user experience, highlighting the accessibility and flexibility of the... See more

Product

People report positive experiences with the product, finding courses like TEFL and photography comprehensive,... See more

Staff

Reviewers highlight positive aspects of staff, often praising their professionalism and efficiency. Customers... See more

Quality

Customers consistently note positive experiences with quality, highlighting the rigorous and beneficial... See more

Value for money

Customers had ambiguous experiences with value for money, with many finding the learning experience... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Very informative course and gave your much needed exposure and practical learning on the course content. Thoroughly enjoyed it. The extra lessons what to expect after course content, was pretty use... See more

Company replied

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

I recently explored and completed a short course on Special Education Needs (SEN) and found it very insightful. I learned about how different Special Education Needs (SEN) can affect students, ways to... See more

Company replied

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

great learning information and easy access to my study exams. i enjoy going at my own pace

Company replied

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

I did 150 hr TESOL. Kinda surprise about the 'extra tips' lessons, they're the most useful bonus.

Company replied


Company details

  1. Educational Institution

Written by the company

International Open Academy (IOA) is a modern Learning Experience Platform that helps learners build practical skills, earn recognised micro-credentials and follow clear career pathways. Our platform adapts to each learner’s pace, interests and goals, offering accessible and job-focused online learning. IOA combines IOA Originals with creator-led courses from YouTube, Instagram and TikTok experts. Members can start quickly with short, mobile-friendly courses and progress through stackable micro-credentials that build real capability. Progress tracking, certificates and structured pathways make learning straightforward and motivating. As a trusted talent partner, IOA focuses on job-ready skills that support employability, upskilling and career change. Learners can explore new interests, strengthen existing skills or prepare for professional opportunities through guided or self-directed learning journeys. IOA has supported over 1.5 million learners in 140+ countries with inclusive, affordable and outcome-driven education. Our mission is to connect practical learning with real opportunities and give learners a clear route from interest to achievement.


Contact info

4.3

Excellent

TrustScore 4.5 out of 5

1K reviews

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4.3

All reviews

(1,308)

68 reviews in the last 12 months

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I took the TEFL course it was easy and…

I took the TEFL course it was easy and taught me a lot and was able to get the certification that I needed in order to land jobs.

May 5, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from International Open Academy

Hi Haifa,
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that the TEFL course was both accessible and valuable to you, and even more thrilled that it helped you achieve your goal of landing jobs. Congratulations on your certification and success — we’re so proud to have been part of your journey!

Wishing you continued success in your teaching career,
The International Open Academy Team

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Easy to track and good learning…

Easy to track and good learning knowledge

April 30, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from International Open Academy

Hi Matthys,

Thanks for your review! We're happy to hear you found the course easy to follow and packed with valuable knowledge. If there’s anything we can improve to make your experience a full 5-star one, we’d love to hear from you.

Kind regards,
The International Open Academy Team

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

I found this course really helpful

April 30, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from International Open Academy

Hi Emel,

Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review! We're really glad to hear that you found the course helpful. If there’s anything we can do to turn your experience into a 5-star one, we’d love to hear your feedback. Your insights help us improve and better support our students.

Kind regards,
The International Open Academy Team

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

The wedding planner course is a JOKE

The wedding planner course is a complete JOKE!
It feels like it was created 30 years ago and puts literally emphasis on HOW TO PUT ON MAKEUP vs. how you actually organize a wedding. This is not state-of-the-art nor an actual guide to anything a wedding planner needs to know and put emphasis on as you start a business or a new career path.
I am from the event business, I have been working in marketing for 10 years and have organized a lot of events including personal ones, also my own wedding. The course content is not in the slightest important to what you actually have to deal with in those situations.
I wanted to take this course to deepen my knowledge and specify more on wedding planning as I am considering switching my career a bit more in that direction. Of course I also wanted to receive a certificate in the end to "proof" my proficiency. - But I didn't mean to just "buy" something to have it, I actually wanted to LEARN something of value. I am embarrassed to count this certificate as anything that would reference my expertise. 
Such a complete waste of money, that I should rather have invested into a 3x more expensive course but that would have probably had actual proper content...
A shame you offer this course for money in return.
Hope this feedback doesn't make you scam 100s of other people in the future still.

April 23, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from International Open Academy

Hi Sarah,
We're sorry to hear that the course did not meet your expectations and would like to offer some clarification.

We’d like to clarify that the course was not created arbitrarily nor intended to be a “joke.” It was developed by experienced professionals in event planning and styling, including:

-Ángeles Castro – stylist, designer, and event organizer with 15+ years of experience
-Ángela Suau – historian, personal shopper, and protocol expert with 8+ years of experience
-Gina Tous – event planner, cultural producer, and specialist in digital cultural marketing

These experts have worked with reputable institutions such as the Ministry of Development, Fnac, Mini, and the Community of Madrid. The course provides a practical introduction to wedding planning, aimed at individuals exploring a new career path, setting up a business, or organizing weddings for friends and family.

We also want to highlight that the course description on our product page clearly states that this is an introductory-level course intended to provide "an excellent grounding in all aspects of planning a wedding celebration." It’s especially useful for those just starting out or wanting to gain foundational knowledge in the field. For more advanced learners, it’s understandable that you may be seeking more specialized or hands-on content.

In regard to certification, we offer several certification options depending on the student's goals. These are available for purchase after course completion and include documents from recognized partners such as:

-CPD (UK)
-ICOES (International Council for Online Educational Standards)
-IAPCC (International Association of Private Career Colleges)

We want to respectfully address your use of the term “scam.” International Open Academy is an accredited and transparent education provider, with over 1,200 verified Trustpilot reviews — more than 77% of which are 5-star ratings. All of our course details, pricing, and certificate policies are clearly explained on our website, and our support team is always available to answer questions before a purchase is made.

We’ve also received your email and our support team will be reaching out to you shortly to offer a resolution. If you have any additional questions or prefer to connect sooner, please contact us directly at: https://international-open-academy.reamaze.com/conversations/new

Kind regards,
The International Open Academy Team

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

120-Hour TEFL Certificate

120-Hour TEFL Certificate - I purchased this course, and despite the (misleading) title, they Don't actually issue a certificate. I should have checked first the reviews, this website/Academy is an OBVIOUS SCAM. They will actually charge you 2x or 3x the price of the course if you want the certificate, on top of the enrollment fee you have paid. They don't tell you that at the begining, you'll just have to realise it when you finish the course that they don't issue ANY certificate (again, despite the clear advertising in the title).

April 13, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from International Open Academy

Hi Viorel,
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re sorry to hear about your frustration and appreciate the opportunity to clarify a few things for anyone reading this.

After reviewing your account, we can confirm that your specific offer (purchased through one of our partners) did include a digital Certificate of Achievement. However, unlike the Proof of Completion which is generated automatically, the certificate requires a quick redemption process — similar to how the course was initially activated. Once this step is completed, the certificate becomes available for download. In your case, this document is now accessible from the “My Documents” section in your account.

We understand it can be confusing when expectations don’t match up with the fine details of a deal. That’s why our support team is always available — before or after purchase — to clarify what’s included, explain our accreditation, and walk you through any document requests. We encourage students to reach out with any doubts, especially since offer details may vary depending on the platform or promotion.

While a small percentage of students leave critical reviews, over 77% of our 1,200+ Trustpilot reviews are 5-star ratings, often highlighting the quality of our support and learning experience. Most concerns stem from misunderstandings rather than the actual service or value provided.

If you have any further questions or would like to explore optional upgrades like hard copy certificates, please don’t hesitate to reach out via our contact page: https://international-open-academy.reamaze.com/conversations/new. We’re here to help and genuinely want you to get the most from your course.

Kind regards,
The International Open Academy Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Excellent quality service

I wanted to tell you how much I appreciate the quality of your work. I can tell you take pride in it, which shows in your deliverables. Thank you! ☺️☺️

April 5, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from International Open Academy

Hi Mariel,

Thank you so much for your kind words! We're truly grateful for your appreciation and are glad to hear that the quality of our work stood out to you. It means a lot to us that you took the time to share your experience.

The International Open Academy Team

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

I'm still confused... but very helpful Customer Service Agent

After taking this course a few years ago and receiving a certificate without an additional fee. I gifted the course to a friend. She finished it and surprise... Now, they say there is no certificate included. This is deceptive. They claim that it's written all over their website, but any sane person would assume that a course that I paid for would come with some kind of proof of completion without an additional fee. Why would anyone take a course just because and have no proof of completion at the end? It doesn't matter how many times you put it in your terms and conditions or on your website, no logical person would purchase a course knowing that the certification isn't included. The lack of a certification is not mentioned at all on the groupon deal. It says it includes the course, lesson plans & more. Again another deceptive way to make you think you're getting something you actually aren't.

Update: After posting the above review, they contacted me within a short period and provided a digital Certificate of Achievement. The customer service agent who worked with me was very knowledgeable and actually seemed to have read the review and understood the situation.

I'd still say be careful what you buy. Make sure it's clear from the beginning what you will receive. While messaging back and forth, I was a little confused whether my original purchase should have included the certificate or if they were only providing it because I complained publicly. They say below that a certificate of completion is included, but before I complained, even that was locked behind a paywall. We had already tried to message within their website to no avail. Either way, I appreciated that they did reach out to resolve the situation.

March 29, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from International Open Academy

Thank you for updating your review, Tyler.

As mentioned in our email communication, the original Groupon offer included a Proof of Completion, which is a different document from the document we later provided as a courtesy—since the original document hadn’t yet been downloaded.

The Proof of Completion was always available to download once the course was completed, and we’ve emailed your friend with clear instructions on how to access it. We also want to emphasize that the documents are not the same, and we offered a solution to better match her needs in this case.

Our support team is always happy to answer any questions about what’s included in an offer before a purchase is made, and we encourage students to reach out so we can help clarify and avoid confusion.

The International Open Academy Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

All is good in this site

All is good in this site, easy to navigate and done the course within 24hours 😊😊😊 thank you very much

March 29, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from International Open Academy

Thank you, Jomar! We're delighted to hear you found the platform easy to navigate and that you completed your course so efficiently. Wishing you all the best in your learning journey!
The International Open Academy Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

MAT-review

The learning is self-paced, and the lessons are very clear. There are no issues in my journey.

March 18, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from International Open Academy

Thank you, Mae Anne! We're so pleased to hear that you enjoyed the clarity of the lessons and the flexibility of self-paced learning. It’s great to know your experience has been smooth from start to finish. Best of luck with your continued learning journey!

The International Open Academy Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

It was amazing…

I enjoyed taking my course here because it fosters flexibility in learning. The content of the course are relevant. It was arranged logically.

March 16, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from International Open Academy

Thank you, Ali, for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you enjoyed the flexibility of the course and found the content relevant and well-organized. It’s great to know our structure supported your learning experience. Wishing you continued success in applying your new knowledge!
The International Open Academy Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Comprehensive yet convenient learning

Comprehensive learning modules that can be accessed at your convenience for self paced learning

January 20, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from International Open Academy

Thank you, Antonnete! We're so glad to hear you enjoyed the flexibility and depth of the course. Self-paced learning is one of our core strengths, and it's great to know it worked well for you. Wishing you continued success in your learning journey!
Best,
The International Open Academy Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Teaching

I found the course excellent well structured a nd informative. I would definitely recommend completing these as they are a nugget of gold in our resumes.

March 10, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from International Open Academy

Thank you, Richard! We're thrilled you found the course well-structured and informative. It’s wonderful to hear that you see it as a valuable addition to your resume — that’s exactly what we aim for! Wishing you all the best in your journey ahead, and thanks for the glowing recommendation!
Best,
The International Open Academy Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I'm satisfied with the course.

March 1, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from International Open Academy

Thank you so much, Martha! 🌟 We're glad to hear you're satisfied with the course. If you ever have questions or want to explore more topics, we're here for you. Happy learning!
Best,
The International Open Academy Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

It provides me all the necessary…

It provides me all the necessary information that i need to be able to teach english step by step especially in listening, reading and talking. It also gives me ideas how to start a lesson with diverse student.

March 1, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from International Open Academy

Hi Kizzelle,

Thank you for your wonderful review! 😊 We're delighted to hear that our course has provided you with the essential tools to teach English effectively. It's great to know that the structured approach, especially in listening, reading, and speaking, has been helpful for you. Supporting educators in working with diverse students is one of our key goals, and we're so glad you found valuable insights in the course.

Wishing you all the best in your teaching journey!

Best,
The International Open Academy Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Verry verry sadisfated.Thank you

Verry verry sadisfated.

February 26, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from International Open Academy

Hi Kaić,

Thank you for your 5-star review! 😊 We're so happy to hear that you're very satisfied with your experience. If you ever need anything or decide to take another course, we’d love to have you back!

Happy learning! 🎉
The International Open Academy Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Excellent Self-Paced TESOL & SPED Course

I recently completed the 120-hour TESOL and SPED course with International Open Academy, and it was an amazing experience! The course is well-structured, informative, and easy to follow, making it perfect for both new and experienced educators.

One of the best aspects of this course is that it’s completely self-paced, allowing me to study on my own schedule without pressure. This flexibility made it convenient to balance learning with my other responsibilities. The content was engaging, practical, and provided valuable insights into teaching English as a second language and special education strategies.

The assessments were straightforward yet effective in reinforcing key concepts, and the certification has boosted my confidence as an educator. I highly recommend this course to anyone looking to enhance their teaching skills and open new career opportunities!

Thank you, International Open Academy, for a fantastic and flexible learning experience!

February 17, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from International Open Academy

Hi Joan,

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! 🎉 We're thrilled to hear that you had such a positive experience with the 120-hour TESOL and SEN course. It’s great to know that the flexible, self-paced structure made learning convenient for you and that the course content provided valuable insights to enhance your teaching skills.

Your kind words about the structure, assessments, and overall learning experience mean a lot to us. We’re so happy that the certification has boosted your confidence as an educator, and we truly appreciate your recommendation!

Wishing you all the best in your teaching journey, and if you ever take another course with us, we’d love to hear about your experience again. Happy learning! 😊

The International Open Academy Team

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

I bought a course on Wowcher about…

I bought a course on Wowcher about learning to make cheese. It has been impossible to register for the course and the customer service just ask for the screen shot of my wowcher purchase and then fail to respond when I send it to them.
I am finding it very hard to to think that this is not a scam. Customer Services don't seem to do anything.

PS I appreciate the reply due to my posting this review
PSS My course was added to my account by one of the IOA staff which is good, but it should not have been necessary for me to need to try and use the chat customer support which was quite slow and unresponsive. It would be helpful to say to us that you need 24hrs to process the information you requested and I sent rather than saying nothing at all and leaving me wondering what was going on.

PPPS I am enjoying my course, although I still have a slightly bad tatse in my mouth having been 'encouraged' to update my review. It is what it is, The course is good, but the level of service was inadequate to have to leave a poor review to get any action. I have put three stars because it has been resolved. You would have got 5 stars if your system for registering a wowcher voucher was clear and easily - which it isnt at the moment.

February 19, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from International Open Academy

Hi Reuben,

Thank you for updating your review and for sharing your honest feedback. We’re glad to hear that you're enjoying your course now that everything has been resolved.

We want to clarify that we did respond to your email before seeing this review, as we handle all requests in the order they reach our queue. Unfortunately, sending multiple emails can sometimes push newer messages further back in the queue, which may have contributed to the delay. We understand how frustrating that can be, and we’ll take your feedback into account to set clearer expectations regarding response times. While we do aim to assist students within 24 hours, during busier times, responses may take a little longer. In your case, we responded within this timeframe, but we understand that the wait may have felt longer, especially when seeking immediate support.

Regarding your mention of being "encouraged" to update your review, we want to assure you that we simply request students to reflect their full experience—especially when an issue is resolved—so that others can get a balanced view of both our courses and our support. However, the decision to update a review is always entirely up to the student.

We appreciate your thoughts on the voucher redemption process, and we’ll pass this along to our team for review. If there’s anything else we can do to improve your experience, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Wishing you the best with your course!
The International Open Academy Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The International Open Academy was my…

The International Open Academy was my favorite place to study and learn. I was able to finish my Tesol for my 120 hour course. I was able too completely focus and understand the lessons and I am very happy with my success.

February 15, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from International Open Academy

Thank you, Mylaisha! 🎉 We're so happy to hear that IOA was your favorite place to study and that you successfully completed your 120-hour TESOL course! It's wonderful to know that the lessons were clear and helped you stay focused. Wishing you all the best in your teaching journey! 👩‍🏫🌍✨
Warm regards,
The International Open Academy Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Affordable more especially when there’s…

Affordable more especially when there’s discounts. Accessible and flexible which allows one to study at their own pace.

February 10, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from International Open Academy

Thank you for your wonderful review, Sinovuyo! 😊 We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the affordability and flexibility of our courses. Learning at your own pace makes all the difference! Wishing you the best on your educational journey.
Warm regards,
The International Open Academy Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Certifications made easier by a good company.

I took a very detailed course. The program took me step by step through the entire process. I bought the membership because of how long it was supposed to take. Steps through chapters were extremely easy. I had one issue, caused by me, and the help staff via email took care of it right away. I plan on taking another course also offered to supplement my certification.

January 2, 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from International Open Academy

Thank you so much, Kori! We're thrilled to hear that you found the course detailed and easy to navigate. It's great to know our support team was able to assist you quickly—we're always happy to help! 😊 We love that you're planning to take another course to supplement your certification. Wishing you continued success in your learning journey! 🚀🎓
Warm regards,
The International Open Academy Team

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