Qualifications to become a teacher
Apply for a teacher’s position in the UAE
In order to practise a teaching profession in the UAE, the applicant must have a minimum qualification of a bachelor’s degree or a 4-year university degree or higher in the required field. This rule applies for public/government schools as well as private schools in the UAE. Other conditions include:
- a criminal clearance record
- a medical fitness report from the UAE
- original of educational certificates
- attested certificates in case the educator has graduated from a university outside the UAE; the certificate must be attested by Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the country's embassy in the UAE.
To apply for teaching positions in private schools in the emirates of Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, and Fujairah, applicants must contact the administration of each school and submit an application. After receiving initial approval from the school, the school submits the applicant’s documents to the Ministry of Education for evaluation and final approval.
For teacher applications in private schools in Dubai, the schools submit their desired applicants’ documents to the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) for final approval.
Department of Education and Knowledge in Abu Dhabi has dedicated public service centres in its educational offices to receive teachers’ applications and process appointments through schools registered in Abu Dhabi.
In Sharjah, Sharjah Private Education Authority - SPEA appoints teachers and administrative staff in private schools. In Ras Al Khaimah, this responsibility lies with Ras Al Khaimah Department of Knowledge.
Licensing system for education professionals
The UAE’s ‘Education Professional licence’ is a mandatory requirement for education professionals in the UAE. Teachers must hold a teacher’s licence to work legally.
The licence is obtained by passing the tests designed for each targeted category in the education sector.
If the applicant fails to meet the exam criteria, the system then introduces training courses that are customised based on the level shown in the exam to achieve the required outcome.
The applicant is given three chances to apply for the licence. After failing 3 times, he/she can retake the test after a lapse of six months, during which he/she can apply and benefit from the training programmes offered by the licensing system to ensure passing the required assessments.
Find out services to apply for an education professional licence:
Find our resources about obtaining an education professional licence.
Code of conduct for professionals in the education sector
The code of conduct for education professionals contains a set of principles and ethical values aimed at raising awareness and enhancing responsibility on part of the educational sector staff.
Updated On :
24 Sep 2025
