How to obtain a teaching licence in Dubai

• About the Licence
• Eligibility Criteria
• Process
• International Recognition
• Transitional Licence
• Licence for Education Professionals
• FAQs

If you want to work as a teacher in Dubai or any other UAE emirate, getting a licence is mandatory. While teachers in international curriculum schools generally need teaching qualifications and certifications from recognised bodies such as the British Council, a Dubai teaching licence is also necessary. Read on to learn more about getting a teaching licence in Dubai.

ABOUT DUBAI TEACHING LICENCE

Launched by the Ministry of Education, the Teachers Licensing System (TLS) sets the benchmark for teachers in the UAE. The TLS licence makes you eligible to work in both government and private schools in any part of Dubai.

It is a mandatory requirement for all teachers, ensuring that only qualified professionals are entrusted with the responsibility of educating students. Licencing involves rigorous assessments of a teacher’s qualifications, experience and professional skills.

This process helps maintain a high standard of education across Dubai’s schools by ensuring that teachers possess the necessary competencies to deliver quality education. Furthermore, it aligns with Dubai’s vision of becoming a global hub for education where international standards are met and sustained.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

To pursue a career as a teacher in the UAE, a minimum qualification of a bachelor’s degree or a 4-year university degree is mandatory. This rule applies to teachers applying for jobs in government entities and private institutes.

However, to work in a private school, you must contact the school administration. The school will then forward the necessary documents to KHDA for required tests and final approval.

Teachers should also satisfy the following criteria to be eligible to obtain a teaching licence in Dubai.

• Absence of any criminal record
• Medical fitness report
• Original transcripts of education certificates
• Attested certificates for overseas applicants and those holding degrees from institutes outside the UAE. Please note that these certificates must be attested by the embassy of the relevant country and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

HOW TO GET A TEACHING LICENCE IN DUBAI?

Applying for a licence requires you to complete your TLS registration online to proceed further. There is no fee to register on the system.

Let’s briefly examine the steps to get a teaching licence in Dubai.

REGISTER ON THE TLS WEBSITE

• Head to the TLS website
• Enter your basic information, qualifications, references, additional contact details and English Language test score.
• Add Emirates ID, certificates, passport, police code of conduct, resume, transcript, residency visa and references.
• Click ‘Submit Information’
• Once you provide the credentials, you will receive an email from the Ministry of Education (MOE) with details about the day and time of your specialisation test.

APPEAR IN PROFICIENCY TESTS

You can get a licence to teach in Dubai by passing two tests, one in your specialised subject and the other in your teaching skills. 

• The specialisation test takes place in April, while the proficiency assessment happens in September.

Once you pass the tests, you are given a Dubai teaching licence, valid for one or three years, depending on your test scores, expertise and experience.

INTERNATIONAL LICENCE RECOGNITION

The Ministry of Education (MOE) has introduced a system where teaching licences from certain countries are acceptable.

TRANSITIONAL LICENCE IN DUBAI

One can also apply for a transitional licence via the MOE website. It allows people to teach while they work on their application for the licence. Its duration is two years from the date of issuance, and a fee of AED 50 is charged.

Let’s look at the process to apply for this licence.

APPLICATION PROCESS

• Visit the MOE website
• Select ‘Start New Application’ to initiate the application process
• Register on the Educational Professions Licensure System
• Fill out the application form online
• Verify your Emirates ID
• Upload the required documents
• Pay AED 50 service charges
• Get your licence

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

You will need the following documents to apply for a transitional licence.

• University Qualification Certificate attested by the MOE
• University Qualification Equivalency from the MOE

Please note that your documents should be in PDF format. Each file should not exceed the size of 2MB.

LICENSING FOR EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS

Individuals who perform non-teaching roles at school also need to obtain a licence. The School Professionals Licence is targetted at the following roles:

• Lab Instructor
• Librarian Assistant
• Teacher Guidance Counselor
• Special Needs Specialist
• Resource Center
• Learning Vocational
• Educational Counselor
• Lab Assistant
• Psychological Specialist

School Leadership Licence is for individuals who wish to perform the following roles:

• Principal Lead
• Principal Cluster Lead
• Vice Principal of Academic Affairs
• Vice Principal of Student Affairs
• Vice Principal Cluster
• Vice Manager Middle Leadership – Head of Academic Affairs Unit
• Middle Leadership – Head of Student Affairs Unit
• Middle Leadership – Head of School Services

FAQS

IS THERE A FEE FOR A TEACHER LICENCE IN DUBAI?

The exam fee is AED 250, with an additional AED 50 for the licence issuance when you pass the tests. Each re-sit will cost you AED 100.

HOW LONG DOES THE TRANSITIONAL LICENCE TAKE TO BE PROCESSED?

Dubai Transitional Licence takes about 30 days to be processed.

HOW LONG IS THE LICENCE VALID FOR?

The licence is valid for either one or three years. Its validity depends on factors such as expertise, test scores and experience.

What if you fail the Dubai Teaching Licence tests?

Failure to meet the exam criteria gives you two more chances to redo the assessment. For your assistance, TLS has also introduced training courses that you can enrol in, if you couldn’t achieve the required outcome in the first test. These courses are tailored to your needs and vary from one month to six months.

That sums up our guide on how to get a teaching licence in Dubai. Once you’ve earned your licence, you can search for a job. Teaching is one of the in-demand jobs in Dubai. So, with the right qualifications, you can land a good job.

You can use the best job sites in UAE to find employment in the top schools in Dubai.

If you have expertise in making a learning environment for children, you can opt to teach at Dubai’s primary schools. For early years education, you can opt for Montessori training courses in the UAE.