Getting a Teaching license in the UAE

Getting a Teaching license in the UAE (officially called the Teacher License or Education Professional License) involves several steps, whether you’re applying in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or other Emirates. Here’s the general process as of 2025:

  1. Degree attestation
    • Prepare the Original Documents you will need:
      • Original degree certificate (Bachelor’s/Master’s in Education or your specialization)
      • Mark sheets/transcripts
      • Character certificate (optional but sometimes asked)
      • Passport copy
      • Job offer letter (if already selected)
    • Notarization in Nepal
      • First, you must notarize your degree and other academic documents from:
        • Public Notary Office (नेपाल सरकारबाट प्रमाणित गरिएको)
        • They will verify and stamp/certify the documents.
    • Verification by MOE (Ministry of Education) – Nepal
      • Take your notarized documents to:
        • Ministry of Education (MOE), Kathmandu
        • They will verify that your degree is issued by a recognized institution in Nepal.
    • Verification by MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) – Nepal
      • After MOE verification, you must go to:
        • Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Kathmandu (also called परराष्ट्र मन्त्रालय)
        • They will attest that your documents are genuine for use internationally.
    • UAE Embassy Attestation in Nepal
      • Then, submit your MOFA-attested documents to:
        • UAE Embassy in Kathmandu
        • They will do the final attestation from the UAE side inside Nepal.
        • After UAE Embassy stamps your degree, it becomes officially acceptable in the UAE.
    • MOFA Attestation in UAE
      • When you arrive in the UAE:
        • Submit the attested degree to UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFAIC)
        • This is mandatory to validate it for UAE employers and government departments.
    • Optional: Translation (if required)
      • If your degree is in Nepali, you might be asked to translate it into English and get it legalized. Mostly schools and authorities prefer an English version.
  2. Meet Basic Requirements
    • Academic Qualifications:
      • A Bachelor’s degree (or higher) related to the subject you want to teach.
      • In some Emirates (like Abu Dhabi), a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) is preferred, but if you don’t have it, a regular bachelor’s degree + teaching experience can work.
    • Teaching Experience:
      • Generally 2 years minimum experience is required.
    • Language Requirements:
      • For English subject teachers: Proof of English proficiency (e.g., IELTS score 7 or equivalent).
      • For other subjects: Proof of English proficiency (e.g., IELTS score 6.5 or equivalent).
    • Background Check:
      • A police clearance certificate from your home country and the UAE.
      • Attestation of all academic documents by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in home country and UAE embassy in home country.
      • Equalized academic certificate from the Ministry of Education .
  3. Register on the Licensing System
    • Check the The Ministry of Education (MOE): https://www.moe.gov.ae/En/EServices/ServiceCard/pages/TeacherTransitionallicense.aspx
    • Select ‘Start New Application‘ to begin the application process.
    • Register or log in to the Educational Professions Licensure System
    • Fill out the application form online with necessary information
    • Verify your Emirates ID in the system
    • Upload the required documents
    • Pay the service fee of AED 50
    • A transitional licenses will be issued once all requirements are completed successfully
  4. Register online by submitting:
    • Passport copy
    • Visa copy
    • Emirates ID
    • Attested degrees (your certificates must be attested by UAE authorities)
    • Police clearance
    • Experience letters
    • Language test results
  5. Pass the Teacher Licensing Exams
    • There are two exams:
      • Pedagogy Exam (teaching methods)
      • Subject Specialization Exam (your major subject, e.g., Math, Science, English)
      • If you don’t pass the exams on the first try, you may be required to complete training courses before retaking them.
  6. Complete Professional Development Training (if needed)
    • If your exam scores are low, you might be asked to complete some professional development courses before getting the license.
  7. Receive Your Teacher License
    • Once you pass all exams and meet the criteria, you will be awarded the UAE Teacher License, usually valid for 3 years.
    • You must renew it after expiry (often requiring proof of continuing professional development).

Important Notes:

  • Private schools often have their own internal requirements in addition to the UAE license.
  • Public schools are stricter and usually require teaching credentials (like B.Ed or equivalent).
  • Attestation of degrees is very important (degree → home country’s Ministry of Education → UAE Embassy in your country → UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
  • The entire process may take 2–4 weeks depending on workload.
  • Schools in the UAE also ask for equivalency certificates. It has become mandatory to have equalized documents.

Note: The above information was collected from various sources to help understand the major steps and common requirements for seeking teaching license in the UAE. If there are any updates or changes in the process, please email us.