Dubai: Want to become a teacher in a private school? Qualification, requirements explained

The KHDA has set criteria that need to be met by applicants, as it regulates private education in the city

What is the process?

Be it public or private schools, teachers need to have a minimum 4-year experience to teach in the UAE. Here is what the process for private schools in Dubai looks like:

Apply to school for teaching

After selection, school applies for Initial Appointment

Requirements to be met

For a teacher to obtain a UAE work permit to begin teaching, schools in Dubai need to apply for an 'Initial Appointment'. The documents for this differ depending on the type of teacher the applicant has applied for.

Class teacher: For applicants who are looking to become class teachers, a recognised Bachelor Degree in Education (B.Ed) is required. Applicants may also submit a postgraduate certificate/diploma in education or Master Degree in Education (M.Ed).

Subject teacher: For those applying to become a subject teacher, a minimum qualification of a recognised bachelor degree related to the subject being taught is required.

These documents must be original. If they have been attained from universities outside the UAE, then the certificate needs to be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the country's embassy in the UAE.

After a teacher receives the Initial Appointment in Dubai, they have to register on the Educator Permit System. There are different types of qualifications that applicants must check out when applying for this.

Subject Qualification: These requirements are the same as those for the Initial Appointment, which classify into class teachers and subject teachers.

Teacher Preparation Qualification (Subject teachers): Particular subject teachers need to have a recognised teacher preparation qualification. At a higher diploma level or above, this must cover topics like:

Educational Pedagogy (the method and practice of teaching)
Curriculum development and design
Learning assessment
Classroom management
Educational technology
Psychology (cognitive, social and physical development)
Teaching practice

Teachers who want to pursue teaching English as a subject, must have an additional qualification of teaching English as a second or foreign language. This includes qualifications like CELTA, DELTA, TESOL.

Additional requirements: Applicants who are teaching a vocational program must have a proper qualification for it that certifies and provides proof for it.

Language skills: English subject language teachers must have had a score of at least 7 on the IELTS test.

Teachers who may be teaching other languages but are using English as the language of instruction must have an IELTS score of at least 6.

Applicants who are looking to teach other languages must show evidence of language proficiency provided by competent authorities.

Legal status: Teachers registering on the program should have a valid UAE residence visa and a school contract or employment agreement.

Fitness test: Teachers must be fit enough to teach by making a declaration of fitness.

Good record: To show an applicant's good record inside and outside the country, they must submit certain documents that prove the same. These are:

UAE police clearance certificate
Letter from school confirming teacher's good standing
If a teacher has not resided in the UAE for the past five years then they must provide a police certificate from each country where they resided in those five years

Mandatory development courses: Teachers are required to show proof of completing a set of professional courses. These are: