Get TEFL Certified for the UAE and Dubai: Level 5 Diploma

Yes. The UAE government portal says teachers in public and private schools need at least a bachelor's degree or a four year university degree or higher in the required field. Teachers must also hold the Education Professional license to work legally. If your degree is from a university outside the UAE, it must be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and your country's embassy in the UAE.

You earn the license by passing the tests for the teaching category you are targeting, through the Ministry of Education's online licensing system. If you fail, training courses matched to your exam level are offered. You get three attempts, and after three failures you can retake the test after six months. A transitional license and recognition of an international teaching license are also available as Ministry of Education services.

It depends on the emirate. In Dubai, private schools submit your documents to the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, KHDA, for final approval. In Abu Dhabi, the Department of Education and Knowledge, ADEK, processes appointments through schools registered there. Sharjah private schools appoint through the Sharjah Private Education Authority, and in Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah the Ministry of Education gives final approval.

Your employer, as your sponsor, requests an entry permit for you, valid for two months from the date of issue. Within one month of entering the UAE you complete the residency procedures, including medical tests, to obtain a residence visa valid for two years. Your passport should be valid for at least six months. Schools also ask for a criminal clearance record and your original educational certificates, so prepare them early.

The 180 hour Government Regulated Level 5 TEFL Diploma, Ofqual reference 610/1572/6, suits most people heading to the UAE. It is a recognized Level 5 qualification that employers can verify on the UK government register. The 120 hour Accredited Online TEFL Course is the starting option, and the 300 hour Level 5 Master TEFL Advanced Diploma, Ofqual reference 6101574X, is the step up for a stronger profile.