Fees and steps checked on
To teach in a UAE school with UK credentials, you usually attest your degree, your teaching qualification such as a PGCE, and proof of Qualified Teacher Status. QTS is recorded by the Department for Education, and you download the certificate from the Access your teaching qualifications service. A UK solicitor or notary certifies the printed certificate, the FCDO adds its apostille, and the UAE Embassy in London attests it together with MOFA. Your school then files the set with KHDA, ADEK or the Ministry of Education.
Price: each teaching document starts at AED 985 plus VAT at standard speed, about 22 to 24 working days. If your start date is close, express is AED 1,200 (18 working days) and premium AED 1,600 (12 to 14). The solicitor and all government fees are part of that price. See attestation fees.
Nothing has to be posted: the QTS certificate is already a download, and your degree and PGCE work from clear scans too, paid before the work starts.
The teacher's set
| Document | Issued by | First step |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | Your university | Solicitor or notary, see UK degree attestation |
| PGCE, PGDE or B.Ed | Your university | Solicitor or notary |
| QTS certificate | Department for Education, downloaded online | Solicitor or notary certifies the printout |
| Experience letters | Each school you taught at | Solicitor or notary, see UK experience letter attestation |
| Good conduct check | ACRO or DBS | See UK DBS certificate attestation |
Send the degree, the PGCE and the QTS certificate together. They share a route, so they come back together.
QTS from England and Wales
Teachers who trained in England download the QTS certificate from the DfE service after signing in. Teachers who trained in Wales receive QTS through the Education Workforce Council. Scottish and Northern Irish teachers register with their own councils, so their proof is a registration certificate or letter from that council.
The Teaching Regulation Agency also issues a letter of professional standing. GOV.UK says to request it by email from the TRA, with no fee or time published. Some schools and regulators abroad ask for it. Ask your UAE school before you order one.
Step by step
- Download the QTS certificate and send us the PDF.
- Solicitor or notary certifies the printout, and the degree and PGCE.
- FCDO apostille on each document.
- UAE Embassy London and MOFA, through the MOFA portal, with the certified copies collected in the UK.
- Hand the set to your school for registration.
Who checks it in the UAE
- Dubai private schools: KHDA faculty registration, filed by the school.
- Abu Dhabi: ADEK teacher licensing.
- Public schools and the national licence: the Ministry of Education.
Some schools also ask for recognition of the degree and teaching qualification by the Ministry of Higher Education. Ask your school whether attested documents are enough. The full picture is in teacher certificate attestation.
What goes wrong
- QTS sent without the PGCE. Schools often want the teaching qualification itself, not only the status.
- A screenshot of the teacher record. It cannot be certified. Download the certificate.
- A maiden name on the degree. Attest your UK marriage certificate too.
- Starting late. The UK chain takes weeks even from a PDF. Start when you accept the job.
