CDA Social Work License Guide
Easy Steps to Work as a Social Work in Dubai
If you’re a Social Work who wants to work in Dubai, you’ll need a special license from the Community Development Authority (CDA). This license is required by law and proves you have the right training and skills. This guide will walk you through each step of the process, from checking if you qualify to getting your first job, so you can confidently start your new career in Dubai.
Qualification and Experience Requirements
| Position | Qualifications | Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Social Worker | BSc in Social Work And Master’s degree in Social Work | Two (2) years of experience post qualification in a related field |
| Applied Behavioral Analyst | Master’s degree in Behavioral Analysis or equivalent and passing the proficiency test from one of the professional associations accredited in the specialty | Two (2) years of experience post qualification in a related field Or 1500 hours of training under the supervision of specialized professional |
| Assistant Applied Behavior Analyst | Bachelor or Diploma of Applied Behavior Analysis or equivalent And passing the proficiency test from one of the professional associations accredited in the specialty. | Two (2) years of experience post qualification in a related field Or 1500 hours of training under the supervision of specialized professional |
| Behavior therapy Technician | Bachelor or Diploma in related psycho-analysis field | Two (2) years of experience post qualification in a related field |
*In compliance with the Discontinuity of Practice (Gap of Practice) criteria.
Note:
DHA does not license social workers. Applicants with these specialties have to apply to Community Development Authority (CDA).
Assistant Social Worker license allows practice only under onsite supervision by a licensed Clinical Social Worker.
Additional Requirements
- Registration/License: Applicants must hold a valid License/Registration to practice in their home country and/or country of last employment (where applicable).
- Good Standing Certificate (GSC): A valid GSC is required from the same licensing authority that issued your license. The certificate must be issued within the last six months of your application date.
CDA Licensing Process – Step by Step
Phase 1: Pre-Application Requirements
Before submitting your application to the CDA Licensing Department, you must complete two critical verification processes. These steps ensure that your academic and professional history are authenticated.
1. Degree Equalization
For Degrees from Outside the UAE: You must obtain an equalization of your highest academic degree through the Ministry of Education (MoE).
For Degrees obtained within the UAE: Equalization is not required.
2. Primary Source Verification (Dataflow)
You must verify your qualifications and work experience through Dataflow.
Start the Process: Visit the Dataflow Gateway
Required Document: Download and sign the Letter of Authorization (attached) to allow Dataflow to conduct the report.
Phase 2: Application Submission
Once you have received your results from the Ministry of Education and Dataflow, please compile the following documents and send them to professional.licensing@cda.gov.ae.
Document Checklist
CDA Licensure Application Form (completed)
Passport-sized Photo (.jpg format)
Copy of valid Emirates ID
Academic Degrees (including attested translations if applicable)
Academic Transcript
Ministry of Education Equalization Report (if degree is from outside UAE)
Letter(s) of Experience (If available. Note: Fresh graduates or those with limited experience must work under supervision for one year.)
Good Conduct Certificate:
Issued by Dubai Police (if a Dubai resident).
Issued by the respective Emirate’s Police (if residing elsewhere in the UAE).
Issued by your Country of Residence (if you have lived in Dubai for less than 6 months).
Dataflow Report
Phase 3: Specialized Training (If Applicable)
A Training Certificate from The British University in Dubai (BUiD) is mandatory for the following categories:
Assistant Psychologist
Behavioral Analyst / Assistant Behavioral Analyst
Learning Support Teacher
Contact for Training: We advise you to register at the earliest. For details, contact Mr. Rawy (BUiD Representative):
Phone: 050-7368312
Email: rawy.sabet@buid.ac.ae
Phase 4: Professional Licensing Examination
All applicants are required to pass a professional examination held at the British University in Dubai.
Next Steps: After your documents are reviewed, a CDA licensing representative will contact you with your exam date and preparation materials.
Important Notices
Accuracy & Completeness: Ensure all documents are accurate and complete. Incomplete applications will not be accepted, and inaccuracies may lead to a permanent rejection of your application.
Contact Us
For any further inquiries or to follow up on your status, please reach out to: Email: info@mydoctorlicense.com
Or WhatsApp Us
CDA Social Work Exam - Complete Details
Behavior therapy technician Oral Assessment
Oral Assessment is required for Behavior therapy technician.
You can directly book oral exam by DHA sheryan Portal
How to book Oral Exam
- Applicant views and selects the preferred date or date range
- Pay required fees
- Oral Assessment team confirms assessment date
- Oral assessment is conducted
- Receive results on Sheryan (registration is issued in case of passing the assessment)
Oral Assessment Fees
- Normal Oral Assessment Fees: AED 250
- Urgent Oral Assessment Fees: AED 2000
Applied behaviour analyst - No exam required
CDA Social Work License Cost Calculator
Exchange Rate Used: 1 AED ≈ 24.18 INR (Estimated)
Total Estimated Mandatory Cost
Total Cost (AED): 0.00 AED
Total Cost (INR): 0.00 INR
**Note:** This estimate **excludes** university/authority PSV reply fees, possible English Proficiency exam fees (IELTS/TOEFL/OET), and the final **License Activation Fee** (paid after getting a job offer and is typically around AED 1000).
CDA Exam & Experience Exemption of Social Work
Social Work are exempted from the DHA exam if they meet either of the following criteria:
✅ Criteria: License + GSC from Recognized Countries
Social Work holding a valid license and Good Standing Certificate (GSC) from one of the recognized licensing authorities listed below are exempted from the DHA Prometric exam, provided that:
- The degree was obtained within the last 3 years, OR
- There has been no gap in clinical practice since their last employment.
Recognized Countries & Licensing Authorities:
- UK (HCPC)
- USA
- Australia
- Canada
- Ireland
- Singapore
- Germany
- France
- South Africa
- New Zealand
- Sweden
- Denmark
- Norway
- Finland
- Austria
- Switzerland
- Belgium
- Netherlands
- Iceland
- Luxembourg
🌐 English Language Proficiency (if applicable)
If you did not study in English, you must pass one of:
- IELTS: Minimum 5.0
- TOEFL: Minimum 500
- OET: Minimum Grade C
- Cambridge English: Minimum 169