The applicant for the award must meet the following conditions:

The applicant must fall in one of the categories targeted by the Award stated in this guide, including:

• Personnel providing educational, social and psychological services to students, such as: laboratory and resource centers specialists, social and psychological workers, special needs specialists.
• Supervisors and deputy supervisors of educational institutions and heads of departments, such as principals and assistant principals.
• Supervisors of student services units, such as: security, health and safety, academic consultation.

• The applicant must hold at least a bachelor's degree and must be employed in public or private educational sector who engages in or supports the educational processes to K12- students.
• The applicant must attend the introductory workshop for the Distinguished Educator Award prepared by Hamdan Foundation.
• The applicant must meet the application deadlines specified in advance by Hamdan Foundation.
• The applicant shall submit employment documents that cover the last 3 years, including the nomination year, occupying the same educational job title/category with the same employer, continuously and directly.
• The applicant must achieve an “excellent” or (exceeds expectations) average in the annual performance evaluation for any of the three years required for the nomination, and an average of no less than “very good” or (meets expectations) for the other two years.
• A winner educator in a certain cycle may reapply for the same award category (Distinguished Educator) after 3 cycles have passed and with a new job title.
• An applicant who does not manage to win at a certain cycle may reapply at the following cycle or thereafter.
• No more than three educators from the same school may apply for the Distinguished Educator Award.