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 the public or private educational sector who engages in or supports the educational processes to K-12 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.
• During one of the three years required for eligibility to apply for the award, the applicant must obtain a rating exceeding expectation (Outstanding) in the annual performance evaluation which is not less than the grade of “very good” or meeting the required expectations during the last two years.
• A winning 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 (educational institution) may apply for the Distinguished Educator Award.

Specific Conditions for Applicants from GCC Countries: In addition to the general conditions, the applicant must:

• Be a citizen of the country from which they are applying.
• Have received an excellence award in the educator category at the regional or ministry level or provide a certificate from the Ministry of Education confirming their distinction and eligibility to apply for the award.