In order to obtain a Utah teaching license, the candidate must be either enrolled in a state-approved educator preparation program or have certifiable experience in a career or technical field. In some cases, they will need to have exceptional training or expertise in a particular subject area. In addition, candidates must also be able to pass all tests and assessments required by the Utah Department of Education.
There are three basic types of Utah teaching licenses:
Each of these educator licenses must include at least one area of concentration. They may choose from Early Childhood, Elementary, Secondary, School Leadership, Career and Technical Education (CTE), School Counselor, School Psychologist, Special Education, Preschool Special Education, Deaf Education, Speech-Language Pathologist, Speech-Language Technician, School Social Worker, or Audiologist. An appropriate license endorsement is also required. This endorsement should be related to the subject area being taught. Endorsements can be either a core academic subject area (Geometry, Biology, etc.) or a content subject area.
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The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) maintains some fairly strict guidelines for board approval of teacher preparation programs. All programs approved by the state of Utah must be offered through a regionally accredited university. Most programs require a minimum of a bachelor's degree, but some are required to offer a master's degree upon completion. Teacher preparation programs focused on school services like social work, school counseling, and psychology must offer extensive clinical experiences.
In addition, certain board-approved programs must be accredited by their guiding organization, and some are required to adhere to scope-of-practice guidelines. School audiology and speech-language pathology programs must be accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology and must follow the Scope of Practice in Audiology and Scope of Practice in Speech-Language Pathology created by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Programs for social workers must be accredited by the Council of Social Work Education and school counselor programs require accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Program Standards. Psychology programs must meet the Standards for Graduate Prep of School Psychologists and the Principles for Professional Ethics created by the National Association of School Psychologists.
Universities that meet the USBE's guidelines include the University of Utah, Brigham Young University, and Utah State University. The University of Utah is the state's flagship university. Located in Salt Lake City, they offer programs in Psychology, Special Education, and Elementary and Secondary Education. Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo. They offer programs in Early Childhood Education, Special Education, and Elementary and Secondary Education. Utah State University is a public land-grant university in Logan. Their graduate programs are ranked #1 in the state and they offer programs in Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education, Psychology, Special Education and Rehabilitation, Leadership, and Elementary and Secondary Education.
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Create AccountUtah teaching licenses have many different requirements depending on the type of license being pursued. The grade level being taught, the area of concentration, and license endorsements all have bearing on which steps need to be completed before becoming a licensed teacher in Utah. Below are the requirements for the three major types of licenses along with additional requirements for areas of concentration and license endorsements.
The entry-level teaching license in Utah is the Associate Educator License. To obtain this license, the candidate must either be enrolled in an approved educator preparation program, have earned a bachelor's degree or higher, or have skill certification in a career and technical education area. One year before applying for this license, candidates will need to successfully complete the USBE educator ethics review. They may also need to complete training courses in educator ethics, classroom management and instruction, special education law and instruction, and the Utah Effective Teaching Standards. If currently enrolled in an educator preparation program, candidates will not need to take these training courses.
In addition to the basic requirements for an associate educator license, there are content knowledge requirements that must be met. All levels of license areas require passing a content knowledge test. Pre-school special education, special education, and deaf education license areas will also need to complete special education law training and be enrolled in an approved special education program. Secondary and CTE license areas with endorsements can bypass the content knowledge test if enrolled in an educator preparation program or if they demonstrate a level of competency that satisfies the knowledge content criteria.
The professional educator license requires completion of all basic requirements for an associate educator license and either a bachelor's degree or higher or skill certification in a career and technical education area. Candidates will need to demonstrate their learning and teaching skills, complete a content knowledge test, and, if applicable, pass a pedagogical performance assessment. If seeking a professional educator license in early childhood, elementary education, special education, or preschool special education area of concentration, candidates will need to complete a literacy preparation assessment and have a recommendation from theirr educator preparation program.
The Local Education Agency (LEA)-specific educator license must be applied for on behalf of the applicant the school wishes to employ. Candidates will need to have completed the educator ethics review within one year before the LEA submits a licensing application. In the first year of employment with the LEA, candidates will be trained on educator ethics, classroom management and instruction, special education law and instruction, and the Utah Effective Teaching Standards. This license lasts for one year and is not renewable for licenses in special education or pre-school special education.
Each teaching license issued by the USBE must have an area of concentration. This area of concentration should be complementary to the category and subject that is to be taught. Below are some of the more common categories with their areas of concentration.
| Catagory | Area of Concentration |
|---|---|
| Pre-K Disabilities | Preschool Special Education |
| K-12th Grade | Special Education PLUS Endorsements |
| K-3rd Grade | Early Childhood (K-3) or Elementary (K-6) PLUS Subject Endorsements |
| 4th-8th Grade | Elementary (K-6) or Elementary (1-8) PLUS Subject Endorsements |
| 6th-8th Grade | Elementary (1-8) or Secondary (6-12) PLUS Subject Endorsements |
| 9th-12th Grade | Secondary (6-12) or Career & Technical Education PLUS Subject Endorsements |
| Deaf/Hard of Hearing | Deaf Education License or Special Education PLUS Subject Endorsements |
| Principal/Vice-Principal | School Leadership License |
All educators wishing to provide student support services are required to hold an educator license with their license area of concentration.
Aspiring teachers who want to add an endorsement to their license will need to demonstrate their competency in a particular subject area. Depending on the endorsement they are seeking, they may need to complete coursework at a university, pass certification exams, or submit micro-credentials. The USBE offers teacher license endorsements in American Sign Language; Driver's Education; Dual Language Immersion; Education Technology; Instructional Coaching; English Language Arts; Elementary Dance, Drama, Music, or Visual Arts, Mathematics, Science, or STEM; Secondary Dance, Music, Theatre, Visual Art, or Film and Media Arts, Science Core, Biology (1 or 2), Chemistry (1 or 2), Earth Science (1 or 2), Physics (1 or 2), Mathematics, or Literacy Intervention; Social/Ballroom Dance; Gifted and Talented; Health Education; Library Media K-12; Literacy Specialist K-12; Middle School Mathematics; Physical Education; Anthropology; Economics; Geography; History; Political Science; Psychology; Social Studies; Sociology; Utah Studies; or World Languages. They offer additional endorsements for Adult Education, CTE, English as a Second Language, JROTC, and Special Education. Applications and requirements for each endorsement are posted on USBE's website.
The USBE will consider out-of-state applicants for Utah licensure if they have met all requirements for an educator in Utah. They will also accept assessment scores and demonstrations of content knowledge and pedagogical competencies as long as they are reasonably equivalent to Utah's standards. Teachers with a current out-of-state license and one year of experience in a public or accredited private school are exempt from any content knowledge or pedagogical assessments.
Out-of-state individuals with the Nationally Certified School Psychologist credential from the National Association of School Psychologists meet state requirements for a professional school psychologist license. Individuals who hold a current Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology or Speech-Language Pathology issued by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Associations meet Utah licensing requirements for a professional license in audiology or speech-language pathology. Additionally, individuals seeking licensure as an audiologist or speech-language pathologist may meet state requirements by completing a program in their concentration area that is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology.
Licensed or credentialed teachers from a foreign country may become licensed to teach in Utah through the International Guest Teacher Program. Candidates will need to pass a background check and submit all credentials, transcripts, and any other relevant documentation for review. Before receiving payment for their services, guest teachers will need to acquire a Social Security number from the United States government.
Aspiring teachers will need to take the Praxis test in Utah. The USBE uses Praxis Subject Assessment tests to measure a potential educator's skills and knowledge. Praxis Multiple Subject (5001) tests include four subtests: Reading and Language Arts (5002), Mathematics (5003), Social Studies (5004), and Science (5005). Each subtest is graded individually and can be taken individually, but candidates must take and pass all subtests. Alternately, they may take all four at once by registering for the Praxis Multiple Subjects 5001. Below is a table listing subject categories, the Praxis exam needed for licensure or endorsement in Utah, and passing scores.
| Category | Test Title/Code | Passing Score |
|---|---|---|
| Early Childhood Education (K-3) | Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects (5001) *Reading and Language Arts (5002) *Mathematics (5003) *Social Studies (5004) *Science (5005) OR Early Childhood Education (5025) |
157 157 155 159 156 |
| Elementary Education (K-6) | Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects (5001) *Reading and Language Arts (5002) *Mathematics (5003) *Social Studies (5004) *Science (5005) |
157 157 155 159 |
| Elementary Education (1-8) | Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects (5001) *Reading and Language Arts (5002) *Mathematics (5003) *Social Studies (5004) *Science (5005) |
157 157 155 159 |
| Agriculture Endorsement | Agriculture (5701) | 147 |
| Art (K-12) Endorsement | Art: Content Knowledge (5134) | 158 |
| Business Endorsement | Business Education: Content Knowledge (5101) | 154 |
| Chinese (Mandarin) Endorsement | Chinese (Mandarin) : World Language (6556) | 145 |
| Intro to Computer Science Endorsement | Computer Science (5652) | 149 |
| Programming and Software Development Endorsement | Computer Science (5652) | 149 |
| Economics Endorsement | Economics (5911) or Social Studies: Content Knowledge (5081) |
150 159 |
| English Endorsement | English Language Arts: Content and Analysis (5039) | 162 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences Endorsement | Family and Consumer Sciences (5122) | 160 |
| French Endorsement | French: World Language (5174) | 160 |
| Geography Endorsement | Geography (5921) or Social Studies: Content Knowledge (5081) |
159 159 |
| German Endorsement | German: World Language (5183) | 160 |
| Health Education Endorsement | Health Education (5551) | 162 |
| History Endorsement | World and U.S. History: Content Knowledge (5941) or Social Studies: Content Knowledge (5081) |
156 159 |
| Latin Endorsement | Latin (5601) | 152 |
| Library Media (K-12) Endorsement | Library Media Specialist (5311) | 141 |
| Mathematics Endorsement: Level 2 | Mathematics: Content Knowledge (5161) or Middle School Mathematics (5169) |
160 165 |
| Mathematics Endorsement: Levels 3 or 4 | Mathematics: Content Knowledge (5161) | 160 |
| Middle Level Science Endorsement | Middle School Science (5442) | 152 |
| Music (K-12) Endorsement | Music: Content Knowledge (5113) | 156 |
| Physical Education Endorsement | Physical Education: Content Knowledge (5091) | 152 |
| Political Science Endorsement | Government/Political Science (5931) or Social Studies: Content Knowledge (5081) |
149 159 |
| Psychology Endorsement | Psychology (5391) or Social Studies: Content Knowledge (5081) |
154 159 |
| Reading Endorsement | Teaching Reading: K-12 (5206) | 156 |
| Science: Biology Endorsement | Biology: Content Knowledge (5235) | 149 |
| Science: Chemistry Endorsement | Chemistry: Content Knowledge (5245) | 151 |
| Science: Earth Science Endorsement | Earth and Space Sciences: Content Knowledge (5571) | 153 |
| Science: Environmental Endorsement | Biology: Content Knowledge (5235) | 149 |
| Science: Middle Level Science Endorsement | General Science: Content Knowledge (5435) | 166 |
| Science: Physical Science Endorsement | Chemistry: Content Knowledge (5245) or Physics:Content Knowledge (5265) |
151 136 |
| Science: Physics Endorsement | Physics: Content Knowledge (5265) | 136 |
| Social Studies Composite Endorsement | Social Studies: Content Knowledge (5081) | 159 |
| Sociology Endorsement | Sociology (5952) or Social Studies: Content Knowledge (5081) |
154 159 |
| Spanish Endorsement | Spanish: World Language (5195) | 168 |
| Speech Communication Endorsement | Speech Communication: Content Knowledge (5221) | 144 |
| Technology Education Endorsement | Technology Education (5051) | 159 |
| Theatre Endorsement | Theatre (5641) | 162 |
| Administrative/Supervisory K-12 | Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision (5412) or School Leaders Licensure Assessment (6990) |
146 151 |
| Deaf Education | Special Education: Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students (5272) | 157 |
| Special Education: Blind and Visually Impaired | Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications (5354) or a Highly Qualified test |
160 |
| Special Education: Deaf and Hard of Hearing | Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications (5354) or a Highly Qualified Test |
160 |
| Special Education: Mild/Moderate Endorsement | Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications (5354) or Special Education: Core Knowledge and Mild to Moderate Applications (5543) or a Highly Qualified Test |
160 158 |
| Special Education: Severe to Profound Endorsement | Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications (5354) or Special Education: Core Knowledge and Severe to Profound Applications (5545) or a Highly Qualified Test |
160 158 |
| School Counseling K-12 | Professional School Counselor (5421) | 164 |
| School Psychologist K-12 | School Psychologist (5402) | 147 |
Before a candidate can become a licensed teacher in Utah, they will need to undergo fingerprinting and a criminal background check. This background check applies to non-licensed employees and volunteers as well. In addition, they will need to complete an online ethics review with the USBE. This should be done well in advance of submitting their application for licensure.
Application for a Utah teaching license is done online through the Utah Education Network website. Candidates will need to register for an online account, which will give them access to the Comprehensive Administration of Credentials for Teachers in Utah Schools (CACTUS). Through this platform, they will be able to submit documents for the application process, check their status, renew their license, and much more.
The Alternate Pathway to Professional Educator License (APPEL) Program offers candidates an alternate route to a professional educator's license. This program replaces the Alternate Route to Licensure (ARL) program in Utah. Elementary, Secondary, CTE, and Special Education teachers with an associate educator license can use this program to advance to the next level. APPEL is an educator preparation program that is not university-based. Instead, the program is offered through school districts, individual schools, or the USBE. Elementary, Secondary, and CTE courses are administered through schools while Special Education courses for the program are administered by the Board of Education.
A second alternate path to licensure is to become a certified career and technical educator. A bachelor's degree is not necessary to be a licensed CTE, but prospective teachers on this path will need either 6 years of work experience completed in the last 10 years in the area they wish to teach or be licensed or certified in their industry. They will need to submit all proof of work experience and/or certification and apply for an associate educator license to get started. Additional coursework or training modules may be required.
The USBE encourages professional development by offering incentives to teachers who strive to continue their education. Credits are awarded to individuals for completing professional learning courses and assigned learning tasks. These credits can be used to renew one's teaching license or add an endorsement.
Utah educator evaluations allow teachers to gauge their professional growth while providing opportunities for advancement. These periodic evaluations measure a teacher's professional performance, student academic growth, and stakeholder input, which includes annual input from students and parents. There are four evaluation performance tiers: highly effective, effective, emerging/minimally effective, and not effective. Additional credits are given to educators with a highly effective rating.
Adding endorsements to one's license also promotes teachers' professional development and advancement. In addition to learning a new skill, teachers will be enriching their students' education while opening up new opportunities for engagement and advancement.
According to a recent report from the USBE, there are 674,351 students enrolled in Utah's K-12 school system for the 2022 school year. Teach Utah expects at least 50,000 more new students in the next 5 years. USBE has not released recent data on the number of educators currently employed, but the Teach Utah website lists over 900 open educator positions.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average salary for elementary teachers in Utah is $59,680.00 per year. Middle school teachers average $66,910.00 annually while high school teachers gross $66,140.00. Utah state employee benefits are comprehensive with paid holidays; annual and sick leave; medical, dental, and vision insurance; and employer contributions to a pension or 401K. The state's health and wellness benefits include flex or HSA accounts, access to state discounted health clinics, and health coaching.
Katie Slaughter, M.A. has taught middle school science and math for over 6 years. She has helped lay a foundation for personalized learning in her school and has presented internationally about what she is doing in her classroom. She has successfully passed numerous Praxis exams. Katie completed a B.S. in Marine Science from Coastal Carolina University and an M.A. in Teaching from Georgetown College.
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