Utah Educator License Requirements: A Comprehensive Guide

The path to becoming a certified teacher in Utah involves several key steps overseen by the Utah State Board of Education (USBE). This article provides a detailed overview of the requirements for obtaining a Utah educator license, including the traditional route, alternative pathways, reciprocity for out-of-state teachers, and other essential information.

Traditional Path to Utah Teacher Certification

The traditional route to teacher certification in Utah involves completing a bachelor’s degree with a state-approved teacher preparation component, a student teaching placement, passing the required teacher certification exams, and applying for a teaching certificate or license.

1. Earn a Bachelor’s Degree with an Approved Teacher Preparation Program

To become a teacher in Utah, candidates must have a bachelor’s degree and complete a university-based educator preparation program (EPP), usually as part of the bachelor’s degree. The bachelor’s degree major will depend on the grade level and subject students wish to teach. The EPP should be approved by the USBE. Key metrics for state-approved teacher preparation programs can be compared on the Utah schools page. It is also important to consider institutional accreditation and programmatic accreditation. Utah Tech University is a USBE-approved educator preparation program (EPP), meaning that UT can recommend students for a Utah Professional License upon students’ successful completion of UT licensure program requirements. To earn your teacher certification the traditional way, you should complete your bachelor’s degree at an In-State University. Make sure your degree is related to the field of education and that you are seeking to be licensed in. You should also work towards completing an education/licensure program while you earn your degree. Your degree path should automatically put you on your way towards completing an education/licensure preparation program.

2. Complete a Student Teaching Placement

As part of your program, you will also complete a student teaching placement, sometimes called an internship. This is typically a full-time, semester-long placement during which you will have opportunities to lead a classroom while paired with an experienced teacher. To meet the requirements for state certification, the student teaching placement should be at the grade level and in the subject you wish to teach. Some programs may offer longer student teaching placements or the opportunity to pursue more than one placement. Student teaching is an experience required by the preparation program you are a part of. As a student teacher, you will work with an experienced teacher to learn classroom dynamics. Your college’s preparation program may require that you obtain a student license prior to beginning your teaching experience to ensure student safety. This license will require you complete a background check.

3. Pass the Required Utah Teacher Exams

Utah has adopted the Praxis Series of tests, administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS) to evaluate candidates who apply for teaching certification in Utah. All future educators in Utah must pass the Praxis Subject Tests in their content area to qualify for certification. In addition, teachers being licensed in early childhood, elementary, preschool special, or special education need to pass the Praxis Foundations of Reading Test. Most candidates complete this exam while they are enrolled in their EPP. Utah utilizes Praxis tests that are administered by Educational Testing Services (ETS) for all examination requirements. The exam you take will vary depending on the grade level and subject you seek to teach. Out-of-state teachers must past a Praxis II content test.

4. Apply for Utah Teacher Certification

The next step is to apply for a Professional Educator License (PEL). Traditional route candidates for Utah teacher certification do not typically apply for their teaching license themselves. Instead, the institution offering the EPP will apply for a license on the graduate’s behalf by entering a recommendation in the Comprehensive Administration of Credentials for Teachers in Utah Schools (CACTUS). Applicants should create an account in the Utah Schools Information Management System (USIMS) and submit:

Background check with fingerprinting
Utah Educator Ethics Review
University recommendation
Official transcripts
Payment of non-refundable application fees

Within three years of gaining college recommendation, have a USBE Fingerprint Background Check cleared. Have a cleared Utah State Board of Education Fingerprint Background Check after July 1, 2015.

To view your CACTUS record and obtain your CACTUS number, log into your personal Utah Education Network account.

For more information, review the Apply for an Educator License page.

Alternative Teaching Pathways in Utah

If you have a bachelor’s degree but not in education, alternative teaching certification pathways may be an option.

Academic Pathway to Teaching (APT)

If you have a bachelor’s degree or higher, this could be a great pathway for you. It allows you to take the appropriate content knowledge test in order to apply for a Level 1 APT License. An APT license is limiting in what areas you can be certified in, you can earn the license with an Elementary or Secondary concentration. This license is valid for three years. After earning this certification your LEA will pair you with a teacher leader to prepare you to meet the Utah Effective Teaching Standards.

Alternative Routes to Licensure (ARL)

This pathway is great for those who don’t have a background in education, although you should still have a bachelor’s degree with coursework that relates to the subject you seek to teach. ARL places you in a Utah school teaching the subject you are educated in.

Teach for America (TFA)

Teach for America (TFA) is an organization that works across the nation in 53 diverse regions. TFA places those who work in their organization, referred to as corps members, in a high-needs school for a two-year commitment. Throughout this commitment, the corps members work towards earning a teaching license by completing the state requirements. Unfortunately there are not currently any placements within the state of Utah.

Utah Teacher Certification Levels

Utah has a tiered system for professional educator licenses:

Level 1: This is the first professional educator license issued by USBE; all new or out-of-state teachers will start at this level.
Level 2: A Level 2 professional educator license is available to those who hold a Level 1 license. To earn this license you must complete the Entry Years Enhancement (E.Y.E.) requirements and have three years of Level 1 experience. You must also take and pass the Praxis II Principals of Learning and Teaching exam in the grade level you teach.
Level 3: To earn a Level 3 Utah professional educator License, you must have a Level 2.

Adding Subjects or Grades to a Certificate

Once you receive your teaching certificate, you will only be eligible to work as a teacher in the grade levels and certification areas listed on your certificate, though occasional, temporary exceptions are made. In Utah, endorsements attach to a license area of concentration. Each endorsement and license area combination has its own requirements that can be found in the associated Specs document. Educator Endorsement Applications must be submitted digitally via SM Apply. For more information, review the Educator Endorsements page. Every teacher certification in the state of Utah must be specific to an area of concentration. The concentration will show what grade level and/or what subject area you are qualified to teach. Teachers for younger grade levels, such as the elementary level, may not need to earn a subject area concentration. At the grade level 1-8 you can earn additional endorsements. Although endorsements are not required for teaching at this grade level, they are most commonly sought for those seeking to teach the higher grade levels within the elementary level, such as 6-8. Teachers at these levels often teach in subject-specific classrooms and will need a subject endorsement to teach.

Endorsements

Early Childhood: The Early Childhood license in Utah covers grades K-3. To earn it you must complete all Level 1 requirements. You should also take and pass the Praxis test that corresponds to Early Childhood Education. Early Childhood: Content Knowledge: This exam is taken in one sitting. You should expect to be tested on the five following subject areas: Language and Literacy, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, and Health and Physical Education; Creative and Performing Arts.
Elementary Education: This Praxis exam is composed of four distinct subtests: Reading and Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science. You can take each subtest individually, or collectively. There are two distinct grade level concentrations for elementary school teachers in Utah: Grades K-6 and Grades 1-8. Both grade levels require you pass the Elementary Education Praxis exam.
Secondary Education: In Utah, secondary school teachers are qualified to teach Grades 6-12. You can become a certified secondary school teacher by completing all Level 1 certification requirements. At the secondary level, you must pass an endorsement exam. This type of exam is completely focused on the subject you seek to teach. It can be a STEM-related subject, such as Math, or even an Arts related subject, such as Sociology.
Physical Education: To become a PE teacher in Utah you must earn an educator endorsement in PE. This will require that you take all required steps towards earning your Level 1 educator license in addition to taking the Physical Education Praxis exam.
Special Education: There are six distinct special education areas of specialization for grades K-12. To earn your Utah teachers license in any of these categories you must meet all Level 1 certification requirements, making sure that your education is focused on the special education group that you seek to work with, and complete the appropriate Praxis exam.
English as a Second Language (ESL): To earn a Utah teacher’s endorsement in English as a Second Language (ESL) you must complete at least 18 semester hours in Language, Culture, Instruction, Assessment, Family and Community Engagement, and Instructional Practice. All coursework must be approved in order to gain the endorsement. If you are unsure if your coursework will be accepted, check with the USBE to make sure you are meeting their standards.

Utah Teaching License Reciprocity

Out-of-state teachers who wish to become teachers in Utah can apply for a License Equivalency Review (LER). Applicants will need to create a USIMS profile and submit:

Copy of out-of-state license
Official transcripts
Verification of experience form
Exam scores
Fingerprint based background check
Payment of non-refundable fees

Utah supports teacher reciprocity and actively participates in NASDTEC. If the applicant has three or more consecutive years of teaching experience a Level 2 license may be issued after one year of teaching in a Utah school. You must be recommended by the local district. There is no specific reciprocity for advanced credentials. The National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) has created the Interstate Agreement in an effort to help facilitate teacher reciprocity between states. This organized reciprocity helps to ease teacher shortages by aiding the movement of teachers from state to state.

Additional Licenses and Endorsements

In addition to standard classroom teaching certificates, the USBE issues credentials in a variety of support and administrative areas.

Instructional Coaching Endorsement: Requires five years of classroom teaching experience, instructional coaching or leadership experience, experience providing instruction to adult educators, three years of effective or higher rating, at least one year of full-time employment in the Utah education system.
School Leadership License (School Principal): Requires a master’s degree, passing the required school leadership assessment, and a recommendation from an approved school leadership preparation program. You must hold a Level 2 teacher certification to become a school administrator in Utah. While having a Level 2 certification does make you eligible, you must also meet additional requirements, including having a master’s degree in education and completing an administration preparation program. These requirements are geared towards preparing you for the rigors of leading a school.
School Counselor License: Requires a master’s degree in school counseling from an approved institution with a recommendation and passing the required exam.

Other support positions are offered by the USBE, such as school leaders, teacher leaders, teacher mentors, and more, each with unique requirements. Check out the Educator Development page for more information.

Utah Teacher Outlook, Salary, and Jobs

Projected Job Growth: 19.3% Growth in Teaching Jobs in UT through 2032

There were 1,051 public K-12 schools in Utah during the 2017-2018 school year, serving an estimated student population of 668,274. With 29,211 public school teachers, this gave Utah a student-to-teacher ratio of about 23:1.

Job prospects for educators through 2032 are significantly stronger in Utah than the projected national averages, with job growth for Utah elementary teachers projected at 18.6% compared to 0.7% nationally; for Utah middle school teachers, 18.6% compared to 0.8% nationally; and for Utah secondary school teachers, 19.3% compared to 1% nationally.

Type	Number Employed in UT4	Average Annual Openings in UT2	UT Proj. Job Growth 2022-20322	Average Annual Salary in UT4	25th Percentile Wages in UT5	75th Percentile Wages in UT5
Preschool Teachers	4,600	780	49.4%	$34,860	$29,640	$36,780
Preschool Teachers, Special Education	200	30	36%	$58,450	$36,820	$73,530
Kindergarten Teachers	660	100	20.5%	$58,100	$47,960	$67,230
Elementary School Teachers	16,930	1,320	18.6%	$66,660	$56,310	$78,610
Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, Special Education	2,430	120	17.7%	$54,830	$37,180	$70,590
Middle School Teachers	4,370	470	18.6%	$67,060	$51,660	$81,070
Middle School Teachers, Special Education	670	-	-	$65,260	$47,880	$79,820
Middle School Teachers, Career/Technical Education	170	20	15.8%	$57,720	$50,120	$63,680
Secondary School Teachers	8,380	860	19.3%	$70,050	$59,770	$80,700
Secondary School Teachers, Special Education	970	-	-	$61,810	$51,540	$73,770
Secondary School Teachers, Career/Technical Education	740	50	15.6%	$65,900	$60,590	$76,680

*The estimated job growth average is based on projections for mainstream kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high school teachers. Projections for other categories, such as special education and career and technical education, may be higher or lower than the average.

Teacher salaries vary by school/district and state, and are established by the School Board of the Local Education Agency (LEA), in accordance with state and federal guidelines. Teacher salaries are typically determined through an equation that considers years of full-time documented teaching experience, alongside additional education beyond a bachelor’s degree. You may also be eligible for the Teacher Salary Supplement Program (TSSP) overseen by USBE. This program rewards and assists qualified educators. Finances are an important part of every decision you make. Below is a list of median annual teaching salaries across Utah. Keep in mind that the salary may vary depending on where you seek to teach in Utah.

Teachers can advance in the profession in a myriad of ways: by adding additional endorsements to an existing license, or by pursuing additional roles within schools, districts, state-level public education, or universities. Such roles include but are not limited to serving as instructional coach, school counselor of school psychologist, school or district administrator, state-level administrator, or faculty in a university-based educator preparation program. Most of these roles require full-time teaching experience and a Master’s degree at minimum, and may require a doctor degree (Ed.D.

Teacher Shortages in Utah

According to the US Department of Education Teacher Shortage Area report for 2022-2023, Utah broadly has the following shortages:

Core Subjects: Elementary Education, Pre-K-12

In addition to these shortages, Utah had 37 unfilled positions during the 2021-2022 school year. Furthermore, over 3,703 teachers in Utah were considered underqualified for their assignment, which includes teachers assigned to classrooms outside their certification field on a temporary or emergency basis.

Additional Resources

USBE Educator Licensing: Hub to find out how to apply for an initial license, add endorsements or renew an existing license, and access educator incentive programs.
Utah Association of Teacher Educators (UATE): Works to improve the effectiveness of teacher education through teacher development and professional growth opportunities.
Utah Education Association (UEA): Comprised of educators, students, activists, workers, parents, and community members who support the public education system in Utah.
USIMS.
Utah Educator LiveScan Fingerprint Sites.
Transcript Policy.
Educator Endorsements page.
Educator Development page.
Apply for an Educator License page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I become a high school teacher in Utah?

To become a high school teacher in Utah, you need to earn a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university. You also must pass the Praxis exams and a criminal background check. Once these requirements are met, you can apply for a teaching certificate with high school endorsements.

How many private schools and private school teachers are there in Utah?

According to the latest statistics available, as of the 2019-20 school year, there were 169 private schools in Utah, with 1,790 full-time teachers and 16,223 students. Utah law does not require private school teachers to be certified, though schools may prefer to hire teachers with state credentials. Check with private schools in your area to confirm requirements.

What is a certificate? What is certification?

A certificate is awarded by an educational institution and signifies that a student has satisfactorily completed a given curriculum. Certification is generally awarded by a trade group after an individual has met certain professional requirements (e.g.

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