UT certification
Utah teacher certification
Utah reports 3 teaching credentials and 1 alternative route to Title II, and licensed 4,772 new teachers in the latest year.
Credential rules change. Confirm current requirements with Utah State Board of Education.
Teaching credentials in Utah
Each row is a credential Utah reported to Title II. Initial means a first credential for a new teacher. Years is the length of validity.
| Credential | Initial | Years | Renewable | Grade levels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Associate Educator License | No | 3 | Yes | K-8, 6-12, 6-12 |
| LEA-Specific Educator License | No | 3 | Yes | K-8, 6-12, 6-12 |
| Professional Educator License | Yes | 5 | Yes | K-8, 6-12, 6-12 |
Requirements
Yes means the state reports the item as required for that credential. Tests shows only whether tests are required; Title II does not name the tests.
| Credential | Bachelor's | Master's | Education degree | Prep program | Tests | Performance assessment | Clinical | Coursework | Credit hours | Min. GPA | Transcripts | Employment | Mentoring | Recency | Background check | Fingerprint | Police check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Associate Educator License | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| LEA-Specific Educator License | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Professional Educator License | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Verify a teaching license in Utah
Teaching licenses in Utah are verified on the lookup service run by Utah State Board of Education. Search there by the teacher's name or certificate number to see current status.
PT3 does not verify licenses and holds no records of individual teachers.
Renewal
Renew times is how many times the credential can be renewed; renewal years is the length of each renewal.
| Credential | Renewable | Renew times | Renewal years | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Associate Educator License | Yes | 1 | 3 | (3) A Utah educator license holder shall accrue 100 license renewal hours prior to license renewal, beginning with the date of each new renewal. (4) Prior to applying for renewal, an individual that holds a professional Utah educator license shall: (a) complete license renewal hours as detailed in Section R277-302-7 during the five years prior to the date of renewal; (b) complete the USBE educator ethics review during the year prior to the date of renewal; and (c) maintain ongoing background monitoring in accordance with Section 53G-11- 403. (5) Prior to applying for renewal, an individual that holds an associate Utah educator license shall: (a) have less than three years of experience in an educator position related to the area of licensure in a public or accredited private school in Utah; (b) meet the current content knowledge requirements for an associate educator license related to the educator's area of licensure detailed in Section R277-301-4; (c) redo the professional learning modules required for an associate educator license detailed in Section R277-301-4 during the six months prior to the date of renewal; (d) complete the USBE educator ethics review during the year prior to the date of renewal; and (e) maintain ongoing background monitoring in accordance with Section 53E-6- 401. |
| LEA-Specific Educator License | Yes | 100 | 3 | 1. Local education agency (LEA) must have a policy for awarding these licenses 2. Local LEA governing board must approve license renewal in public meeting 3. Educator must complete: 60 hours of renewal activity, educator ethics review, and student data privacy course. |
| Professional Educator License | Yes | 100 | 5 | R277-302-3. Educator License Renewal Requirements (3) A Utah educator license holder shall accrue 100 license renewal hours prior to license renewal, beginning with the date of each new renewal. (4) Prior to applying for renewal, an individual that holds a professional Utah educator license shall: (a) complete license renewal hours as detailed in Section R277-302-7 during the five years prior to the date of renewal; (b) complete the USBE educator ethics review during the year prior to the date of renewal; and (c) maintain ongoing background monitoring in accordance with Section 53G-11- 403. R277-302-5. Educator Responsibilities. (1) An educator is responsible for acquiring and retaining documentation and signatures related to the completion of professional learning activities used to meet the requirements of this rule. (2) An educator shall finalize all renewal documentation during the six months prior to the date of renewal. (3) An educator shall retain all documentation related to a renewal application under this rule for no less than two years from the date of renewal. (4) If an educator's renewal application is identified for monitoring in accordance with Subsections R277-302-4(2) and (3), the educator shall submit any requested documentation to the Superintendent in a timely manner. R277-302-7. Professional Renewal Activities. (1) An educator with a current assignment in a Utah LEA shall complete renewal hours in at least two of the areas identified in this Section R277-302-7, subject to the maximum renewal hours in Subsection (4). (2) An educator without a current assignment in a Utah LEA shall complete renewal hours in any area identified in this Section R277-302-7 with no maximum renewal hours in any given area. (3) Notwithstanding Subsections (1) and (2): (a) an educator may receive 100 hours toward renewal for earning national board certification, with no further renewal hours required; (b) an educator may receive 20 hours per national board certification component completed during any given renewal cycle; or (c) an educator who held a Level 3 license prior to July 1, 2020, may receive 25 renewal hours in recognition of the Level 3 requirements in the educator's first renewal after July 1, 2020. (4) An educator may complete renewal hours in the following areas: (a) Professional learning experiences, up to a maximum of 90 hours, as follows: (i) one renewal hour for each clock hour of scheduled professional learning activities sponsored or approved by a professional education entity in the following areas: (A) university coursework; (B) USBE professional learning; (C) curriculum development; (D) school improvement; (E) mentoring and training of new teachers; (F) training and support designed specifically for new teachers or teachers identified as ineffective on the teacher's annual evaluation; (G) instructional coaching; or (H) conferences, workshops, institutes, trainings, symposia, or staffdevelopment programs; or (ii) ten renewal hours per year for a teacher evaluation deemed highly effective; (b) Educator collaboration opportunities, with one renewal hour for each clock hour up to a maximum of 30 hours; (c) Professional service, with one renewal hour for each clock hour up to a maximum of 50 hours; (d) Alternate learning opportunities, with one renewal hour for each clock hour up to a maximum of 30 hours; and (e) Teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 20 hours for each year the educator had a teaching assignment during: (i) the 2019-20 school year; (ii) the 2020-21 school year; and (iii) the 2021-22 school year. |
Emergency and temporary credentials
| Credential | Initial | Years | Renewable | Grade levels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Associate Educator License | No | 3 | Yes | K-8, 6-12, 6-12 |
| LEA-Specific Educator License | No | 3 | Yes | K-8, 6-12, 6-12 |
Out-of-state teachers
Title II lists no separate out-of-state credential for Utah. Ask Utah State Board of Education how it reviews licenses from other states.
Newly licensed teachers prepared out of state: 1,213.
Alternative routes
- Alternate Pathway to Professional Educator License (APPEL) (teach while completing)
How to become a teacher in UtahUtah teacher preparation providers
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a teaching certificate in Utah?
Utah reports 3 credentials to Title II, 1 of them initial. 0 initial credentials require a bachelor's degree, 1 require a preparation program and 1 require tests. Apply through Utah State Board of Education.
How do I verify a teaching license in Utah?
Licenses are verified on the lookup service run by Utah State Board of Education. PT3 does not verify licenses.
Can I renew a Utah teaching certificate?
3 of 3 Utah credentials are reported as renewable. Renewal details by credential are listed in the Renewal section.
Does Utah issue emergency or temporary teaching certificates?
Yes. Title II lists 2: Associate Educator License; LEA-Specific Educator License.
Can I teach in Utah with an out-of-state license?
Title II lists no separate out-of-state credential for Utah. Ask Utah State Board of Education how it reviews licenses from other states.
Is there alternative teacher certification in Utah?
Yes. Utah reports 1 alternative route to Title II.