Inside USBE > Departments and Programs > Teaching and Learning > Educator Licensing > Renew/Upgrade a Utah Educator License
To renew or upgrade a Utah Educator License, you will need your Comprehensive Administration of Credentials for Teachers in Utah Schools (CACTUS) ID/license number. If you do not remember it, please log in to your my.uen account at the Utah Education Network (UEN). If you need your login and password reset, contact UEN directly. You may track the status of your application through your CACTUS record.
If an educator has ever been issued a Utah Educator License, and it is in good standing, it is eligible for renewal. All licensing processes are now tracked and communicated electronically through the email associated with the educator’s CACTUS record. It is the license holder’s responsibility to accurately maintain these records. E-mails can be updated online at Educator Licensing Online.
Effective July 1, 2017, no fees are required for all license-related processes!
Definitions
A list of definitions pertaining to Licensing.
Active Educators either have a current teaching position in Utah or have taught in Utah for more than half of the school years in the license renewal cycle (Level 1 licenses: 2 of 3 years, Level 2 licenses: 3 of 5 years, or Level 3 licenses: 3 of 7 years). Licenses can be renewed up to six (6) months prior to the expiration date.
For a printable version of the breakdown of the renewal process go to Step by Step Active Educator Renewal Instructions.
Active educators must create a Professional Growth Plan as part of their educator evaluation with their administrative supervisor. The Professional Learning Plan is a component of this overall Professional Growth Plan. For most educators, the administrative supervisor will be the Principal or Vice-Principal responsible for the annual evaluation of the educator. Active educators are required to review and revise the plan with their administrative supervisor annually. Active educators are required to have their current administrative supervisor sign their Professional Learning Plan and the final license renewal form.
For educators who are actively serving as a United States Service Member, the license is considered “frozen” until they are released from active duty. Utah State Board of Education will extend a license for the number of years on active duty with appropriate documentation showing the activation and release dates.
Answering “yes” to any of the following conditions, qualifies as an active educator, and must renew through the Active Educator Renewal steps to renew a Utah Educator License:
Inactive Educators do not have a current teaching assignment in Utah and have taught in Utah for less than half of their renewal cycle.
For a printable version of the breakdown of the renewal process go to Step by Step Inactive Educator Renewal Instructions.
It is recommended that inactive educators meet with a K-12 administrator twice. Once at the beginning of the educator’s license renewal cycle to review a Professional Learning Plan, and again when they are ready to renew the license. Please note that administrators have many responsibilities and deadlines, and will do their best to accommodate license renewal reviews into their schedule.
Utah State Board of Education Professional Learning Plan Form: Inactive Educator is a tool inactive educators may use to plan how they will earn the required professional learning points to renew their Utah Educator License. It is also a document inactive educators may use to have a specific professional learning activity pre-approved for points by a licensed K-12 administrator. Any currently licensed K-12 administrator can approve a professional learning plan. However, another administrator is not required to honor the pre-approval at the time of renewal if they feel the activity is not appropriate. Administrators are not responsible to create the professional learning plan, but may provide potential resources for professional learning activities. The Professional Learning Plan form is a tool for educator use only, and does not need to be submitted to Utah State Board of Education.
Inactive educators must work with a currently licensed local K-12 administrator to renew their Utah Educator License. The individual approving the license renewal form does not necessarily need to be the same individual that approved the professional learning plan.
For educators who are actively serving as a U.S. service member, the license is considered ‘frozen’ until they are released from active duty. Utah State Board of Education will extend a license for the number of years on active duty with appropriate documentation showing the activation and release dates.
In order to be valid for renewal, professional learning activities must fall into the categories detailed in R277-500: Educator Licensing Renewal, Timelines, and Required Fingerprint Background Checks. This website details those categories and provides additional guidance regarding policy not covered in the rule.
A professional license cycle is determined by the date a license is issued or renewed and ending on June 30th of the license expiration year. A Level 1 license is valid for 3 years, a Level 2 license is valid for 5 years, and a Level 3 license is valid for 7 years.
If you hold a current Utah Educator License, only professional learning activities completed within the current renewal cycle are valid, starting the date the license was renewed.
If you hold an expired Utah Educator License, only professional learning activities completed within the applicable license cycle are valid. Points are counted starting the date the renewal form has been approved going back three, five, or seven years, based on the license level.
A. Licensed educator experience
B. A college/university course
C. Utah State Board of Education professional learning credit
D. Local Education Agency (LEA)-sponsored or approved professional learning activities
E. Acceptable alternative professional learning activities
F. Conferences, workshops, institutes, symposia, or staff-development programs
G. Content and pedagogy testing
H. Utah university sponsored cooperating teachers
I. Service in a leadership role in a professional education organization
J. Educational research and innovation that results in a final, demonstrable product
K. Substituting in a public LEA or accredited private school
L. Paraprofessional or volunteer service in a public LEA or accredited private school
A. Licensed Contracted Educator Experience:
Guidance/Clarification:
Refer to the chart below to determine the point values based on contracted work hours per school year:
Annual Contract Hours | Points |
0-179 | 5 |
180-359 | 10 |
360-539 | 15 |
540-719 | 20 |
720+ | 25 |
Annual Contract Hours | Points |
0-144 | 10 |
145-288 | 15 |
289-432 | 20 |
433-576 | 25 |
577-719 | 30 |
720+ | 35 |
B. A college/university course:
Guidance/Clarification:
C. Utah State Board of Education professional learning credit:
Guidance/Clarification:
D. LEA-sponsored or approved professional learning activities:
Guidance/Clarification:
E. Acceptable alternative professional learning activities:
Guidance/Clarification:
F. Conferences, workshops, institutes, symposia, or staff-development programs outside of the LEA:
Guidance/Clarification:
G. Content and pedagogy testing:
Guidance/Clarification:
H. Utah-University sponsored cooperating teachers:
Guidance/Clarification:
I. Service in a leadership role in a national, state-wide, or LEA-recognized professional education organization:
Guidance/Clarification:
J. Educational research and innovation that results in a final, demonstrable product:
Guidance/Clarification:
K. Substituting in a Utah public LEA or accredited private school (inactive educators only):
Guidance/Clarification:
L. Paraprofessional (teacher aid) or volunteer service in a Utah public LEA or accredited private school (inactive educators only):
Guidance/Clarification:
This program allows educators with an expired license to return to teaching while completing requirements to fully renew their license.
Educator Licensing Online
Utah.gov
Entry Years Enhancement (E.Y.E.) Manual Upgrade Application
Return to Licensure Application (Part 1 of 2)
Return to Licensure Application (Part 2 of 2)
If an educator fails to complete this program, or does not submit the Renewal application (part 2) prior to the deadline, they will need to complete a regular License Renewal with appropriate points.
For questions, please contact Educator Licensing at (801) 538-7740.
The upgrade process allows an educator in Utah to upgrade to a higher license level after completing certain requirements based on the existing license level.
Early Years Enhancement (E.Y.E.) Brochure
E.Y.E. Manual Upgrade Application
Utah State Licensure Test Requirements
Utah State Board of Education
All Level 1 licensed educators employed or re-employed in a Local Education Agency (LEA) are required to complete the E.Y.E. program before they can upgrade to a Level 2 license. The goal of the E.Y.E. program is to encourage Level 1 licensed educators to develop effective teaching skills and strategies as described in the Utah Effective Teaching Standards with assistance from experienced mentors. Upon successful completion of three years of service and all E.Y.E. requirements, the employing LEA may approve for a Level 2 Utah Professional Educator License.
The upgrade process allows an educator in Utah to upgrade to a higher license level after completing certain requirements based on the existing license level.
To upgrade to a level 3 license, an educator must qualify for a Level 2 license and complete a doctorate in an education related field, or hold National Board Certification, or a current Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
Submit a written request for upgrade to a level 3 license, an original transcript showing completion of the doctoral degree, or a copy of the National Board Certificate showing area and award date, or original evidence of CCC with a copy of your ASHA card and maintenance letter (attached together), include your CACTUS number, to:
Utah State Board of Education Licensing
250 East 500 South
PO Box 144200
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-4200
Educators with a doctorate degree, electronic transcripts will be accepted only if sent directly from the college/university through a transcript clearinghouse to transcripts@schools.utah.gov. Please make a note on the letter that transcripts have been sent electronically to Utah State Board of Education.
Educators with a National Board Certification or Certificate of Clinical Competence must retain an updated certificate. Please send re-verification of active certificates to Utah State Board of Education .