Apply for an Educator License

Overview

To find the correct application:

  1. Review the table below.
  2. Find your situation in the first column.
  3. Review the tab for the application listed in the second column.

Submit all applications online through SM Apply.

If you need help using SM Apply, review the SM Apply Tutorials.

Professional testing is one way to demonstrate competency for Utah educator licenses. Review the Educator Tests tab to learn about available testing options.

Educator Situation Application Needed
I am a licensed educator in another state or country. License Equivalency Review (LER)
I want a temporary license so I can get a job and then complete a preparation program. Associate Educator License (AEL)
I completed a preparation program at a Utah university. University Recommends
I completed an APPEL or APPEL-SpEd program. APPEL Recommends
I was awarded an Associate License (AEL) based on my license in another state and have completed my professional requirements (e.g., College & Career Readiness). LER Upgrade to Professional
I hold a Certified Social Worker (CSW) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) from the Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL). Associate Educator License (AEL)
I completed an online program and have a license (teacher, admin, or other) from another state. License Equivalency Review (LER)
I have a Utah Educator License and want to add another license area. (e.g., I am licensed in Elementary, but want to add Special Education.) Associate Educator License (AEL)
I am enrolled in a Utah teacher preparation program. Associate Educator License (AEL)
I have a bachelor's degree or higher in education from another country. License Equivalency Review (LER)
I am enrolled in an educator preparation program in another state. Associate Educator License (AEL)
I am a Nationally Certified School Psychologist and hold the NASP-NCSP. License Equivalency Review (LER)
I hold a professional educator license in a teaching area and want to add the Secondary license area based on a qualifying content area or CTE endorsement.  LER Upgrade to Professional
I hold a teaching license in a state covered by the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact.  License Equivalency Review (LER)

 

License Equivalency Review (LER) Application

If you have a standard renewable educator license from another state or country and would like to apply for a Utah Educator License, please use the License Equivalency Review Checklist (Google Docs) to prepare and submit your application.

International Educators

You may need to provide verification of at least one year of teaching experience to qualify for a Utah educator license. For answers to common questions about this process, please review the International Licenses Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

International Transcripts & Licenses

If you hold a degree or teaching license from another country, you must have your documents evaluated by an approved credential evaluation company before applying. You must request a course-by-course equivalency and degree evaluation, which must include a certified English translation. Your evaluation must come from a member organization of one of the following two national associations:

💡 Discount for Utah Educators: > You can use My International Education Evaluation (MyIEE), an approved provider that offers Utah educators a $20 discount and expedited 3-day processing.

Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact

Utah participates in the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact. This agreement makes it faster and easier for teachers to transfer their professional licenses between participating states without facing traditional delays or roadblocks. You can view the full list of participating states on the Compact Map.

Who Qualifies?

    • Eligible: You must hold a standard renewable Professional Educator License.
    • Not Eligible: Temporary or alternative credentials do not qualify for this program. This includes probationary, provisional, substitute, LEA-Specific, or associate licenses.

Moving From a Member State to Utah

If you hold a professional teaching license from another compact member state, Utah will grant you an equivalent Utah license.

Forms

Verification of Educator Experience Complete this form if you have experience as an educator in another state or country.

Ready to Apply?

All applications must be submitted electronically through the SM Apply portal.

Need Help?

Associate Educator License (AEL) Application

The Associate Educator License (AEL) is for individuals who want to teach in Utah but have not completed an educator preparation program (EPP), either through a university or an alternate pathway.

The AEL:

  • Is valid for 3 years
  • Cannot be renewed
  • Cannot be transferred to other states

Application Guides

The following Google Docs provide a step-by-step checklist for obtaining an AEL in each license area.  Please note all applications that include Physical Education (PE) must include a copy of your current CPR certification from an approved provider (such as the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, National Safety Council, or Emergency Care and Safety Institute).

Important Notice: MIDAS Professional Learning Platform Update 

The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) is replacing the MIDAS professional learning platform with the new Altitude system on July 1, 2026.

To prevent delays in your licensing or course credits, you must complete all current training and activities by the deadlines below.

Critical Deadlines

  • June 3, 2026 – Completion Deadline: Finish all Microcredentials and Professional Learning tasks in MIDAS. This ensures USBE can grade your work and log your credits before the system transfer.
  • June 9, 2026 – Verification Deadline: Confirm that all completed courses appear on your MIDAS transcript.
  • June 9 – June 30, 2026 – System Freeze: You cannot enter data or complete activities in MIDAS during this time. However, you can still view and download your MIDAS transcript.
  • July 1, 2026 – New System Live: The Altitude platform opens, and standard course tracking resumes.

What happens if I miss the deadlines?  If you do not finish your courses and verify your transcript by June 9, your credit documentation will be delayed until the new Altitude system is fully running on July 1.

Next Steps for Educators and Administrators

  1. Log into MIDAS immediately to check your pending coursework.
  2. Complete all active modules before June 3.
  3. Download and save a copy of your MIDAS transcript for your records before June 30.

University Program Verification

If you are currently enrolled in a university teacher-preparation program, your university must provide an official letter of enrollment so you can receive your Associate Educator License (AEL).

The letter from your university must verify the following three pieces of information:

  • Institution Information: The name and details of your college or university.
  • Enrollment Information: Your specific program and coursework details.
  • Enrollment Status: Confirmation that you are currently in good standing.

Download and use the provided Teacher Letter Template to ensure your university includes all required details.

Ready to Apply?

All applications must be submitted electronically through the SM Apply portal.

Need Help?

University Recommends

Utah University Recommendation

The information below is for individuals who have completed an education preparation degree program through a Utah college/university and are ready to apply for a Professional Utah Educator License. Please read the following step-by-step instructions to obtain your standard Professional Utah Educator License.

Instructions

Utah Schools Information Management System (USIMS)

For initial license recommendations only.

Step 1:  Successfully complete a Utah State Board of Education (USBE) Background Check in USIMS.

  • Choose the Initial Licensing option.
  • Complete the online account registration including your social security number and your date of birth to initiate the background check.
  • Utah requires completion of the background check that includes fingerprinting.

Fingerprinting for Applicants Physically Located in Utah
Create an account in USIMS. Follow prompts and complete Educator Ethics Review and Background Check. View the Fingerprint Directions provided. No cards will be mailed to you; please read directions. Schedule an appointment at one of the local Utah Educator LiveScan Fingerprint Sites. Results take approximately 15-20 business days from the date the prints are taken.

Fingerprinting for Applicants Located Outside of Utah

    • No cards will be mailed to you.

Schedule an appointment at any local agency that performs background checks and obtain a standard-issued Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) fingerprint card(s) (FD-258)

    • Please be sure to include your full Social Security Number, signature and enter your Comprehensive Administration of Credentials for Teachers in Utah Schools (CACTUS) Identification Number in the Originating Case Agency (OCA) Box on your card.

Mail the completed card and signed Utah State Board of Education, Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification, and Federal Bureau of Investigation Informed Consent and Release of Liability to:

Utah State Board of Education Educator Licensing
PO Box 144200
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-4200

Results clear in approximately 20-25 business days from the date the cards are received by USBE. Comprehensive Administration of Credentials for Teachers in Utah Schools (CACTUS) Identification numbers are created for individuals when initiating their first USBE Background Check.

To Retrieve Your CACTUS Identification Number

Go to USIMS and click on License Information to retrieve your CACTUS Identification Number.

Step 2:  Complete a Utah Educator Ethics Review in USIMS Within 12 Months of Being Recommended for a Utah Educator License.

  • Complete the 30-minute activity (it is a timed activity and should take no longer than 35 minutes) in USIMS. The activity completion date will be posted to your CACTUS profile within 1 hour.

Step 3:  Complete the University Recommendation Step in USIMS to Confirm the License and Print an Official Digital Copy of the License.

  • Your Utah University will post your University Recommendation in CACTUS profile and it will appear in your USIMS account.
  • It is recommended that the confirmation step be completed within 30 days of the university’s recommendation.
  • Delays in completing the final process could result in an expiration of the recommendation which could require addition coursework or certification through the university and USBE before this can be re-recommended.
  • For any questions or to report errors regarding the License Type, License Area or Endorsements, please contact the recommending university.

APPEL Recommends

The information below is for individuals who have completed an Alternate Pathway to Professional Educator License (APPEL), APPEL-SpEd, or USBE SLT Institute program.  If your education preparation program has submitted a recommendation to Educator Licensing, you are ready to apply for a Utah Professional Educator License. Please read the following step-by-step instructions to obtain your standard Utah Professional Educator License.

APPEL, APPEL-SpEd, SLT Institute Instructions

Program Director submits the official recommendation to the Educator Licensing team at APPEL@schools.utah.gov.  Program provides a copy of that recommendation to the educator.

Educator Instructions

After your program, APPEL, APPEL-SpEd, USBE SLT Institute, submits the official recommendation to the Educator Licensing team, complete the steps below.  If you already have a Utah Professional Educator License and are only adding a license area, you may skip steps 1 and 2.  For example, you already have a Professional license in Special Education and have completed an APPEL program for Elementary.

Step 1:  Successfully complete a Utah State Board of Education (USBE) Background Check

Step 2:  Complete the Educator Ethics Review in USIMS

Step 3:  Submit Digital Application in SM Apply

Step 4:  Wait for Official Notification

When all license requirements are met, the Educator Licensing team will grant your Utah Professional Educator License.  You will receive a notification from SM Apply stating the license has been awarded.  If there is anything missing, you will get an email through the SM Apply system requesting additional documentation or action.  You may print a copy of your Utah Professional Educator License in USIMS; it is available in the "Print/View License" drop-down menu.

LER Upgrade to Professional Application

Use this application to upgrade your Associate Educator License (AEL) if it was granted based on:

  • A standard out-of-state educator license (current or expired).
  • An international educator license.
  • Enrollment in an out-of-state preparation program and you completed your program and have been awarded a license in the other state.

You can also use this application to:

  • Add the College and Career Readiness (CCR) endorsement to your existing School Counselor License.
  • Add a Secondary license area if you have a qualifying teaching license area and professional content area or CTE endorsement.

If you were awarded an Associate Educator License (AEL) based on your out-of-state, international, or occupational license, use this application pathway in SM Apply to submit additional documentation demonstrating you have completed the requirements to upgrade to the Professional Educator License.  Complete the LER Upgrade to Professional Application in SM Apply.

Educator Tests

The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) approves several tests that meet licensure requirements. Some tests are required. Others can be used to show competency. For details, see the Utah State Licensure Test Requirements.

If you ask Educational Testing Service (ETS) to send your scores when you register, ETS will send them to USBE. USBE will upload your scores within 15 business days after ETS releases them. 

If your scores do not appear, do not pay to resend them. Instead:

USBE will post your scores manually.

If you request score reporting through Pearson, the state will receive your results in a data file. USBE can access a secure system to view and report those scores.

Foundations of Reading

Teacher candidates in Utah preparation programs for early childhood, elementary, and special education must pass the Foundations of Reading test before receiving a professional license.

If you are enrolled in a Utah Educator Preparation Program (EPP), your program will give you a test voucher. Enter the voucher when you register. Vouchers cannot be added after registration. Contact your faculty advisor if you have questions before you register.

To receive a Utah professional license in early childhood, elementary, or special education, you must pass the Utah Foundations of Reading Assessment (UFORA).

  • If you apply for licensure on or after September 1, 2024, you must score 240 or higher.
  • If you do not score 240 or higher on your first attempt, you may qualify using one of the UFORA Assessment Options (Google Doc).

Utah Foundations of Reading
Pearson Education, Inc.