Educator Qualifications
Every educator with an assignment in a Utah public school is required to have a valid Utah educator license (Utah State Code 53E-6-201) with appropriate license areas and endorsements (R277-309).
Qualified Educator Percentages
2024-2025 Percentages by Full-time Equivalency (FTE) and Qualifications MidYear Report- This file shows the percent of teachers at each Local Education Agency (LEA), meaning school district or charter school, and each school that have Professional, Associate, or LEA-Specific licenses. The description of these license levels are below. These data are required to be posted on each school's website if the LEA uses LEA-Specific licensing.
Utah Educator License Levels
The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) issues several levels of educator licenses, each with specific requirements:
Professional Educator License (PEL)
This is the standard, full professional teaching license in Utah. It signifies that an educator has met all state-established competencies and requirements to be a fully qualified teacher. It's the ultimate goal for most educators. It is valid for five (5) years and is renewable.
Associate Educator License (AEL)
This is an entry-level, temporary license designed for individuals who have been hired to teach in a Utah public school but have not yet completed all requirements for a Professional Educator License, or are actively working towards one. It allows individuals to teach while completing an approved educator preparation program. It is valid for three (3) years and non-renewable; it may be extended for two additional years in some cases. This license is generally not transferable to other states.
LEA-Specific Educator License
This is a restricted, temporary license issued by the Utah State Board of Education at the request of a specific Local Education Agency (LEA), meaning a school district or charter school. It is intended for situations where an LEA has a critical need or shortage for a particular teaching position and other licensing routes are not feasible or reasonable for the applicant. It is valid for three (3) years and is renewable. This license is not valid in any other LEA than the requesting LEA.