Welcome to Educator Licensing
The Utah State Board of Education licenses Utah teachers, administrators, and other educational professionals. Whether you're applying for your first license, renewing an existing one, or adding an endorsement, we're here to help.
Application Status
We are currently processing complete applications submitted through SM Apply on or before
August 2, 2026
Last Updated: August 20, 2026
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Important Updates
LEA and Admin Users: USIMS System Launch Paused
The system release for USIMS has been paused. Technical issues occurred while moving data from CACTUS RDS.
We are extending access to CACTUS through the October 13, 2026 reporting deadline. The new USIMS release will happen after this October deadline. USBE will share dates as soon as they become available.
How to Access CACTUS & Avoid Issues
There are known issues when opening CACTUS Remote Desktop Services (RDS) with Chrome and Safari browsers. Please use one of these web browsers to log in:
- Microsoft Edge
- Mozilla Firefox
Support Options
If you need help, we are here for you:
- Daily Office Hours: Join online starting Friday, August 14.
- In-Person Access: Use a computer at the USBE office. Email Jane Conway at jane.conway@schools.utah.gov to schedule a time.
- Helpdesk: Contact the App Help Desk or Educator Licensing team at licensing@schools.utah.gov or (801) 538-7740.
Updated: August 11, 2026
College and Career Readiness (CCR) Endorsement Update
In March 2020, Utah passed a law (Utah Code Section 53F-5-204) requiring all school counselors in Utah to earn a College and Career Readiness (CCR) endorsement. In 2024, USBE updated its official rules to match this law.
Starting in the 2026 school year, all school counselors must have the CCR endorsement to be fully qualified. Beginning August 1, 2026, we updated our licensing practices as follows:
Out-of-State License Holders
Applicants who hold an out-of-state school counseling license and an approved degree will be granted:
- A professional educator license in school counseling
- An associate CCR endorsement
- Counselors will have three years to complete the full professional CCR endorsement.
This update will be applied retroactively to applications received in the past year.
Associate Educator License Applicants
Qualifying applicants for an associate educator license in school counseling, will be granted:
- An associate educator license in school counseling
- An associate CCR endorsement
Requirements to advance to the professional license and endorsement will depend on program location.
USBE Licensing Team is working to manually add the associate CCR endorsement to all associate school counseling licenses.
Counselors Licensed Over One Year Ago
Those who were granted a Utah professional school counseling license more than one year ago, will not be granted an associate CCR endorsement and must complete the CCR endorsement requirements to have it added to their license.
For information, see the CCR Guide →
Updated: August 14, 2026
Latest News
How to Access Your Altitude Account
Follow these steps to log in to USBE's new professional learning platform, Altitude:
- Enter the email address you used for your MIDAS account.
- Select Send me a Code. We will send a code to your email on file. Please check your spam or junk folder if you do not see it.
- Type the code into the box and select Submit.
- On the "Ready to Login" screen, you can check Keep me logged in for 365 days if you choose.
- Select Login.
Moved Schools? Not Sure Which Email? How to Update Your Email Address
If your MIDAS account used an email address from your previous school or district and you have moved, update your email in USIMS (our educator licensing portal) first:
- Log in to USIMS.
- Select Personal Information from the checklist.
- Type your new email address and click Save.
Note: It may take up to 24 hours for email updates to take effect.
For information, visit Altitude Updates →
Coming Soon
Upcoming Changes to Educator Licensing Document Submissions
To protect data security and ensure document authenticity, the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) is updating its rules for submitting official licensing records.
What is Changing?
Starting soon, all official licensing documents must be sent directly from the issuing source.
- Transcripts and Evaluations: Official college transcripts and credential evaluations must come directly from the issuing university, college, or evaluation service.
- Test Scores: Official score reports (such as Praxis or the Utah Foundations of Reading) must come directly from the test provider.
- Work Verification: Work verification forms must come directly from your former employer.
Important Rules for Submitted Records
- No Transfers Between Offices: USBE will no longer forward transcripts or documents to school districts, nor will USBE accept transcripts transferred from school districts.
- State Record Policy: Once USBE receives a document, it becomes an official state record. We cannot copy, return, or forward submitted documents. You must request separate copies directly from the original source for your own files or district records.
Current Process During the Transition
Applicants may continue using current submission methods until the effective transition date. We will share more information as it becomes available.
Updated: July 23, 2026
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