Pathways to a Utah Educator

Licensing Overview

Each educator license has a license area; some have an endorsement to indicate a specialization in a content area or particular set of skills. Utah Educator Licensing provides an overview of the new licensing structure.  For additional detail, please see the Educator Licensing Lookup Tool More Information.

An educator license is like a tree:

  1. Trunk is the license.
  2. Branches are the license areas.
  3. Leaves are the endorsements.

Educator License Levels

There are three educator license levels.

  1. Professional
    All of the requirements have been met and competencies demonstrated.
  2. Associate
    A minimum number of requirements have been met and/or competencies demonstrated.
  3. Local Education Agency (LEA) Specific
    Under direction of the local governing boards of school districts or charters.

License Areas

These indicate which grade levels you are qualified to teach or service you are qualified to provide in Utah public schools.

License Area

Grade Levels

Possible Positions

Note: Positions vary by school

Audiologist

Kindergarten-Grade 12

Audiologist

Career and Technical Education (CTE)

Grades 9-12

Automotive Technology Teacher*
Cosmetology Teacher*
Woods Teacher*

Deaf Education

Kindergarten-Grade 12

High School Teacher of the Deaf*
Itinerant Listening and Spoken Language Teacher*
Third Grade Teacher of the Deaf

Early Childhood Education

Pre-Kindergarten-Grade 3

First Grade Teacher
Reading Specialist*
Title I Preschool Teacher

Elementary Education

Kindergarten-Grade 8

Elementary Interventionist
Kindergarten Teacher
Middle School Math Teacher*

Preschool Special Education

Preschool/Pre-Kindergarten

Individualized Education Program  (IEP) Case Manager for 4-year-old class
Preschool Special Education Teacher

School Counselor

Kindergarten-Grade 12

Career Center Director
Elementary Counselor
High School Counselor

School Leadership

Kindergarten-Grade 12

Assistant Principal
Principal

School Psychologist

Kindergarten-Grade 12

School Psychologist

School Social Worker

Kindergarten-Grade 12

School Social Worker

Secondary Education

Grades 6-12

High School Science Teacher*
Middle School Art Teacher*
Student Government Advisor

Special Education

Kindergarten-Grade 12

Elementary Special Education Teacher
Middle School Math Co-teacher
Self-Contained Resource Teacher

Speech Language Pathologist

Kindergarten-Grade 12

IEP Case Manager for Communication Disorders
Speech Language Pathologist

Speech Language Technician

Kindergarten-Grade 12

Speech Language Technician

*=These positions require an additional endorsement to be fully qualified.

Becoming a Teacher

An educator license is required to be a teacher in a Utah public school.  You must complete a preparation program to earn your Professional Educator License.  Visit Teaching in Utah to review the programs that are available in Utah.  There are three pathways to becoming a professionally licensed teacher in Utah. There is a temporary license, Associate Educator License (AEL), that is valid for three (3) years.  The AEL will qualify you to teach while you complete your preparation.

A diagram titled "Utah Road to Teaching" showcasing different paths to becoming a professional educator. The pathways result in earning a bachelor's degree and obtaining a Professional Educator License, with associated costs ranging from $0-60k and durations of 1-4 years. It highlights various programs like APPEL/APPEL - SpEd, U-RAPT Apprenticeship, and U-RAPT Pre-Apprenticeship. The text mentions available federal grants and scholarships, including the GI Bill. Visual elements include bullet points indicating specific roles like Teacher of Record and Mentor Journeyworker Teacher, with notes on requirements for earning college credits in related educational positions.

 

Approved Utah-based University Programs

There are ten university-based Educator Preparation Programs (EPP) offered in Utah. Each institution has a variety of programs and degrees available.

  1. Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
  2. Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, Provo, Utah
  3. Southern Utah University, Cedar City, Utah
  4. University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
  5. Utah State University, Logan, Utah\
  6. Utah Tech University, St George, Utah
  7. Utah Valley University, Orem, Utah
  8. Weber State University, Ogden, Utah
  9. Western Governors University, Salt Lake City, Utah
  10. Westminster University, Salt Lake City, Utah

Please note that university-based education preparation programs completed through universities outside of Utah will require that the individual obtain their license in state where the university resides, then apply to Utah through the License Equivalency Review (LER).

Alternate Preparation Programs

The Alternate Pathway to Professional Educator License (APPEL) programs are based in Utah school districts and charter schools. Most APPEL programs require candidates to be employed in their schools to enroll in the program.

Coursework requirements may be completed through any regionally accredited university and Salt Lake Community College also provides coursework that may be accepted by an EPP.  Check with the APPEL Director in your LEA for clarification.

Utah Registered Apprenticeship Program for Teachers (U-RAPT)

Overview

The Utah Registered Apprenticeship Program for Teachers (U-RAPT) is a paid, competency-based program with two phases: pre-apprenticeship for those earning an associate's degree while gaining classroom experience, and apprenticeship for those with an associate's degree who work with a mentor teacher to earn a bachelor's degree and teaching license.

The program emphasizes skill demonstration, paid work experience, and equal opportunity for all participants. Both pre-apprentices and apprentices will participate in on-the-job learning in the classroom with a qualified journeyworker teacher (1-2 years for the pre-apprentice and 1-3 years for the apprentice).

  U-RAPT Website 

Contact

Christina Guevara

Apprenticeship Educational Specialist

christina.guevara@schools.utah.gov 

801-538-7778