Requirements for a Utah Professional Educator License
To earn your Professional Educator License, you must complete two sets of requirements: the general foundational requirements listed below, and the specific requirements for your license area (such as Secondary Education or School Leadership) found on the tabs .
Core Requirements for All Applicants
No matter which licensing pathway or subject area you choose, you must meet these four foundational requirements:
- Educator ID (USIMS Account): You must have an educator identification number, CACTUS ID. Your CACTUS ID is assigned to you when you create an account in the Utah Schools Information Management System (USIMS).
- Cleared Background Check: You must have a current, cleared fingerprint background check on file with the Utah State Board of Education (USBE).
- Educator Ethics Review: You must complete the online Utah Educator Ethics Review within one year of your application date. (Exception: This is waived if you currently hold an active, valid Utah educator license).
- Degree Requirement: You must hold a bachelor's or master's degree from an accredited college or university.
Exceptions: Certain Career and Technical Education (CTE) licenses and alternative preparation pathways allow you to substitute relevant industry experience or certifications in place of a college degree.
This tab is under construction. Please check back often for updates.
Degree: CTE Skill Certificate.
Program: Recommendation from a Utah Board-approved university program, an APPEL program, or an earned standard renewable license (NASDTEC Stage 2) in CTE from another state.
Competencies: Must meet professional requirements for at least one endorsement.
Approval: Use USIMS for a Utah university program, SM Apply for an APPEL program, or the License Equivalency Review Application for an out-of-state license.
Degree: Bachelor's degree.
Program: Recommendation from a Board-approved university program, an APPEL program, or an earned standard renewable license (NASDTEC Stage 2) in Deaf Education from another state.
Approval: Use USIMS for a Utah university program, SM Apply for an APPEL program, or the License Equivalency Review Application for an out-of-state license.
Degree: Bachelor's degree.
Program: Recommendation from a Board-approved university program, an APPEL program, or an earned standard renewable license (NASDTEC Stage 2) from another state.
Competencies: Pass the Praxis 5025 Early Childhood exam or specific subtests of the Praxis 5001 Elementary Education exam. You also need to pass the Pearson’s Foundations of Reading assessment or complete an alternative demonstration of literacy competencies.
Approval: Use USIMS for a Utah university program, SM Apply for an APPEL program, or the License Equivalency Review Application for an out-of-state license.
Degree: Bachelor's degree.
Program: Recommendation from a Board-approved university program, an APPEL program, or an earned standard renewable license (NASDTEC Stage 2) from another state.
Competencies: Pass specific subtests of the Praxis 5001 Elementary Education exam. You also need to pass the Pearson’s Foundations of Reading assessment or complete an alternative demonstration of literacy competencies.
Approval: Use USIMS for a Utah university program, SM Apply for an APPEL program, or the License Equivalency Review Application for an out-of-state license.
Degree: Bachelor's degree.
Program: Recommendation from a Board-approved university program, an APPEL program, or an earned standard renewable license (NASDTEC Stage 2) from another state.
Approval: Use USIMS for a Utah university program, SM Apply for an APPEL program, or the License Equivalency Review Application for an out-of-state license.
Degree: Bachelor's degree.
Program: Recommendation from a Board-approved university program, an APPEL program, or an earned standard renewable license (NASDTEC Stage 2) from another state.
Competencies: Must meet professional requirements for at least one endorsement.
Approval: Use USIMS for a Utah university program, SM Apply for an APPEL program, or the License Equivalency Review Application for an out-of-state license.
Degree: Bachelor's degree.
Program: Recommendation from a Board-approved university program, the APPEL-SpEd program, or an earned standard renewable license (NASDTEC Stage 2) from another state.
Competencies: Must meet professional requirements for at least one endorsement.
Approval: Use USIMS for a Utah university program, SM Apply for the APPEL-SpEd program, or the License Equivalency Review Application for an out-of-state license.
| Pathway | Application |
|---|---|
| Utah University Special Ed Program | University Recommendation |
| APPEL-SpEd | Data 2 |
| Out of State License | LER Application |
This tab is under construction. Please check back.
Degree: Master's degree.
Program: Recommendation from a Board-approved university program, or an earned standard renewable license (NASDTEC Stage 2) from another state.
Competencies: Pass the Praxis 5422 Professional School Counselor exam with a score of 153 or higher and meet a College and Career Readiness Certificate requirement.
Approval: Use USIMS for a Utah university program, or the License Equivalency Review Application for an out-of-state license.
Degree: Master's degree (can be waived if you have an out-of-state professional license).
Program: Recommendation from a Board-approved university program, or an earned standard renewable license (NASDTEC Stage 2) from another state.
Competencies: Pass the Praxis 5412 or Praxis 6990 exam, or hold a professional-level license from another state.
Approval: Use USIMS for a Utah university program, or the License Equivalency Review Application for an out-of-state license.
Degree: Master's degree.
Program: Recommendation from a Board-approved university program, an earned standard renewable license (NASDTEC Stage 2) from another state, or a National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) certificate.
Competencies: Pass the Praxis 5403 exam with a score of 148 or higher or hold a NASP certificate.
Approval: Use USIMS for a Utah university program, or the License Equivalency Review Application for an out-of-state license or NASP certificate.
Degree: Master's degree (can be waived if you have an out-of-state professional license).
Program: Recommendation from a Board-approved university program, or an earned standard renewable license (NASDTEC Stage 2) from another state.
Competencies: Pass the Praxis 5412 or Praxis 6990 exam, or hold a professional-level license from another state.
Approval: Use USIMS for a Utah university program, or the License Equivalency Review Application for an out-of-state license.
Degree: Bachelor's degree in communication disorders.
Program: Recommendation from the USBE SLT Institute preparation program.
Approval: Complete the Professional License (APPEL, APPEL-SpEd, SLT Recommendation) Application in the SM Apply system.