Educator Licensing Overview

Licensing Structure

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.

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

K-12

Audiologist

Career and Technical Education (CTE)

9-12

Automotive Technology Teacher*
Cosmetology Teacher*
Woods Teacher*

Deaf Education

K-12

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

Early Childhood Education

K-3

District Instructional Coach
First Grade Teacher
Reading Specialist*

Elementary Education

K-8

Elementary Interventionist
Kindergarten Teacher
Middle School Math Teacher*

Preschool Special Education

Preschool/Pre-K

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

School Counselor

K-12

Career Center Director
Elementary Counselor
High School Counselor

School Leadership

K-12

Assistant Principal
Principal

School Psychologist

K-12

Special Education Eligibility Evaluator*
School Psychologist

School Social Worker

K-12

Mental Health Counselor
Social Worker

Secondary Education

6-12

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

Special Education

K-12

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

Speech Language Pathologist

K-12

IEP Case Manager for Communication Disorders
Speech Language Pathologist

Speech Language Therapist

K-12

Speech Language Therapist
Speech Therapy Assistant

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

Approved University Programs

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

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

In addition to these programs, there are Alternate Pathway to Professional Educator License (APPEL) that 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. Salt Lake Community College also provides coursework that may be accepted by an EPP.

Resources

Educator Preparation Programs

Educator Preparation Program Competencies for Elementary Literacy