Educator Records and Fingerprints

License Verification

There are three options to obtain verification of your Utah Educator License, subject to the license status:

  1. Online (available any time to anyone)
    • For online verification go to the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) Educator Licensing Lookup tool
    • Enter First and Last Name
    • If educator is not currently working as an Educator in Utah, please do not select a district
  2. Print a copy of your current Professional License
    • View your record in Comprehensive Administration of Credentials for Teachers in Utah Schools (CACTUS)
    • Utilize the USBE Educator Licensing Lookup tool
    • Or e-mail licensing@schools.utah.gov, subject line with your CACTUS Identification Number and Printed License Request
  3. Written verification (expired or current license)
    • Full Name
    • CACTUS Identification Number or other identifying information (birthdate and last four digits of your Social Security Number)
    • Recipient’s mailing address and/or e-mail
    • If you have a License Verification form from another state, scan and attach it
    • If you also require verification of the USBE Alternative Routes to Licensure (ARL) Program you completed to earn a standard Utah Educator License, please indicate in your licensure verification e-mail
    • A written request from the educator is required. Send an e-mail with the subject line License Verification Letter

Educator Record Request

Request information should be e-mailed to licensing@schools.utah.gov.

  1. Educator Transcripts digitally sent to the Utah State Board of Education (USBE)
    • A written request from the educator is required with express written permission to release posted test history. Send information to the above e-mail address and include the following information:
      • Full Name
      • Comprehensive Administration of Credentials for Teachers in Utah Schools (CACTUS) number or other identifying information (birthdate and last four digits of your social security number)
      • Recipient's email
      • Name(s) of college or university transcript requested
  2. Board-approved content knowledge test results (Praxis) posted in CACTUS
    • A written request from the educator is required with express written permission to release posted test history. Send information to the above e-mail address and include the following information:
      • Full Name
      • CACTUS number or other identifying information (birthdate and last four digits of your social security number)
      • Recipient's mailing address and/or e-mail
      • If you have a test verification for another state, scan and attach it

Comprehensive Administration of Credentials for Teachers in Utah Schools (CACTUS) Records

How To Check if Your Background, Ethics Review and Degree Has Posted in CACTUS

To view your CACTUS record, which is essentially your Utah Educator License, you will need to be able to log in to your Utah Education Network (UEN) account.

  • Go to UEN, scroll to the bottom of the page
  • Enter your login name and password (If you do not remember your login and password, please contact UEN to reset it.)
  • If logging in for the first time, click on the Register button to create an account with a login and password
  • On the Personal Page, click the CACTUS link at the bottom under Utah State Board of Education Tools
  • Click Enter CACTUS

If you have trouble entering CACTUS, please verify that your birth date, last four digits of your social security number, and first and last names are the same in UEN and CACTUS. If you need to change or correct your educator record in CACTUS, please complete the appropriate steps as indicated in the CACTUS Records Management Google Docs resource.

If your name needs to be corrected in UEN, you can do it by clicking the Edit Name and Login link under UEN Tools. When it is corrected, log out of UEN and then back in to apply the change.

Fingerprinting

All educators require an FBI background fingerprint check. The fingerprints submitted to your school or district do not meet the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) requirement.

  1. Go to the Utah Schools Information Management System (USIMS)
  2. Create an account and follow prompts.
  3. View the Fingerprint Directions provided. No cards will be mailed to you; please read directions.

Average clearance time from the date fingerprinting is processed is approximately 20-25 business days.

Utah State Board of Education, Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification, and Federal Bureau of Investigation Informed Consent and Release of Liability

Utah Educator LiveScan Fingerprint Sites
Google Docs

Utah Professional Practices Advisory Commission (UPPAC)

UPPAC is the arm of the USBE charged with promoting and maintaining the high degree of professional ethics and practice required in the education profession. Please contact UPPAC at (801) 538-7745, for questions and concerns about documents and procedures to clear background checks with issues.

Transcripts

All transcripts submitted to the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) must be original. Transcripts may be submitted electronically or by mailing the original paper document. Submission of transcripts must either be in conjunction with an online application or with an email notification to the USBE to update licensing records (see Posting of a Degree below).

Electronic Transcripts (Preferred method)

USBE accepts electronic transcripts as long as these are submitted directly from the college/university clearinghouse (transcript service) to transcripts@schools.utah.gov. Transcripts should be requested before you submit your application, and your application should indicate in which method the transcripts were submitted and from which college/university. If your college/university is not set up to send transcripts through a clearinghouse you will need to mail an original paper transcript with your application packet to USBE [see Original (Paper) Transcripts below].

Original (Paper) Transcripts

Sealed transcripts in the university envelope are not required, but the documents must be original on the college/university scrip-safe paper. Photocopies or transcripts have been electronically received and printed will not be accepted. Send paper transcripts to:

Utah State Board of Education
250 E 500 S
PO Box 144200
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-4200

Transcripts will be archived and are not returned unless indicated in writing with the submission. Please include a self-addressed envelope if you would like the transcript(s) returned by mail. No postage necessary.

Foreign (out-of-country) Transcripts

Foreign transcripts must be evaluated for United States equivalency by an approved company. Be sure to obtain a course by-course equivalency and degree evaluation with translation. For a list of acceptable companies who provide this service go to the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Scholaro.

Posting of a Degree

To post or update a new degree in a CACTUS account, request the electronic transcript from the university’s website and have this sent directly to licensing@schools.utah.gov. Send a second email to the same address indicating the origin of the university, your CACTUS number and that this is intended to post a degree. If an original paper document is being submitted, please send the email as listed above so that USBE knows the reason for your document submission.