Renew an Educator License

Professional Educator License (PEL)

Validity: 5 school years.

Do I Need to Complete a Renewal Form?

The Utah State Board of Education has reduced the renewal burden for active educators:

• Form NOT Required: If you have worked in a Utah educational agency, school, school district, or charter school for the entire past 5 years, you do not need to fill out a renewal form or get an administrator's signature. Your daily professional learning and collaboration count as your 100 hours.
• Do I need a form? 
• Form REQUIRED: If you have not worked in a Utah school for all of the previous 5 years, you must complete the Professional Educator License (PEL) Renewal Form (available as a digital PDF or printout) and document at least 100 hours of renewal activities. Before you finalize your renewal in USIMS, make sure you have completed all requirements and a licensed administrator has signed your form.

How to Renew

1. Get your form signed (if required): If the quick tool indicates you need a form, a licensed administrator must sign it before you log in to renew.
2. Log in to USIMS: Go to usims.schools.utah.gov.
3. Complete the Checklist Tasks: (Link to detailed steps - Google Doc)
   • Complete the Utah Educator Ethics Review.
   • System Work-around: The Student Data Privacy Course is no longer required. You may check the box indicating you completed it to proceed past this step.
4. Report Hours: If required, report your 100 completed renewal hours.
5. Finalize: Click "Professional License Renewal" to finalize.
6. Verify: Go to "License Info/Print License" to confirm your new expiration date (6/30/2031).

Note: Updates can take up to 24 hours to appear in USIMS.

Associate Educator License (AEL)

Validity: 3 school years.

• Renewals: Associate licenses cannot be renewed.
• Extensions: If you are currently employed in a Utah public or accredited private school, you can work with your employer to request a one-time extension of up to 2 school years.
• How to Apply: Complete the Associate Educator License Extension Form and submit your application through SM Apply .

AEL Extension FAQs (Google Docs)

LEA-Specific Educator License (LEA-S)

Validity: Determined by the local employer.

• Eligibility: You can renew this license at any time (even after expiration), unless your license area is special education or a related service. Special education LEA-Specific licenses cannot be renewed.
• Requirements: You must document at least 60 hours of renewal activities in at least two areas on the Local Education Agency (LEA) Specific Educator License Renewal Form.
• System Refreshes: You must refresh your USBE Educator Ethics Review (must be within the last 12 months) and have a cleared USBE background check (completed after July 1, 2015, and active in the FBI Rapback network) via USIMS.
• Submission: Do not send your form to the USBE. Give the completed form to your local Human Resources department. HR will approve it and report it electronically after July 15.

Administrator Instructions (PEL Form Review)

If an educator has not worked in a Utah public or charter school for all of the past 5 years, They must complete the Professional Educator License (PEL) Renewal Form to be signed by a charter school director or a licensed administrator with a School Leadership license area.

Board Rule R277-302 offers greater flexibility in the types of professional development activities that qualify for renewal hours. Renewal hours are now counted strictly as clock hours (1 hour of activity = 1 renewal hour). There are no longer rigid point ratios.

Educators can earn the 100 renewal  hours across any category without category limits. 

• Professional Learning: School-based learning, mentoring, coaching, paid professional hours, conferences, and university courses. Educators with a "highly effective" evaluation can claim 10 hours per year.
• Educator Collaboration: School-based team collaboration focused on data analysis.
• Professional Service: Education-related government service or association leadership.
• Alternate Learning Opportunities: Volunteering, substitute teaching, or working as a paraprofessional in a public school. Also includes conference presentations, educational research, or school leadership roles (like department chair).

Administrator Checklist Before Signing:

1. Verify the COVID-19 hours are correct (0, 20, or 40 hours max depending on the year).
2. Confirm the educator has documented at least 100 total hours on page 4.
3. Verify the educator has filled out and signed their portion of the form.
4. Complete and sign the administrator section on page 4.
5. Direct the educator to complete their renewal online in USIMS.

Tutorials for Professional License Renewals

Complete the USIMS Professional Educator License Renewal Process (Link to detailed steps - Google Sheets) 

The following video tutorials will walk you through the steps to complete your professional educator license renewal.

Episode 1:  Set up a USIMS account, migrate CACTUS data, and complete the Educator Ethics Review

Episode 2:  Completing the renewal form, documenting activities, and meeting with an administrator

Episode 3:  Saving documentation, completing renewal in USIMS, and printing a copy of your license.