Alternative Routes to Licensure
Program Description
Alternative Routes to Licensure (ARL) is a teacher preparation program for individuals who currently hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Qualified candidates who wish to teach in an accredited secondary school (middle school, jr. high school, high school), must have a degree MAJOR in a subject taught in Utah secondary schools. University degrees and degree majors are verified through original transcripts that document the degree, the degree major, and the year conferred. Qualified candidates who wish to teach elementary school must have a transcript that documents a broad background of liberal arts content in the areas of language arts, science, social studies, mathematics, the fine arts, physical education, and health. A minimum of 27 semester hours or 40 quarter hours of applicable credit are required for eligibility. (For more information on elementary education, see eligibility page).
ARL allows participants to teach in an accredited Utah school on a temporary license for up to three years while they are fulfilling licensure requirements. Participants must be employed by a Utah school district, charter school, or accredited private or parochial school while earning a license and must be teaching in a licensed position at the time a license is earned and issued.
Qualified candidates who wish to apply to Alternative Routes to Licensure must first complete a criminal background check. Candidates pay fees and receive an authorization form for the background check online at www.utah.gov/teachers. Authorization forms are taken to one of the listed Livescan centers located throughout the state for actual fingerprinting. After the fingerprint check has been completed and sent to the Utah State Office of Education, the candidate may apply to the Alternative Routes program. You will not be NOT be notified that your background check has cleared. If you have no criminal history, simply apply to ARL after you have completed the digital Livescan background check. Applications are taken from March 1 through July 31 each year. Applicants must submit the following in a single envelope: 1) a completed ARL application (form online); 2) an original transcript (no copies) documenting a bachelor’s degree, degree major, and year conferred; 3) a check or money order for the application/evaluation fee. Evaluation fees are non- refundable.
Participants in the ARL program complete course work determined by a transcript review, take required content knowledge test(s), teach for a minimum of one year and a maximum of three years in a licensed position, successfully pass evaluations of classroom performance skills by the principal and, upon program completion, are recommended for licensure by the principal and ARL advisor.
Participants successfully completing the Alternative Routes to Licensure program will be issued a Level I Utah Professional Educator License in the following areas of concentration:
| Early Childhood Education | (Kindergarten Only) | Pre-school teachers do not qualify for ARL |
| Elementary Education | (Grades 1 - 8) | Elementary schools |
| Secondary Education | (Grades 6 - 12) | Middle, jr. high, high schools |
Note: Alternative Routes to Licensure does not license candidates in Special Education. Individuals interested in Special Education licensing should contact Molly Soderquist (801) 538-7721 or Cal Newbold (801) 538-7724
in the Special Education division at the Utah State Office of Education. See the Special Education website.
