FOREIGN CREDENTIAL EDUCATOR REQUIREMENTS
Thank you for your interest in obtaining a Utah Professional Educator License. Before you can apply for a Utah Professional Educator License you must hold a I-129-H Classification visa, have a social security number, and be cleared to work. Due to the increased interest in the Foreign Credentialed Educators program, applications will be held for 24 months only. Effective September 15, 2001, the steps to licensure are as follows:
STEP ONE: ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY
- Take an English language proficiency Michigan or TOEFL test and achieve a minimum qualifying score:
| Test | Score |
| Michigan | 85 |
| TOEFL Computer based Test | 250 |
| TOEFL Paper based Test | 600 |
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You can take the Michigan test through Internexus. Contact Internexus at 801-487-2499 or visit them at 455 East 400 South, Suite 202, Salt Lake City, Utah.
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You can take the TOEFL test at one of the following locations:
University of Utah (Salt Lake City), contact number 801-581-7310
Utah State University (Logan), contact number 435-797-1004
Weber State University (Ogden), contact number 801-394-5990
Utah Valley State College (Orem), contact number 801-226-5544
Brigham Young University (Provo), number unavailable
Dixie State College (St. George), number unavailable
Southern Utah University (Cedar City), number unavailable -
TOEFL test takers with credit cards can register on line. For the paper based TOEFL go to www.ets.org/toefl and for the Computer based TOEFL go to www.ets.org/register.html.
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For more information regarding either of the TOEFL tests please contact ETS at 1-800-4686335.
One of these tests must be passed before a license can be issued. Upon completion, submit your score to Penny Ford in Educator Quality & Licensing.
STEP TWO: FOREIGN CREDENTIAL EVALUATION
An Evaluation Service Report of your Original Transcript of Credits. You must have your transcript(s), degree(s), and license(s) translated and evaluated by one of the Foreign Credential Evaluation Services before our office can complete a Licensing Evaluation. You will need to ask for a course by course report with a statement of US Equivalency. Once you have received the report you will then need to apply for Utah Licensing Evaluation.
STEP THREE: APPLICATION FOR A UTAH LICENSING EVALUATION
Submit the following items to Educator Quality Licensing:
An Application for Evaluation- PDF
A $75.00 Filing Fee. Make the check or money order payable to Utah State Office of Education.
A Copy of your Evaluation Service Report. Must be an original, Educator Quality Serices does not accept photocopies.
Verification of Teaching Experience - PDF
Please have your previous employer(s) complete and return this form to you or Educator Quality & Licensing. You may copy the form if necessary. Educator Quality & Licensing will also accept letters of verification (with dates of employment included) from former employers. These documents must also be translated into English.
Submit the report from an evaluation services, with the $75.00 filing fee, verification of your teaching experience and a completed application to:
Utah State Office of Education
Educator Quality & Licensing
Attn: Penny Ford
250 East 500 South P.O. Box 144200
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4200
After the Licensing evaluation is complete, Educator Quality & Licensing (Penny Ford) will send you a letter by mail with the results.
STEP FOUR: BACKGROUND CHECK
Please complete and return:
- Two fingerprint cards.
- Release of Liability Form.
- A $69.00 fingerprint background check fee. (This is in addition to the $75 filling fee)
Educator Quality & Licensing will provide you with the fingerprint cards and forms after the Licensing Evaluation.
STEP FIVE: REQUIRED COURSE WORK AND TESTING
You will not be eligible to take the following courses until steps one through three are complete. Once steps one through three are complete you will need to successfully complete the following three courses:
- Introduction to Special Education,
- Literacy Strategies, and
- Instruction, Technology, Assessment, and Planning.
You may take these classes at any university; however, USOE offers the courses at Salt Lake Community College. There is additional information on these courses in the packet. Also, each semester Salt Lake Community College hosts a orientation for individuals interested in becoming teachers. If you are interested contact Sonia Parker, Director Academic/Career Advising, at 801-957-4446.
In addition to the required coursework you will have to achieve a passing score on a Praxis II Subject Assessment Content Area test. This is a new licensure requirement since July 1, 2005. The required test number will be outlined on your Professional Growth Plan. For more information on the Praxis series tests please visit www.ets.org/praxis.
If you have additional questions, please contact Penny Ford at (801) 538-7695 penny.ford@schools.utah.gov.
INFORMATION TO APPLICANTS: CONTRACTS
Contracts to work in Utah public school districts should not be signed until the candidate for licensure has a written statement from the Utah State Office of Education to the effect that Utah requirements for licensing have been completed. According to Utah Code, 53A-6-104, “The board may issue licenses for educators. A person employed in a position that requires licensure by the board shall hold the appropriate license.”
RETIREMENT INFORMATION
Information on regarding this plan may be obtained from: Utah Retirement Systems 540 East 200 South Salt Lake City, Utah 84102.
View a salary schedule by district and a list
of district superintendents.
