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(PDF File) provides an overview of the new licensing structure. For additional detail, please see the Educator Licensing Lookup Tool More Information.
An educator license is like a tree:
- Trunk is the license.
- Branches are the license areas.
- Leaves are the endorsements.
Educator License Levels
There are three educator license levels.
- Professional
All of the requirements have been met and competencies demonstrated. - Associate
A minimum number of requirements have been met and/or competencies demonstrated. - 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
Kindergarten-Grade 12
Audiologist
Career and Technical Education (CTE)
Grades 9-12
Automotive Technology Teacher*
Cosmetology Teacher*
Woods Teacher*
Deaf Education
Kindergarten-Grade 12
High School Teacher of the Deaf*
Itinerant Listening and Spoken Language Teacher*
Third Grade Teacher of the Deaf
Early Childhood Education
Pre-Kindergarten-Grade 3
First Grade Teacher
Reading Specialist*
Title I Preschool Teacher
Elementary Education
Kindergarten-Grade 8
Elementary Interventionist
Kindergarten Teacher
Middle School Math Teacher*
Preschool Special Education
Preschool/Pre-Kindergarten
Individualized Education Program (IEP) Case Manager for 4-year-olds
Preschool Special Education Teacher
School Counselor
Kindergarten-Grade 12
Career Center Director
Elementary Counselor
High School Counselor
School Leadership
Kindergarten-Grade 12
Assistant Principal
Principal
School Psychologist
Kindergarten-Grade 12
School Psychologist
School Social Worker
Kindergarten-Grade 12
School Social Worker
Secondary Education
Grades 6-12
High School Science Teacher*
Middle School Art Teacher*
Student Government Advisor
Special Education
Kindergarten-Grade 12
Elementary Special Education Teacher
Middle School Math Co-teacher
Self-Contained Resource Teacher
Speech Language Pathologist
Kindergarten-Grade 12
IEP Case Manager for Communication Disorders
Speech Language Pathologist
Speech Language Technician
Kindergarten-Grade 12
Speech Language Technician
*=These positions require an additional endorsement to be fully qualified.
Becoming a Teacher
An educator license is required to be a teacher in a Utah public school. You must complete a preparation program to earn your Professional Educator License. Visit Teaching in Utah to review the programs that are available in Utah. There are two pathways to becoming a professionally licensed teacher in Utah.
2 Paths, 1 Destination: How to Become a Teacher with a Utah Professional Educator License
There is a temporary license, Associate Educator License (AEL), that is valid for three (3) years. The AEL will qualify you to teach while you complete your preparation.
Approved Utah-based University Programs
There are ten university-based Educator Preparation Programs (EPP) offered in Utah. Each institution has a variety of programs and degrees available.
- Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
- Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, Provo, Utah
- Southern Utah University, Cedar City, Utah
- University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Utah State University, Logan, Utah\
- Utah Tech University, St George, Utah
- Utah Valley University, Orem, Utah
- Weber State University, Ogden, Utah
- Western Governors University, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Westminster University, Salt Lake City, Utah
Please note that university-based education preparation programs completed through universities outside of Utah will require that the individual obtain their license in state where the university resides, then apply to Utah through the License Equivalency Review (LER).
Alternate Preparation Programs
The Alternate Pathway to Professional Educator License (APPEL) programs 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.
Coursework requirements may be completed through any regionally accredited university and Salt Lake Community College also provides coursework that may be accepted by an EPP. Check with the APPEL Director in your LEA for clarification.