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
• 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 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

Fingerprinting

Background Checks and Fingerprint requests initiated through the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) website that were started after January 1, 2020 will still be honored through December 31, 2020. The USBE is not currently enforcing the 60-day submission requirements due to delays caused by COVID-19 safety policies. Please complete the fingerprinting steps as quickly as possible.

Utah Law (53A-1a-512.5) requires that each applicant for a Utah Educator License must satisfactorily complete a background fingerprint check. A Utah State Board of Education Background Fingerprint Check initiated after July 1, 2015 are continuously monitored. Educators who maintain a current license once completing a background fingerprint check after July 1, 2015, will not need to renew their background fingerprint check again through the online process. To complete the background fingerprint check, an applicant must submit fingerprints for review by the Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

If you live in Utah, you are required to complete a background check, including a fingerprinting via LiveScan. To start the process go to the Utah State Board of Education's Online License System, select Background Check and follow the prompts. You will receive an e-mail within 24 hours with your authorization form and a link to a list of LiveScan sites. Please also check your junk mailbox or spam for an email from support@utah.gov. The fingerprinting portion must be completed within 60 days of beginning the online process. You may be charged a fee at the LiveScan site. Average clearance time from the date fingerprinting is processed is approximately 20-25 business days.

Fingerprint Instructions for the Utah State Board of Education – Educator Licensing

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 

If you live outside of Utah, you are required to complete a background check, including fingerprinting with fingerprint cards. To start the process, go to Utah State Board of Education's Online License System, select Background Check and follow the prompts. When prompted to choose a fingerprint method, choose Card Submission. You will receive a packet in the mail with instructions to complete the packet. The fingerprinting portion must be completed within 60 days of beginning the online process. Average clearance time from the date fingerprint cards are received by Utah State Board of Education is approximately 15 weeks.

Utah Professional Practices Advisory Commission (UPPAC)

UPPAC is the arm of the Utah State Board of Education 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.

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

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.