How to Become a Teacher in Utah | BestColleges (2024)
Aspiring teachers can earn licensure through the Utah State Board of Education (USBE). Requirements include earning a bachelor's degree, obtaining clinical experience, and passing certification exams in the desired teaching subject and grade level.
The USBE awards teaching certification to teachers who have completed a university-based educator preparation program or employer-based preparation program. Teachers who meet all requirements qualify for a professional license. People still collecting field experience can pursue associate-level certification.
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Among teachers in Utah, middle school, high school, and career and technical educators earn the highest salaries, respectively. Teachers in Utah also enjoy USBE financial incentives to earn advanced credentials or teach in a high-need subject or a high-poverty district.
Learn how to become a teacher in Utah below.
How Do I Become a Teacher in Utah?
The USBE offers three levels of teaching certification. These levels include local education agency (LEA) specific, associate, and professional. LEA-certified teachers must work in a specific district or charter school. Teachers with associate certification must meet minimum requirements, except for the required field experience.
Teachers who meet all requirements, including completing a teacher preparation program and clinical experience, qualify for professional teaching certification in Utah. Out-of-state educators must hold either a minimum of one year of licensed teaching experience in their home state or a passing score on the content knowledge and pedagogical performance assessment exams.
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Meet Minimum Education Requirements
Teaching in Utah requires a bachelor's degree. The USBE does not require teachers to hold a bachelor's degree in their subject of certification. But many students pursue majors in or near their desired teaching subject and grade level or specialization.
Additionally, all candidates must complete student teaching. They can complete this requirement either as an employed teacher if pursuing an associate license or as part of an approved educator preparation program. Candidates must pass the Praxis content and subject exams.
Gain Student Teaching Experience
To earn a teaching certification in Utah, all prospective teachers must complete clinical experience. Many university-based educator preparation programs include a student teaching experience. An employer-based preparation pathway builds experience through a teaching job.
Student teaching requirements vary by program and endorsem*nt area. Students can teach with a nonrenewable associate license for up to three years. After those three years pass, teachers must earn a professional educator license to continue teaching.
Pass Required Certification Tests
Teachers must pass Praxis tests in their license area to obtain teaching certification in Utah. Educational Testing Service (ETS) offers Praxis certification tests in early childhood, multiple elementary subjects, and various individual secondary subjects. Teachers must take a separate certification exam for endorsem*nt areas, including special education, ESL, and career and technical education.
Passing the Praxis test in a particular licensing area qualifies students for associate teaching certification in that specialization. Teachers can pursue professional certification once they complete an educator preparation program or hold a teaching job in Utah to gain experience.
The USBE requires candidates for teaching certification to register with the Comprehensive Administration of Credentials for Teachers in Utah Schools (CACTUS). Teachers can apply for associate licensure through the CACTUS as well. CACTUS also provides approved continuing education coursework categories for license renewal and LEA certification.
Supporting documentation requirements include a background fingerprint check, appropriate Praxis test results, and academic transcripts. Prospective teachers must also provide an educator ethics review and a pedagogical performance assessment. The USBE does not charge a fee to apply for teaching certification in Utah. The USBE reported that they are processing applications received before June 2021 as of March 2022.
How Do I Maintain Teaching Certification in Utah?
Educators must renew their professional teaching certification in Utah every five years. Renewal requirements include at least 100 hours of activity hours over the renewal period. These hours may include professional and alternate learning opportunities. The USBE recognizes many activity types, including educator collaboration opportunities, professional service, and workshops.
Teachers with a professional license must also complete two hours of youth suicide prevention training and hold a clear background check. In addition, they must complete an online Utah student data privacy teacher course and an online education ethics review. Teachers may maintain active or inactive (retired or expired) status to renew valid teaching certification in Utah.
Utah teachers are also eligible for federal loan forgiveness and TEACH Grants through the U.S. Department of Education. They can also receive local awards like the T.H. Bell Education Scholarship. While teaching certification in Utah requires only a bachelor's degree, students who earn a master's degree in education may qualify for additional endorsem*nts in advanced specializations or postsecondary education jobs.
In-Demand Teaching Careers in Utah
High School Teacher
Secondary teachers earn the second-highest teaching salary in Utah. Aspiring secondary teachers must pass the Praxis test in a particular subject or specialization for grades 9-12. High school teachers in Utah enjoy more financial incentives for committing to teach in a USBE-identified shortage area. Examples include special education, science, math, computer science, and deaf education.
Qualified special education teachers are in demand across the U.S., particularly at the middle school level in Utah. Teaching certification in this specialization qualifies candidates to teach special education in grades K-12 in Utah. However, teachers enjoy higher salaries for working in middle school special education, which is a teaching shortage area in this state.
Middle school teachers in Utah may hold elementary or secondary teaching certification, which cover grades K-8 and 6-12, respectively. Many aspiring middle school teachers pursue secondary education certification in a particular subject tailored to grades 6-8, as opposed to elementary certification, which includes many subjects.
Elementary school teachers in Utah enjoy diverse career options. Elementary teaching certification in Utah prepares educators to teach multiple core subjects, including math, reading, and science in K-8 classrooms. Elementary teachers may also become certified in special education or pursue an additional endorsem*nt in a specific middle school subject.
Career and technical education teachers in Utah can earn certification to teach college readiness and computer science in grades 6-12. These teachers are not required to take the Praxis test for general K-12 content knowledge but instead must pursue certification in a specific endorsem*nt area and career cluster.
Frequently Asked Questions About Teaching Certification in Utah
How do I get teaching certification in Utah?
The USBE requires candidates to complete a bachelor's degree, educator preparation program, and student teaching experience. They must also pass certification exams to earn teaching certification in Utah. Teachers can pursue a university-based or employer-based path to certification.
Teachers who meet all other qualifications but have yet to earn field experience qualify for an associate teaching license. Once teachers complete their clinical experience and a pedagogical performance assessment, they can upgrade to a professional license. This license is renewable every five years.
Can I teach in Utah without certification?
The USBE requires certification for all K-12 public school teachers, including those employed by local districts and charter schools. Educators without teaching certification in Utah may find employment in a private or unlicensed facility. But they do not receive benefits such as eligibility for the USBE's incentive programs and federal grants and loans.
Postsecondary teachers in Utah are not required to undergo the same licensing process as K-12 teachers. However, they typically hold a terminal degree which supersedes other public school certification requirements. The USBE provides a clear alternate path to professional certification for LEA teachers. This path requires teachers to secure employment in a USBE-approved district or charter school.
How long does it take to become a teacher in Utah?
The time it takes to earn teaching certification in Utah varies by candidate. Teachers may achieve professional certification in 4-5 years. No matter their licensure path, educators must earn a bachelor's degree, which typically takes four years. Although, teachers may start working entry-level positions with an associate teaching license once they complete their degree, pass a background check and ethics review, and pass the Praxis test.
Students may use the associate license for up to three years before advancing to a professional license. Or, they may qualify for professional certification after meeting the individual terms of their clinical experience and pedagogical performance assessment.
What can I do with teaching certification in Utah?
Certified educators in Utah can teach grades preK-12 in public, charter, and specialized schools. The USBE offers licensure paths for aspiring teachers of various subjects and grade levels, including special education, computer science, and career and technical education. Candidates may teach multiple subjects in kindergarten or elementary classrooms. Or, they may pursue certification to teach a particular subject to elementary, middle, or high school students.
Teachers can also pursue a certification specialization such as special education, early childhood, or deaf education. The USBE also outlines a certification path for non-teaching education professionals. Examples include school counselors, speech-language pathologists, and school leadership administrators, all of which require licensure in Utah public schools.
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Requirements include earning a bachelor's degree, obtaining clinical experience, and passing certification exams in the desired teaching subject and grade level. The USBE
USBE
The USBE is the governing body over education in the state of Utah. This organization issues teaching licenses and establishes the statewide K-12 school curriculum.
Prospective educators must meet the state's requirements to earn Utah teacher certification. Like most US states, Utah requires all educators to hold a bachelor's degree, complete an education or licensure program, and pass the required content exams.
A Level 1 license is a Utah professional educator license issued upon completion of an approved preparation program, an alternative preparation program, or pursuant to an agreement under the NASDTEC Interstate Contract, to candidates who have also met all ancillary requirements established by law or rule.
A Level 1 license is valid for 3 years, a Level 2 license is valid for 5 years, and a Level 3 license is valid for 7 years. If you hold a current Utah Educator License, only professional learning activities completed within the current renewal cycle are valid, starting the date the license was renewed.
Utah is the second-best state for teachers in the U.S. Utah is ranked first for Opportunity & Competition. Despite being one of the best states for teachers, Utah has a high pupil-to-teacher ratio of 22:1, with many high school teachers reporting as many as 40 students in their classes.
How long does it take to become a teacher in Utah? The time it takes to earn teaching certification in Utah varies by candidate. Teachers may achieve professional certification in 4-5 years. No matter their licensure path, educators must earn a bachelor's degree, which typically takes four years.
During the course of the semester, student teachers are expected to be in the classroom 480 hours, which equates to 40 hours per week for 12 weeks. During student teaching, there will be three informal and three formal observations from a University of Utah Supervisor resulting in a midterm and final evaluation.
There are no experience requirements to become a substitute teacher in Utah. Schools will evaluate a potential substitute teacher on a case-by-case basis to ensure they are fit for service in a school district.
Reporting a 33% shortage for 2021. Multiple school districts reported having teacher vacancies which had to be filled by substitutes, administrators, or other teachers.
Utah teacher salaries differ across Utah's school districts. Data for the 2021-2022 school year show an average statewide teacher salary of $59,671. Salt Lake City has the highest average salary at $71,599 while Nebo School District has the lowest salary at $39,916.
What grade / level do teachers get paid the most? The highest earners are typically high school level teachers, and the lowest paid are preschool teachers.
The states and districts that pay Elementary School Teachers the highest mean salary are New York ($87,700), California ($86,470), Massachusetts ($83,790), Washington ($83,010), and Connecticut ($82,140). How Much Do Elementary School Teachers Make in Your City?
All states require teachers to have a license to teach in the public school systems. A bachelor's degree is also considered a minimum requirement for full-time teachers in K-12 schools across the country. From there, the requirements for getting a license vary state by state.
You can apply for Idaho licensure if you have a valid, out-of-state teaching license. You can also apply if you hold at least a bachelor's degree and have completed an approved teacher training program within the last two years.
Student teaching is a college-supervised experience that is all day, every school day for one semester (Fall or Spring). It takes place your final semester here at SUU that leads to both your SUU degree and your Utah State Board of Education (USBE) license.
The associate educator license is available for individuals who want to teach in Utah that have not yet completed an approved educator preparation program.
A bachelor's degree is not necessary to be a licensed CTE, but prospective teachers on this path will need either 6 years of work experience completed in the last 10 years in the area they wish to teach or be licensed or certified in their industry.
How much does a Preschool Teacher make in Utah? The average Preschool Teacher salary in Utah is $35,880 as of May 01, 2023, but the range typically falls between $32,390 and $41,010.
How much does a 2nd Grade Teacher make in Utah? The average 2nd Grade Teacher salary in Utah is $60,142 as of May 25, 2023, but the range typically falls between $49,347 and $72,631.
How much does a Student Teacher make in Utah? As of May 23, 2023, the average annual pay for a Student Teacher in Utah is $44,124 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $21.21 an hour. This is the equivalent of $848/week or $3,677/month.
Having to teach English, math, social studies, science, and more in an elementary school can be stressful. You have a lot more lessons you need to prep for the day. You also may have shallower knowledge in the subjects compared to a teacher that dedicates all their teaching in one subject.
Student teaching is a culminating learning experience that education majors typically complete in their final year of college. You'll intern in a classroom or setting where you're pursuing your teaching certification. These experiences are usually unpaid and can last anywhere from 14 weeks to a year.
The Utah public school system (prekindergarten through grade 12) operates within districts governed by locally elected school boards and superintendents. In 2022, Utah had 606,998 students enrolled in a total of 945 schools in 42 school districts.
Georgia had the highest number of vacancies (3,112) for the 2019-2020 school year. More recently, during the 2021-2022 school year, Florida had the most vacancies with 3,911 positions unfulfilled. That same school year, Mississippi and Alabama had over 3,000 vacancies.
The average teacher turnover in Utah during new teachers' first five years of working was 42% for the 2016 cohort of teachers, the audit reported. The audit pointed out that this is higher than the national average which ranges from 17% to 46%.
Utah is no stranger to the problem, with teacher retention rates that appear concerningly low. Just 56% of teachers stay in their jobs, according to data from the Utah State Board of Education. That number falls to 42% for teachers in their first five years.
Which teaching subject is most in demand? While specific needs vary by institution, science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) are subjects that are always in high demand.
Teaching can be an advantageous and influential career choice for those passionate about education and willing to work hard. While the profession does present some challenges, it also offers many potential benefits and opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Utah is the second-best state for teachers in the U.S. Utah is ranked first for Opportunity & Competition. Despite being one of the best states for teachers, Utah has a high pupil-to-teacher ratio of 22:1, with many high school teachers reporting as many as 40 students in their classes.
In 2021, the average K-12 public school teacher nationwide was paid $65,090. Average teacher pay was the highest in New York at $87,738, followed by Massachusetts and California. In three states — Mississippi, Florida, and South Dakota — teachers made less than $50,000 on average.
Can I Teach in California Without a Credential? While it's not possible to teach in a California public school without a credential, you could still work in the following positions: Private school teacher: According to California state regulations, teacher certification is optional for private schools.
No matter what type of Oregon teacher certification applicants seek, the state requires all teachers to hold a bachelor's degree and complete an Oregon teacher certification program.
Applicant must have a high school diploma or GED equivalent. Requires travel to various building and locations throughout Granite School District as scheduled through Frontline. We ask that substitute teachers work a minimum of three days a month to remain active as a substitute teacher in our system.
At minimum, you will need a bachelor's degree to teach most grade levels and school subjects in California, including elementary school. You can obtain a bachelor's degree in various subjects, but must also complete a master's degree program or a teaching credential program to fulfill the state's requirements.
Note that you must hold a professional-level credential* from another state or U.S. territory to qualify for California teaching or services certification based on out-of-state preparation. For information on additional types of California certification please visit the Commission's Credential Requirements page.
In California, the minimum education requirement for teacher certification is a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. You must also complete a teacher preparation program approved by the CTC. An approved program provides both educational curriculum and fieldwork.
How much does a Teacher Elementary School make in California? The average Teacher Elementary School salary in California is $69,731 as of May 25, 2023, but the range typically falls between $57,215 and $84,211.
Can you be too old to teach? The short answer is no. Teaching takes focus, dedication, and a degree of stamina, but some teaching jobs take more energy than others – particularly jobs in early childhood education or physical education.
Standard – A standard license may be issued to an educator who has met all requirements for licensure in Nevada and does not hold a graduate degree. It is valid for five (5) years.
Every state requires at least a bachelor's degree for teacher certification, but some have additional undergraduate credit hour restrictions. Colorado requires that the bachelor's degree include a teacher preparation program.
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