Utah Teaching License Renewal Requirements

<p>The Utah State Department of Education issues three levels of educator licenses, each of which can be renewed if the requirements are satisfied. The general information for license renewal is summarized in the table below. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td>Education/Experience Required</td><td> Bachelor's degree</td></tr> <tr><td>Exam Requirements </td><td> None required</td></tr> <tr><td>Certification Renewal Period </td><td> Three years (level 1) <br /> Five years (level 2) <br /> Seven years (level 3)</td></tr> <tr><td>Requirements for Renewal </td><td> 100 professional learning points (level 1) <br /> 200 professional learning points (levels 2 &amp; 3) <br /> Approved teacher coursework (all levels) <br /> Approved training (all levels)</td></tr> <tr><td>Mean Salary (2018)</td><td>$29,700 (preschool teachers in UT) <br /> $48,320 (kindergarten teachers in UT) <br /> $59,880 (elementary teachers in UT) <br /> $61,880 (middle school teachers in UT) <br /> $59,070 (high school teachers in UT)*</td></tr> <tr><td>Estimated Job Growth (2016-2026) </td><td>10% (preschool teachers nationally) <br /> 7% (kindergarten and elementary school teachers nationally) <br />8% (middle and high school teachers nationally)*</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i> </p> <h3 id="section---ProfessionalLearningRequirementsForLicenseRenewal">Professional Learning Requirements for License Renewal</h3> <p>A level 1 license can only be renewed if the educator did not teach for all three years he/she held the license but still completed a minimum of 100 professional learning points. The educator can apply for an extension of the license if they did not meet the learning point requirements. Otherwise, the level 1 license must be upgraded to a level 2 license. Level 2 and 3 licenses can be renewed once the educator has completed at least 200 professional learning points. Professional learning points must be earned from certain approved categories, such as: </p> <ul><li>Contracted educator experience </li><li>Conferences, workshops or staff-development activities </li><li>College or university courses </li><li>Content or pedagogy tests </li><li>Experience as a substitute teacher or teacher's aid </li></ul><p>Professional learning points must be earned during the validity of the license to be accepted. </p> <h3 id="section---TrainingAndCourseRequirements">Training and Course Requirements</h3> <p>Educators must complete two hours of Youth Suicide Prevention Training that will be provided by their schools as well as the Utah Student Data Privacy Teacher course. The data privacy course is an online program that is designed to keep educators abreast of the educational privacy laws that pertain to the classroom. </p> <h3 id="section---BackgroundCheckAndEthicsReview">Background Check and Ethics Review</h3> <p>If the educator completed a background check after 2015, he/she will not need to do another one as recent information is continuously being updated. Otherwise, the educator will need to have his/her fingerprints collected and submitted to the Utah Criminal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Fingerprints may either be collected at an approved LiveScan location or the educator can submit completed fingerprint cards. All educators must complete the Ethics Review questions that are on the educator licensing online portal. </p> <h3 id="section---ApplicationProcess">Application Process</h3> <p>To renew a level 1 license, the applicant must have his/her application form signed by an approved school administrator and then he/she should submit the form by mail to: </p> <p>USBE - Licensing </p> <p>250 East 500 South </p> <p>P.O. BOX 144200 </p> <p>Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4200 </p> <p>Level 2 and 3 license holders will still need to have their renewal applications signed by an approved school administrator, but they must complete the application process through the online educator licensing system that is available on the Utah State Board of Education website. </p> <h3 id="section---LicenseUpgradeInformation">License Upgrade Information</h3> <p>To upgrade from a level 1 license to a level 2 license, educators will still need to complete the relevant training and online data privacy course. They will also need to complete all the requirements of the Early Years Enhancement (E.Y.E.) program, which includes working with a trained mentor and passing the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) assessment that is relevant to their grade level. The employing school will also need to give approval for the upgrade. To upgrade from a level 2 license to a level 3 license, the educator would need to complete a doctorate in an education-related field or earn National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) Certification.</p>