Become a Teacher in Utah

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Teaching in Utah Snapshot

$61,050

Secondary School Teacher Salary

$ 60,660

Elementary School Teacher Salary

$ 7,179

Public School Spending Per Student

All career and salary information pulled from the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2019 pupil expenditure information was provided by Governing

UTAH STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

250 East 500 South
PO Box 144200
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4200
(801) 538-7500

University of Southern California (USC)

USC Rossier School of Education

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Master of Arts in Teaching online

The Master of Arts in Teaching online (MAT online) from the USC Rossier School of Education prepares aspiring teachers for diverse and high-needs educational settings and can be completed in as few as 12 months.

  • Fieldwork placement  
  • Complete in 12-36 months  
  • GRE scores not required 

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Steps to Becoming a Teacher in Utah

Important Note: Education licensure requirements, statistics and other information are subject to change. Teach.com makes its best effort to keep content accurate; however, the official sources are the state education departments. Please confirm licensing requirements with your state before applying for licensure or renewal. (Last update: 02/21/2019)

1

Prerequisite Coursework in Utah

As in most states, teacher education programs in Utah are comprised of a combination of curricula and fieldwork. Coursework often includes instruction on foundational knowledge, skills, and teaching methodology, as well as preparation in researching, designing and implementing learning experiences in various fields of study. Fieldwork includes classroom observation, student teaching, or internships.

Generally, a bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement for teachers to become certified. Some specialty areas do require teachers to complete a specific number of hours in particular courses. A full list of the requirements to add a license area of concentration to an existing teaching license are hosted on the Utah State Board of Education website.  

2

Utah Teacher Certification Programs

To teach in Utah, individuals can complete a teacher education program from an accredited college or university.  A list of accredited teacher preparation programs in Utah can be found on the Utah State Board of Education website.

3

Required Tests for Utah

For initial licensure, Utah requires applicants to pass the Praxis tests related to their certification area. A full list of the tests required by the certification area is available on the website of ETS, which administers the Praxis examinations. In addition, educators moving from a Level 1 certification to Level 2 must pass at least one Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching test as part of the Early Years Enhancement program (this requirement may change with the new 2020 licensing structure).

You can learn more about the Praxis exams by visiting Teach.coms’ Ultimate Guide to the Praxis Exams and read more about teacher certification tests on Teach.com.

Initial Teaching Certifications

Utah is updating its licensing structure in July of 2020. What were previously known as level 1, 2 , or 3 standard licenses will now be a Professional Educator License. There will be an Associate Educator License instead of an Academic Pathway to Teaching license.

Various areas of concentration can be added to the license based on the grade level and/or population with which you will be working. If you already possess a valid teaching credential from another state, you may be able to earn your Utah teaching credential through interstate reciprocity.

Learn more about earning your Utah teaching credential at the Utah State Board of Education website.

Discover an 8-week Online Teaching Short Course from Harvard’s Bok Center

Harvard University

Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning

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Higher Education Teaching Certificate

Deepen your understanding of higher-order teaching practices and broaden your skill set while creating a unique and inclusive strategy for your specific context.

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Alternative Certification in Utah

Individuals with bachelor’s degrees in subjects other than education who have not earned a teaching certificate can receive an alternative teaching certificate by meeting specific state requirements via the Alternative Routes to Licensure. The state of Utah recognizes American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence certification as one alternative route to receiving Utah teacher certification. Utah also participates in the Troops to Teachers program, which enables eligible ex-military personnel to teach on a temporary license while completing licensure requirements. Additionally, if you already possess a valid teaching credential from another state, you may be able to earn your Utah teaching credential through interstate reciprocity.

Utah Teacher Certification Information & Links

Transferring Your Certification

Certification Reciprocity in Utah

The state of Utah accepts teaching credentials from other states if the applicant has met all Utah requirements. Contact the Utah State Board of Education in regards to your specific situation.

To find out what other state teaching licenses can be used in Utah, check out our Teacher Certification Reciprocity page on Teach.com.

Jobs, Benefits, and Opportunities for Teachers in Utah

Utah Teaching Jobs

Teachers looking for work in Utah can find up-to-date listings of teaching vacancies and other available education jobs through Teach Utah, a branch of the national recruitment website Teachers-Teachers.com. After registering for a free membership, job seekers can browse open teaching positions by school and specialty. Members can also post and submit applications, as well as receive email notifications when jobs that match specific criteria become available. Teaching positions are updated on a daily basis by local school districts.

Learn more about finding a teaching job on Teach.com.

Utah Teacher Salary and Incentives

According to 2019 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for teachers in Utah was around $60,000 to $62,000 depending on grade level taught. Salary will vary by specific location, years of experience, and more.

Learn more about teacher salaries on Teach.com.

Utah Teacher Benefits and Retirement

The Utah Retirement System (URS) administers Utah teachers’ retirement and insurance benefits. Coverage differs according to members’ tiers. Consult URS for specific information on benefits and requirements.

Learn more about benefits for teachers on Teach.com.

Utah Teacher Shortage Areas

A teacher shortage area is defined by the U.S. Department of Education as “an area of specific grade, subject matter or discipline classification, or a geographic area in which … there is an inadequate supply of elementary or secondary school teachers.” The Department allows states to identify their own teacher shortage areas, but encourages them to follow a prescribed methodology based on unfilled teaching positions, teaching positions filled by instructors with irregular certifications, and positions filled by teachers certified in other subject areas.

  • Mathematics
  • Special Education

Financial Aid in Utah

Teachers in Utah who are interested in pursuing their Master’s in Teaching, but require financial aid to do so should consider Complete Student Loans, a non-profit organization associated with the Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority, which is governed by the Utah State Board of Regents. Math for America is another non-profit committed to improving STEM education in the United State, partially by offering educators fellowships and scholarships. Utah residents are also eligible for the TEACH Grant, which offers financial aid to students in return for their service teaching in high-needs schools. Additionally, as the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards points out, universities themselves may provide graduate-level credit to teachers pursuing certification or a master’s degree.

Learn more about how to finance your Master’s degree on Teach.com.

Career Advancement

Professional Development for Utah Teachers

The Utah State Board of Education maintains a webpage on Professional Learning, which includes professional development opportunities for teachers in the state. The Utah State Office of Education Content Areas and Utah Education Network Professional Development both offers classes for professional development credits.

Benefits of a Master’s Degree in Utah

It’s no longer enough to have years of experience in teaching. After the No Child Left Behind Act, the Every Student Succeeds Act, and other academic quantification measures, teachers’ careers are increasingly dependent on the results they achieve in the classroom. A master’s in the field of education can give you more educational theory and classroom skills, as well as greater hands-on student teaching experience with a mentor. After a master’s program, you may be able to achieve better results in the classroom, may have more job security, as well as the potential for higher pay.

Learn more about the benefits of a Master of Arts in Teaching vs. Master of Education on Teach.com.

University of Southern California (USC)

USC Rossier School of Education

info

Master of Arts in Teaching online

The Master of Arts in Teaching online (MAT online) from the USC Rossier School of Education prepares aspiring teachers for diverse and high-needs educational settings and can be completed in as few as 12 months.

  • Fieldwork placement  
  • Complete in 12-36 months  
  • GRE scores not required 

Harvard University

Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning

info

Higher Education Teaching Certificate

Deepen your understanding of higher-order teaching practices and broaden your skill set while creating a unique and inclusive strategy for your specific context.

infoSPONSORED

Last Updated May 2020