Utah Teacher Certification

How to Become a Teacher in Utah

Prospective teachers in Utah must meet the state’s requirements in order to receive Utah teacher certification. There are three levels of licensure in Utah. A Level 1 license is the initial certificate that teachers receive after completing a teacher preparation program and passing the Praxis II assessment. Teacher candidates must be recommended for licensure by an accredited institution before a Level 1 certificate is issued. Those who complete an alternative route to teaching certification or who are eligible for reciprocity from another state will also be granted a Level 1 license.

Spotlight School

Kaplan University

Popular Programs:

• MS in Education (for Existing Teachers Grades K-12)
• MA in Teaching (for Aspiring Teachers Grades 5-12)

While teaching with a Level 1 license, educators in Utah complete the Entry Years Enhancement (EYE) program, which provides support for beginning teachers as they begin their careers. The program must be completed within the first three years of teaching. After an educator completes the EYE, the school district may recommend the employee for a Level 2 certificate. Fingerprinting for a background check must also be done before a Level 1 certificate can be upgraded to a Level 2. A Level 3 certificate is also available for those with a Ph.D. or National Board Certification. Individuals must already have a Utah Level 2 certificate in order to be eligible to upgrade to the Level 3 license.

Utah Teacher Education Requirements

In order to ensure that educators are thoroughly prepared for the demands of teaching, Utah’s State Board of Education evaluates and approves teacher preparation programs at institutions within the state. These programs must also be nationally accredited. After an individual completes a bachelor’s degree and an approved teacher preparation program in Utah, he or she should check with the institution from which the degree was granted in order to determine if a copy of the license is available online to print or if a copy will be mailed by the State Office of Education.

Profiles of Well Known Schools

Utah State University: Utah State University is located in the city of Logan and is home to the Emma Eccles College of Education. The EECOE is widely regarded as the finest education college in the state of Utah and is the only graduate education department to appear in the top 50 spots on the US News & World Report rankings of top education schools. The College of Education moved up five spots from last year’s rankings to number 24. The College of Education is made up of several departments including the Instructional Technology & Learning Sciences, School of Teacher Education and Leadership, and Special Education and Rehabilitation. The majority of students are enrolled in the teacher education department, which is responsible for educating current and future teachers, administrators, and counselors.

Utah Teacher Testing Requirements

Utah has adopted the Praxis Series of tests to evaluate teacher candidates who apply to become a teacher in Utah. Some educational institutions require that students pass the Praxis I test before being accepted into a teacher preparation program. All future educators in Utah must pass the Praxis II test in the content area that they would like to teach before receiving certification. In addition, those who are completing the EYE to upgrade from a Level 1 to a Level 2 teaching license are often required to pass at least one of the Praxis II Principles of Learning and Teaching tests.

Utah Teacher Salary and Jobs

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2011.

School Programs for Becoming a Teacher in Utah

Request free information from the following schools to learn more about your options for choosing a teacher degree program. We recommend you: Request information from one or more of these schools

California University of Pennsylvania

Popular Programs:

• Early Childhood Education (Certification Only)
• Master of Education in Early Childhood Education
• MA in Teaching: Advanced Studies in Secondary Education- National Board Preparation
• Superintendent Letter of Eligibility (SLE)
• And more...

University of Phoenix

Popular Programs:

• M.A. in Education/Early Childhood Ed.
• M.A. in Education/Secondary Teacher Education
• B.S. in Education / Elementary Education
• M.A. in Education/Elementary Teacher Education
• And more...

Penn Foster Schools

Popular Programs:

• Teacher Aide

Concordia University Online

Popular Programs:

• B.S. in Early Childhood Education (Birth - 5 Years)
• M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction: Curriculum & Instruction: Early Childhood Education
• Special Education (Early Childhood/Elementary)
• Educational Administration: (EDD)
• And more...

DeVry University

Popular Programs:

• Master's-Education
• Graduate Certificate-Management of Education Corporation/Corporate Training Divisions
• Graduate Certificate-Education Leadership
• Graduate Certificate-Curriculum Leadership

Schools with Teaching Degree Programs in Utah

Brigham Young University
Main Campus
Provo, UT 84602
(801) 422-4636
saas.byu.edu/admissionsServices/

Davis Applied Technology College
550 E 300 S
Kaysville, UT 84037-2699
(801) 593-2500

Snow College
150 E College Ave
Ephraim, UT 84627
(435) 283-7000
www.snow.edu/welcome/admission.html

Southern Utah University
351 West University Blvd
Cedar City, UT 84720
(435) 586-7700

Student Review: “I enjoyed my educational experience at SUU. I really appreciated the fact that my class sizes were small and I could interact with many of my future colleagues and professors. After teaching for five years now, and doing some post-graduate work, I have found that the techniques, skills, and theories I was taught in college were in the vanguard in education. I appreciate that I was so well prepared. My one qualm with the program was that there was one class that the professor was awful, and even though the department chair seemed to be aware, nothing was done. Instead, when the chair taught the capstone course, he spent most of the semester reteaching what we should have gotten earlier from the previous course.” -Trevor P., student at Southern Utah University

Student Review: “Southern Utah University was a great experience. The small campus and small class sizes ensured that individual attention was given to each student. It was not uncommon to see your friends going to and from classes. Everything on campus was taken care of and clean and there were many events and activities available for students. The classes I took were very fun and interesting. It was usually easy to find a professor if you needed to talk to him or her.” -James M., student at Southern Utah University

University of Utah
201 Presidents Circle
Salt Lake City, UT 84112-9008
(801) 581-7200
www.sa.utah.edu/admiss/index.htm

Utah State University
Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322-1400
(435) 797-1000

Utah Valley University
800 W University Parkway
Orem, UT 84058-5999
(801) 863-8161
www.uvu.edu/admissions/

Weber State University
3848 Harrison Blvd
Ogden, UT 84408-1137
(801) 626-6000
www.weber.edu/admissions/

Student Review: “Weber State University was an eye-opening change for me from my prior education. The professors I worked with were helpful and friendly any hour of the day or night. I was often given opportunities to study or discuss coursework outside of class, whether in an office hour or at the local pizza parlor. Every member of the faculty and staff seemed devoted to the idea of helping their students succeed. School activities outside of classwork were myriad, and even though I wasn’t a sports fan, I still got caught up in basketball every semester.” -Ben P., student at Weber State University

Westminster College-Salt Lake City
1840 South 1300 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84105
(801) 484-7651
www.westminstercollege.edu/admissions/

Western Governors University
4001 South 700 East
Suite 700
Salt Lake City, UT 84107
(801) 274-3280
www.wgu.edu/admissions/requirements

Student Review: “I made the choice to take online classes through Western Governors University. At the start of my first semester, I didn’t know what to expect. Most people would say online colleges are jokes, because you can easily cheat your way through. I didn’t want that kind of experience, I wanted to be able to actually learn so that I could become the best teacher I could be. After my first semester was complete, I realized most people were wrong. Now, in my senior year, I can honestly say that WGU has challenged me more than any traditional college ever could. First of all, there is no possible way to cheat. When you have to take an exam, you have to go to a local college and take it in front of someone. The assignments you are given won’t be accepted until they are at least B+ level. This made the college quite difficult at times, and I admit there were times I wanted to quit and give up, due to the amount of work given to me and the high expectations expected of me. I stuck to it, and I’m very grateful I did. I have learned more through this college than people who go to traditional colleges. I now believe when I graduate in a couple of months, I will be fully prepared to teach.” -Veronica R., student at Western Governors University

Page edited by Charles Sipe.