Become a Teacher
in Utah
Certification Roadmap
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Utah Prerequisite Coursework
Utah Teacher Preparation
Utah Certification Reciprocity
Utah Teacher Salary
Utah Required Tests
Teacher Certification Information & Links
Utah Highlights
$46270
Avg. Elementary Teacher Salary
$45560
Avg. Secondary Teacher Salary
109%
Teacher Salary vs. State Average
15
Vacation Weeks Per Year:
To become a certified teacher in Utah, you will need to fulfill all prerequisite coursework, teacher preparation, and testing requirements.
Our goal is to make this process as easy as possible, and we are dedicated to updating the site with new information on a regular basis. To stay up-to-date with the latest in teacher certification, please complete the form in the right sidebar.
Utah Prerequisite Coursework
All states require that certified teachers at a minimum have a Bachelor’s degree. Additionally, some states have undergraduate credit hour requirements for certification in specialty areas. Here are Utah's undergraduate prerequisites for some of the most popular specialty areas:
- Elementary Education: A teaching major shall include not fewer than 30 semester or 45 quarter hours of credit derived from required and elective courses offered in a given subject field. At least one-half of the credit must be from upper division course work. The teaching major must be in a subject field contained in an approved certification program. Minor: A teaching minor shall include not fewer than 16 semester or 24 quarter hours of credit derived from required and elective courses offered in a given subject field or service area. The teaching minor must be in a subject field or service area of an approved certification program.
- Secondary English/Language Arts: A teaching major shall include not fewer than 30 semester or 45 quarter hours of credit derived from required and elective courses offered in a given subject field. At least one-half of the credit must be from upper division course work. The teaching major must be in a subject field contained in an approved certification program. Minor: A teaching minor shall include not fewer than 16 semester or 24 quarter hours of credit derived from required and elective courses offered in a given subject field or service area. The teaching minor must be in a subject field or service area of an approved certification program.
- Secondary Mathematics: A teaching major shall include not fewer than 30 semester or 45 quarter hours of credit derived from required and elective courses offered in a given subject field. At least one-half of the credit must be from upper division course work. The teaching major must be in a subject field contained in an approved certification program. Minor: A teaching minor shall include not fewer than 16 semester or 24 quarter hours of credit derived from required and elective courses offered in a given subject field or service area. The teaching minor must be in a subject field or service area of an approved certification program.
- Secondary History/Social Science: A teaching major shall include not fewer than 30 semester or 45 quarter hours of credit derived from required and elective courses offered in a given subject field. At least one-half of the credit must be from upper division course work. The teaching major must be in a subject field contained in an approved certification program. Minor: A teaching minor shall include not fewer than 16 semester or 24 quarter hours of credit derived from required and elective courses offered in a given subject field or service area. The teaching minor must be in a subject field or service area of an approved certification program.
- Secondary Science: A teaching major shall include not fewer than 30 semester or 45 quarter hours of credit derived from required and elective courses offered in a given subject field. At least one-half of the credit must be from upper division course work. The teaching major must be in a subject field contained in an approved certification program. Minor: A teaching minor shall include not fewer than 16 semester or 24 quarter hours of credit derived from required and elective courses offered in a given subject field or service area. The teaching minor must be in a subject field or service area of an approved certification program.
This page is sponsored by Rossier Online, an innovative master level teaching degree program delivered online from the University of Southern California. Click here to learn more and become a teacher in Utah.
Utah Teacher Preparation
Teacher preparation includes the completion of an accredited teacher education program.
Typically teacher education programs consist of a combination of curricula and fieldwork. The curricula often includes instruction on foundational knowledge and skills, pedagogy (or the art and science of teaching), and preparing students to research, design and implement learning experiences in their field of study. The fieldwork component can include field observations, student teaching, and an internship.
While the involvement in an education program may seem financially daunting, a number of financial resources specifically for teachers exist around the country. For more information on this, visit our page on scholarships for teachers. For more scholarships for teachers exclusive to the State of Utah, visit our Utah Teacher Scholarships page.
Alternative Certification
Graduates of accredited colleges or universities whose bachelor’s degree was not in education, and who have not yet earned a traditional teaching certificate, can still receive an alternative teaching certificate by satisfying certain requirements. The state of Utah officially recognizes ABCTE certification as a route to earning your Utah teacher certification.
Utah Certification Reciprocity
Utah will accept some teaching credentials from the following states. Contact the Utah State Office of Education to inquire about your specific situation. Please see our interstate reciprocity disclaimer for more information.
| Alabama | Arizona | Arkansas | California |
| Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | Florida |
| Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois |
| Indiana | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana |
| Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan |
| Mississippi | Missouri | Montana | Nebraska |
| Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico |
| New York | North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio |
| Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island |
| South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee | Texas |
| Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin |
| Wyoming |
Utah Teacher Salary
- Incentives to teach in high-needs schools or shortage subject areas: Utah provides differential pay support for teachers teaching in shortage subject areas
- Policies in place that articulate elements of effective induction: Utah has strong induction policies in place
- Average Elementary Teacher Salary: The average elementary school teacher in Utah makes $46,270
- Average Secondary Teacher Salary: The average secondary teacher in Utah makes $45,560
- Teacher Salary vs. State Average Salary: The average teacher in Utah makes 109% of the salary of the average worker in Utah
- Number of Vacation Weeks Per Year: The average teacher in Utah receives 15 weeks of vacation per year
Utah Required Tests
In order to become a certified teacher, you must satisfactorily complete the Basic Skill Test requirement and any Subject Area Competence assessments needed for your desired area of instruction.
Basic Skills Test
- Utah does not require a basic skills test for student teaching or for certification.
Subject Area Competence
Utah Teacher Certification Information & Links
- Utah State Office of Education
- Utah Teacher Tenure
- Troops to Teachers Utah: In Utah, Troops to Teachers is managed by the Pacific Mountain Region Office
This page is sponsored by Rossier Online, an innovative master level teaching degree program delivered online from the University of Southern California. Click here to learn more and become a teacher in Utah.
