Become a Teacher 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.