Education

Administration

Rule 301: Educator Licensing

Effective Date: 10/08/2026

Admin. Code Reference: R277-301

Rule Type: Current Rule

NOTICE OF SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE

TYPE OF FILING: Amendment

Filing ID: 58153

Rule or section number:

R277-301

1. Agency Information

Title catchline:

Education, Administration

Building:

Board of Education

Street address:

250 E 500 S

City, state:

Salt Lake City, UT

Mailing address:

PO Box 144200

City, state and zip:

Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4200

2. Contact Persons

Name:

Phone:

Email:

Elisse Newey

801-538-7500

Elisse.newey@schools.utah.gov

Please address questions regarding information on this notice to the persons listed above.

3. General Information

A. Rule or section catchline:

R277-301. Educator Licensing

B. Purpose of the new rule or reason for the change:

The rule amendments are due to the passage of HB 374 during the 2026 General Session.

C. Summary of the new rule or change:

The amendments clarify transfer of authority to license audiologists and speech-language pathologists from the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) to the Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL). The USBE licenses for those license areas will expire over the next five years.

The amendments also remove the oversight categorization of "Category 4".

4. Legislative Action Information

A. Are any changes in this filing

because of state legislative action?

Changes are because of legislative action.

B. If yes, any bill number and

session:

HB 374 (2026 General Session)

5. Fiscal Information

Provide an estimate and written explanation of the aggregate anticipated cost or savings to:

A. State budget:

This rule change is not expected to have fiscal impact on state government revenues or expenditures.

The USBE believes that the fiscal impact for the audiologist and speech pathologist changes were captured in the fiscal note for HB 374 (2026).

The removal of the internal oversight category reference does not have any fiscal impacts for USBE, Local Education Agencies (LEAs), or other persons or entities.

B. Local governments:

This rule change is not expected to have fiscal impact on local governments' revenues or expenditures.

The USBE believes that the fiscal impact for the audiologist and speech pathologist changes were captured in the fiscal note for HB 374 (2026).

The removal of the internal oversight category reference does not have any fiscal impacts for USBE, LEAs, or other persons or entities.

C. Small businesses ("small business" means a business employing 1-49 persons):

This rule change is not expected to have fiscal impact on small businesses' revenues or expenditures.

This administrative rule regulates educator licensing structures and background check protocols for public school districts, charter schools, and the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.

It places no regulations, compliance demands, or financial burdens on private commercial small businesses.

Therefore, it has zero aggregate economic impact on small businesses.

D. Non-small businesses ("non-small business" means a business employing 50 or more persons):

There are no non-small businesses in the industry in question, Elementary and Secondary Schools (North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 611110). Because there are no non-small businesses, they do not account for any service delivery for Elementary and Secondary Schools. Therefore, non-small businesses are not expected to receive increased or decreased revenues per year. This proposed rule change is not expected to have any fiscal impact on non-small businesses' revenues or expenditures because there are no applicable non-small businesses, and it does not require any expenditures of, or generate revenue for non-small businesses.

E. Persons other than small businesses, non-small businesses, state, or local government entities ("person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, association, governmental entity, or public or private organization of any character other than an agency):

This rule change is not expected to have fiscal impact on revenues or expenditures for persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local government entities.

The USBE believes that the fiscal impact for the audiologist and speech pathologist changes were captured in the fiscal note for HB 374 (2026).

The removal of the internal oversight category reference does not have any fiscal impacts for USBE, LEAs, or other persons or entities.

F. Compliance costs for affected persons:

There are no compliance costs for affected persons.

The USBE believes that the fiscal impacts for the audiologist and speech pathologist changes were captured in the fiscal note for HB 374 (2026).

The removal of the internal oversight category reference does not have any fiscal impacts for USBE, LEAs, or other persons or entities.

6. Regulatory Impact Summary Table

Enter the cost or savings in the relevant cell. If there is no cost or savings, enter, "$0." If a cost or savings is inestimable, enter, "inestimable."

Fiscal Cost

FY2027

FY2028

FY2029

FY2030

FY2031

State Budget

Local Governments

Small Businesses

Non-Small Businesses

Other Persons

Total Fiscal Cost

Fiscal Benefits

FY2027

FY2028

FY2029

FY2030

FY2031

State Budget

Local Governments

Small Businesses

Non-Small Businesses

Other Persons

Total Fiscal Benefits

Net Fiscal Benefits

7. Regulatory Impact Analysis Approval

The State Superintendent of the Utah State Board of Education, Molly Hart, has reviewed and approved this regulatory impact analysis.

8. Family Impact Information

A. The agency has considered this rule's impact on family health, stability, and formation:

☒

9. Citation Information

Provide citations to the statutory authority for the rule. If there is also a federal requirement for the rule, provide a citation to that requirement:

Utah Constitution, Article X, Section 3

Section 53E-6-102

Section 53E-3-401

11. Public Notice Information

The public may submit written or oral comments to the agency identified in box 1.

A. Comments will be accepted until:

10/01/2026

12. Effective Date Information

This rule change MAY become effective on:

(NOTE: This is the date the agency anticipates making the filing effective. It is NOT the effective date)

10/08/2026

13. Agency Authorization Information

Agency head or

designee and title:

Elisse Newey, Deputy Superintendent of

Policy

Date:

08/14/2026

R277. Education, Administration.

R277-301. Educator Licensing.

R277-301-1. Authority[,] and Purpose[, and Oversight Category].

(1) This rule is authorized by:

(a) Utah Constitution Article X, Section 3, which vests general control and supervision over public education in the Board;

(b) Subsection 53E-3-401(4), which allows the Board to make rules to execute the Board's duties and responsibilities under the Utah Constitution and state law; and

(2) This rule specifies the types of licenses and license areas of concentration available and the requirements and procedures for obtaining a license, required for employment as a licensed educator in the public schools of Utah.

[(3) This Rule R277-301 is categorized as Category 4 as described in Rule R277-111.]

R277-301-2. Definitions.

(1) "Accredited institution" means an institution that:

(a) offers a competency-based postsecondary general education course online or in person; and

(b) is accredited by an organization recognized by the United States Department of Education.

(2) "Currently enrolled" means:

(a) that an individual has been formally accepted into a Board-approved educator preparation program; and

(b) that the program considers the individual to be an active participant.

(3) "Educator preparation program" means the same as that term is defined in Section R277-303-2.

(4) "Endorsement" means a designation on a license area of concentration earned through demonstrating required competencies established by the Superintendent that qualifies the individual to:

(a) provide instruction in a specific content area; or

(b) apply a specific set of skills in an education setting.

(5) "LEA" includes, for purposes of this rule, the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.

(6)(a) "License areas of concentration" or "license area" means a designation on a license of the specific educational setting or role for

which the individual is qualified, to include the following:

([a]i) Early Childhood;

([b]ii) Elementary;

([c]iii) Secondary;

([d]iv) School-Leadership;

([e]v) Career and Technical Education or "CTE";

([f]vi) School Counselor;

([g]vii) School Psychologist;

([h]viii) Special Education;

([i]ix) Pre-school Special Education;

([j]x) Deaf Education;

[(k) Speech-Language Pathologist;]

([l]xi) Speech-Language Technician; and

([m]xii) School Social Worker[; and

(n) Audiologist].

(b) For an individual licensed prior to May 6, 2026, license area may include the following:

(i) Speech-Language Pathologist; and

(ii) Audiologist.

(7) "Licensing Jurisdiction" means the designated educator licensing authority in any foreign country or state of the United States of America and the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA).

(8) "NASDTEC" means the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification.

(9) "NASDTEC Stage 2 Educator License" means a license issued to an individual who holds a bachelor's degree and has completed an approved program but has not met the jurisdiction-specific requirement for a Stage 3 license of a member jurisdiction.

(10) "Renewal" means reissuing or extending the length of a license consistent with Rule R277-302.

R277-301-3. License Structure.

(1) Utah educator licenses include the following licenses:

(a) Associate educator license;

(b) Professional educator license; and

(2) The Superintendent may only issue one single active Utah educator license to an individual.

(3) An educator license shall include at least one license area of concentration.

(4) License areas of concentration and endorsements shall have a designation of:

(a) associate;

(b) professional; or

(5) An associate educator license may only include associate or LEA-specific license areas of concentration and endorsements.

(6) An LEA-specific educator license may only include LEA-specific license areas of concentration and endorsements.

(7) An educator may add a license area or endorsement to an existing license or license area of concentration by meeting the requirements for an associate, professional, or LEA-specific endorsement as established in this rule.

(8) The Superintendent may establish deadlines and uniform forms and procedures for all aspects of licensing.

(9)(a) All licenses expire on June 30 of the year of expiration and a licensee may renew any time after January 1 of the same year.

(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (9)(a), an LEA-specific license may only renew after July 1 of the year of expiration.

R277-301-4. Associate Educator License Requirements.

(1) The Superintendent shall issue an associate educator license to an individual that applies for the license and that meets all requirements in this Section R277-301-4.

(2) An associate educator license, license area, or endorsement is valid until June 30 of the third school year after the Superintendent issues or renews the license.

(3)(a) Except as provided in Subsection (4), the Superintendent may extend an associate educator license for up to two school years if an LEA or Utah-based accredited private school requests the extension for an employee.

(b) The Superintendent may extend an associate educator license for up to one school year for an educator with a license area in special education or related services, if the educator has up to two years of experience in special education or related services.

(4) The Superintendent may not extend an associate license with a license area in special education or related services, if the educator has three years of experience in special education or related services.

(5) The Superintendent may extend a non-special education related license area for up to two school years if an LEA or Utah-based

accredited private school requests the extension for an employee.

([5]6) The general requirements for an associate educator license shall include:

(a) completion of a criminal background check, including:

(i) review of any criminal offenses and clearance in accordance with Rule R277-214; and

(ii) continued monitoring in accordance with Subsection 53G-11-403(1);

(b) completion of the educator ethics review within one calendar year before the application;

(i) a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited institution;

(ii) currently enrolled in a university-based Board-approved educator preparation program that will result in a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited institution; or

(iii) skill certification in a specific CTE area as established by the Superintendent; and

(d) minimum competencies, as defined by the Superintendent.

([6]7) The content knowledge requirements for an associate educator license shall include:

(a) for an elementary license area, demonstration of the content competency criteria established by the Superintendent;

(b) for a secondary or CTE license area with a content endorsement, or for an endorsement being added to a professional license area, one of the following:

(i)(A) passage of a content knowledge test approved by the Superintendent, where required; or

(B) demonstration of the competency criteria established by the Superintendent if no content knowledge test is required;

(ii) a bachelor's degree or higher with a major in the content area from an accredited university; or

(iii) enrollment in a program that will result in a bachelor's degree and complete all requirements except completion of capstone school-based clinical experience and any co-requisite coursework;

(c) for an early childhood license area, demonstration of the content competency criteria established by the Superintendent; and

(d) for a school leadership license area, enrollment in or completion of:

(i) an accredited university-based school leadership educator preparation program that results in:

(a) a masters degree or higher; and

(b) a NASDTEC Stage 2 educator license in school leadership or equivalent, as determined by the Superintendent; or

(ii) an educator preparation program administered by the Superintendent.

([7]8) Notwithstanding, Subsection (5)(c)(ii);

(a) an applicant for an associate educator license with the following license areas:

(i) special education (K-12);

(ii) pre-school special education;

(iii) deaf education; or

[(iv) audiologist;]

(iv) speech-language technician;[ or]

[(vi) speech-language pathologist;]

(b) shall meet the following requirements for an associate educator license:

(i) demonstrate content knowledge competencies approved by the Superintendent;

(ii) complete a special education law and instruction training approved by the Superintendent;

(iii) earn a bachelor's degree in a field approved by the Superintendent; and

(iv) enroll in a preparation program as provided in Subsection (9).

([8]9)(a) For a special education or pre-school special education license area, an applicant shall enroll in a:

(i) Board-approved non-university-based special education preparation program; or

(ii) a special education program at an accredited institution that will yield a NASDTEC Stage 2 educator license.

(b) For a deaf education license area, an applicant shall:

(i) earn a master's degree in deaf education from an accredited institution; or

(ii) enroll in:

(A) a deaf education program at an accredited institution that will yield a NASDTEC Stage 2 educator license; or

(B) a Board-approved non-university based deaf education preparation program.

[(c) For a speech-language pathologist license area, an applicant shall enroll in a speech-language pathologist program at an accredited

institution of higher education that:

(i) results in a master's degree or higher in speech-language pathology; and

(ii) will yield a NASDTEC Stage 2 educator license.]

([d]c) For a school counselor license area, an applicant shall:

(i) enroll in a school counselor program at an accredited institution of higher education that:

(A) results in a masters degree or higher in school counseling; and

(B) will yield a NASDTEC Stage 2 educator license; or

(ii) demonstrate minimum school counselor competencies as defined by the Superintendent.

([e]d) For a speech-language technician license area, an applicant shall possess a bachelor's degree in communication disorders, or the

equivalent as determined by the Superintendent, and:

(i) enroll in a speech-language technician program that is:

(A) approved by the Board; or

(B) administered by the Superintendent; or

(ii) complete the requirements of certified speech-language pathology assistant through the American Speech-Language Hearing Association.

[(f) For an audiologist license area, an applicant shall enroll in an audiology program at an accredited institution of higher education that

will yield a NASDTEC Stage 2 educator license.]

([9]10) Notwithstanding Subsection (5)(c)(ii), an applicant for an associate educator license with a license area in school psychologist or

school social worker shall meet the following requirements:

(a) demonstrate content knowledge competencies approved by the Superintendent;

(b) earn a bachelor's degree; and

(c) complete all requirements for an accredited master's level preparation program, except completion of capstone school-based clinical experience and any co-requisite coursework.

([10]11) Additional requirements for an associate educator license shall include:

(a) successful completion of professional learning modules created or approved by the Superintendent in:

(i) educator ethics;

(ii) classroom management and instruction;

(iii) basic special education law and instruction;

(iv) the Utah Effective Educator Standards described in Rule R277-330; or

(b) enrollment in a university-based Board-approved educator preparation program that will result in a bachelor's degree and completion of all requirements except capstone school-based clinical experience and any co-requisite coursework.

(c) Notwithstanding Subsection (10)(a), the Superintendent may waive an individual module, if the module is not necessary given the preparation of an applicant.

([11]12) An educator that holds a professional license area of concentration and has met the competency criteria established by the

Superintendent need not complete the requirements detailed in Subsection (10).

([12]13) A license applicant who has received or completed license preparation activities inconsistent with this rule may present

compelling information and documentation for review and approval by the Superintendent to satisfy the associate educator license requirements.

([13]14) The Superintendent shall designate a panel of at least three Board staff members to review an appeal made under Subsection (12).

([14]15) An LEA that employs an individual that holds an associate educator license shall develop a personalized professional learning

plan designed to support the educator in meeting the requirements for a professional educator license no later than 60 days after beginning work in the classroom, which shall:

(a) be provided to the Superintendent upon request;

(b) include a formal discussion and observation process no later than 30 days after beginning work in the classroom; and

(i) previous education related experience; and

(ii) previous educational preparation activities.

(15) An educator with an associate educator license may upgrade to a professional educator license at any time before expiration of the associate educator license if the educator meets all requirements of Section R277-301-5.

R277-301-5. Professional Educator License Requirements.

(1) The Superintendent shall issue a professional educator license to an individual that applies for the license and meets all requirements in this Section R277-301-5.

(2) A professional educator license, license area, or endorsement is valid until June 30 of the fifth school year after the Superintendent issues or renews the license.

(3) The general requirements for a professional educator license shall include:

(a) all general requirements for an associate educator license under Subsection R277-301-[5(4)]4(5);

(b) completion of:

(i) a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited institution; or

(ii) skill certification in a specific CTE area as established by the Superintendent;

(c) for an individual with an early childhood, elementary, or special education license area of concentration, completion of a literacy preparation assessment;

(d)(i) for an individual with a pre-school special education or early childhood education license area of concentration, demonstration of emergent literacy competencies, as defined by the Superintendent; and

(ii) one of the following:

(A) a recommendation from a Board-approved educator preparation program; or

(B) a standard educator license in the area issued by a licensing jurisdiction outside of Utah that is currently valid or is renewable consistent with Section 53E-6-307.

(f) for an individual with a school leadership license area of concentration, completion of a masters degree or higher from an accredited institution of higher education;

(g) Notwithstanding, Subsection (c), a license applicant in an APPEL program who has an established professional learning plan before August 31, 2022, need not complete a literacy preparation assessment.

(4) If an educator preparation program makes a recommendation and the Superintendent determines that the candidate does not meet all requirements in this rule, the candidate may appeal as provided Subsection (12).

(5) The content knowledge requirements for a professional educator license, license area, and endorsement shall include:

(a) all content knowledge requirements for an associate educator license under Subsection R277-301-4(5);

(b) demonstration of all content knowledge competencies as established by the Superintendent; and

(6) An applicant for a secondary or CTE content area endorsement that holds a bachelor's degree or higher with a major in the content area from an accredited university need not complete the requirement described in Subsection (5)(c).

(7) The pedagogical requirements for a professional educator license shall include demonstration of all pedagogical competencies as established by the Superintendent.

(8) An individual holding a Utah level 1, level 2, or level 3 educator license on January 1, 2020 meets the pedagogical requirements described in Subsection (7).

(9) An individual holding a Utah professional educator license and license area in early childhood education, elementary, secondary, CTE, special education, or deaf education is considered to have met the clinical competencies and general teacher pedagogical competencies requirement of Subsection (7) if applying to add any of the license areas in the subsection.

(10) An individual holding a professional license and a license area of concentration in elementary education, secondary education, CTE, special education, or deaf education, may earn an additional professional content area endorsement through:

(a) passage of a content knowledge test or competency exam approved by the Superintendent;

(b) demonstration of any content endorsement specific safety competencies, if applicable, which may include lab safety or CPR; and

(c) demonstration of pedagogical content knowledge in the new content area as verified by the educator's LEA supervisor or designee.

(11) An individual with an associate license with a speech-language technician license area who completes a speech-language technician preparation program approved by the Superintendent as described in Section R277-306-5 meets the requirements for a professional license.

(12) A license applicant who has received or completed license preparation activities inconsistent with this rule may present compelling information and documentation for review and approval or denial by the Superintendent to satisfy the professional educator license requirements.

(13) The Superintendent shall designate a panel of at least three individuals, including the director of an LEA-based educator preparation program and a Board licensed educator not employed by the Board, to review an appeal and make a recommendation to the Superintendent for the Superintendent's review and decision described in Subsection (11).

R277-301-6. Educator Licenses Issued by Licensing Jurisdictions Outside of Utah.

(1) The Superintendent shall review applications for a Utah educator license for individuals holding educator licenses issued by licensing jurisdictions outside of Utah to determine if the applicant has met the requirements for a Utah license under this rule.

(2) The Superintendent shall accept scores from an applicant that meet the Utah standard for passing on assessments from licensing jurisdictions outside of Utah that utilize the same assessment as Utah as meeting the requirements of this rule.

(3) The Superintendent shall accept scores from an applicant on reasonably equivalent content knowledge assessments utilized by licensing jurisdictions outside of Utah that meet the passing standard of that jurisdiction as meeting the requirements of this rule.

(4) The Superintendent shall accept demonstrations of content knowledge and pedagogical competencies from an applicant utilized by licensing jurisdictions outside of Utah that are reasonably equivalent to Utah competencies.

(5) An individual with a NASDTEC Stage 2 educator license need not complete the content knowledge and pedagogical assessment requirements in the areas and subjects taught.

[(6) An individual holding a standard license from another jurisdiction that was enrolled in a preparation program before January 1, 2020

and received the standard license before August 1, 2021 need not complete the requirements of Subsection R277-301-5(7)(b).]

R277-301-7. LEA-specific Educator License Requirements.

(1) The Superintendent may issue an LEA-specific educator license to a candidate if:

(a) the LEA requesting the LEA-specific educator license has an adopted policy, posted on the LEA's website, which includes:

(i) educator preparation and support:

(A) as established by the LEA; and

(B) aligned with the Utah Effective Teaching Standards described in Rule R277-330;

(ii) criteria for employing educators with an LEA-specific license; and

(iii) compliance with all requirements of this rule;

(b) an LEA governing board applies on behalf of the candidate;

(d) the candidate successfully completes professional learning modules created or approved by the Superintendent in:

(i) educator ethics;

(ii) classroom management and instruction;

(iii) basic special education law and instruction; and

(iv) the Utah Effective Educator Standards described in Rule R277-330.

(2) An LEA-specific license, license area, or endorsement is valid only within the requesting LEA for the educator's current assignment.

(3) An LEA-specific license, license area, or endorsement is valid until June 30 of the third school year after the after the Superintendent issues the license.

(4) An LEA may not request an LEA-specific license area of concentration to an educator for the following license areas:

(a) special education;

(b) pre-school special education;

(d) school psychologist;

(e) school social worker;

[(f) audiologist;]

([g]f) speech-language technician; or

[(h) speech-language pathologist; or]

([i]g) school counselor.

(5) An LEA may not request an LEA-specific endorsement in drivers education.

(6) An LEA-specific license expires immediately if the educator's employment with the LEA that requested the license ends.

(7) An LEA may request renewal of an LEA-specific license if an educator meets professional learning requirements established by the Superintendent.

(8) The general requirements for an LEA-specific educator license shall include:

(a) completion of a criminal background check, including:

(i) review of any criminal offenses and clearance in accordance with Rule R277-214; and

(ii) continued monitoring in accordance with Subsection 53G-11-403(1);

(b) completion of the educator ethics review within one calendar year before the application; and

(c) approval of the request by the LEA governing board in a public meeting no more than 60 days before the application, which includes the LEA's rationale for the request.

(9) The content knowledge and pedagogical requirements for an LEA-specific educator license shall be established by the LEA governing board.

(10) An LEA school that requests an LEA-specific license, license area, or endorsement shall prominently post the following information on each school's website:

(a) disclosure of the fact that the school employs individuals holding LEA-specific educator licenses[, license areas, or endorsements];

(b) an explanation of the types of licenses issued by the board;

(c) the percentage of the types of licenses[, license areas, and endorsements] held by educators employed in the school-based on the

employees' FTE as reported to the Superintendent; and

(d) a link to the Utah Educator Look-up tool provided by the Superintendent in accordance with Subsection R277-312-7(6).

R277-301-9. Superintendent Annual Report to the Board.

(1) The Superintendent shall annually report to the Board on licensing, including:

(a) educator licensing;

(b) educator preparation; and

(2) The Superintendent shall use a process approved by the Board to:

(a) establish the content knowledge competency requirements required for associate and professional endorsements; and

(b) review, adopt, and establish passing standards for all assessments required for educator licensing.

(3) The Superintendent shall create an ethics review for all licensed educators based upon Rule R277-217, Educator Standards and Local Education Agency (LEA) Reporting.

(4) The Superintendent may correct identified errors in licensing information with notice to the license holder.

R277-301-10. Licensee Enrollment in FBI Rapback.

(1) An individual with an assignment in CACTUS or USIMS shall have a cleared background check and current enrollment in FBI Rapback in accordance with Section 53G-11-403.

(2) Notwithstanding Subsection (1), if an individual cannot enroll in FBI Rapback due to physiological limitations, the educator shall submit fingerprints and complete a new background check every [two]five years.

(3)(a) An LEA may not receive funding for an educator who is not in compliance with this section.

(b) An LEA may be subject to corrective action under Rule R277-114 for continued non-compliance with Subsection (1).

(4) An individual who is a school resource officer and certified law enforcement officer in accordance with Section 53-6-203 meets the background check requirements of Section 53G-11-403 by virtue of completing law enforcement background check requirements.

KEY: professional competency, educator licensing

Date of Last Change: 2026[November 7, 2025]

Notice of Continuation: November 5, 2021

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: Art X Sec 3; 53E-6-102; 53E-3-401

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