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Alternative Teacher Certification Programs in Utah

According to Trib.com, an online news source, schools in Utah will need to hire at least 44,000 new teachers by the year 2014. A study conducted by Utah State University reported that the state will hire 6,000 new teachers per year until that date. While Utah is facing shortages in all subjects and in all grades, K-12, the situation is most dire in math, science, special education, and speech pathology. Roughly five percent of Utah’s teacher population consists of individuals who have completed an alternate certification program.

The Utah State Office of Education has a few programs in place to help professionals earn a teaching certificate. In order to be eligible for any of these state-approved programs, you must meet the following requirements:

  • Possess a bachelor’s degree in a related field
  • Complete online background check
  • Undergo professional fingerprinting
  • Submit an application, official transcripts, and $100 evaluation fee to USOE

Two programs you may consider are Utah’s Alternative Route to Licensure (ARL), such as the one offered by Utah State University, or the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE) program. The ARL is a program designed for candidates who already have a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited university. Individuals who wish to teach at the elementary level must have completed courses that reflect a broad background in language arts, science, social studies, math, the fine arts, physical education, and health. Those who wish to teach at the middle or high school level must have a degree major in the subject in which they wish to teach. ABCTE is a computer-based program geared specifically to prospective teachers with a bachelor’s degree in a field other than education.

Top Online Schools for Teachers In Utah

The teaching profession has seen some growth in the state of Utah,
thanks to the encouragement of state education officials. As a result,
some are beginning the process of becoming educators through
alternative routes.

Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is beginning to offer online courses through
their education department. Those that are interested can engage
the support staff in conjunction with accessing classes through the
university’s portal.

Walden University Online
The online degree platform at Walden University has expanded to
accommodate the rising number of degrees available from the
school. In addition, their school of education is bolstered by a
network of alumni lending guidance to students.

Grand Canyon University Online
Grand Canyon University is home to a wide array of online degree
courses, particularly in education. The school also has a series of
community field workshops students can engage in depending on
their disciplines.

Utah State University
Utah State offers a few online degrees in the field of education.
Presently, they are mainly masters level courses. One other factor
to note is that the college does offer a slew of research opportunities
for potential students to align with their coursework.