Terms:

AEL - Associate Educator License (valid for three teaching years)
APPEL-SpEd - Alternate Path to Professional Educator Licensure - Special Education
IHE - Institution of Higher Education
EPP - Educator Preparation Program
SpEd - Special Education

If you are applying for a SpEd-AEL only, because you are already enrolled in a University preparation program, follow the steps here: https://schools.utah.gov/licensing/apply?mid=5257&tid=1

If you are applying for both the SpEd AEL and the APPEL-SpEd program, follow the tasks below:

Welcome to APPEL-SpEd: USBE’s Alternate Path to Professional Educator Licensure for Special Education. Please note this program leads to licensure only–not a degree. This program is available to participants who already have

- A bachelor's degree
- A current Special Education teaching assignment, or
- A paraprofessional position working in a Special Education setting

The task list below outlines the requirements to qualify for the SpEd Associate Educator License (AEL) and serves as the pre-requisites to begin the APPEL-SpEd program. Upon completion of the APPEL-SpEd program participants will be recommended for SpEd Professional Educator Licensure. (If you are working as a paraprofessional, you do not need an Associate License--specific details are below.) Your Associate educator license is good for three academic years during which time you may be the Special Education teacher of record. You must finish all of the requirements during that time to receive your Professional educator license in Special Education.

Tasks 1 through 4 may be completed in any order/simultaneously.

APPEL-SpEd TASK CHECKLIST

Task 1

*(Skip Task 1 if you already have your Utah CACTUS ID, state background check completed, and official transcripts have been sent to USBE.)*
▸ Create your Utah Educator Record in the Utah Schools Information Management System (USIMS). Sign up for an account. Provide a personal email address. Check your email to retrieve the verification code. Use verification code to continue setting up your profile, providing Personal Information, and looking up your information. Use the Personal Information button to retrieve your Cactus ID. ▸ Successfully complete all USIMS Checklist Items Log in to your USIMS account. Answer Licensing Issues questions. Request Criminal Background Review, if prompted. You will need to provide your social security number and your date of birth to complete this step. Once requested, you will receive the instructions to complete fingerprinting; these instructions may be revisited by clicking on Criminal Background Review. Once fingerprints are received, it can take 2-12 weeks to complete the background review depending on your background history. Complete Educator Ethics Review. You may log in to your USIMS account at any time to review these items. ▸ Supply official transcripts to USBE with a bachelor degree transcripts@schools.utah.gov ▸ Double-check you know your CACTUS ID by creating a my.uen account to use its CACTUS look-up tool if needed, OR by logging into your USIMS account at https://usims.schools.utah.gov. (You may want store your CACTUS ID in your phone or other convenient location for easy referral.)	Task 1 Audio:

Task 2

*(Required for APPEL-SpEd.)*
▸ Request provisional admittance to the APPEL-SpEd preparation program to generate a Statement of Assurances for APPEL-SpEd https://forms.gle/a33CS4y8YVwR2QCcA You need a Special Education assignment or SpEd paraeducator position. NOTE: if you are in the final stages of an LEA's hiring process for an open SpEd teaching position, complete this task after completing tasks 1, 3, and 4 and you've had a conversation with your LEA's HR director	Task 2 Audio:

Task 3

*(Required for an Associate (AEL) in Special Education (K-12+) or Preschool Special Education pathways.)*
▸ Part 1: USBE has designed multiple pathways to ensure all Special Education teachers have the preparation, knowledge, and skills necessary to provide a free and appropriate education for all students. All educators working toward an associate educator license in Special Education (K-12) or Preschool Special Education need to complete ONE of the pathways listed below. If you are working as a para, you do not need an associate license, but we do require you to complete one of the designated options below matching the area in which you are seeking licensure. The appropriate option is marked with a red asterisk. USBE tracks progress and completion of an educator's chosen pathway within the modules. Preschool Special Education * Option #1: Complete the Preschool Preparation Program here (Links to an external site.) Option #2: Pass Praxis Test 5691 Special Education (K-12+) Mild/Moderate and/or Severe * Option #1: DirectSTEP Training Option #2: Pass a Praxis Test For K-12 Special Education with Mild/Moderate Endorsement--5354 OR 5543 For K-12 Special Education with a Severe Endorsement--5354, OR 5545 Option #3: CEC JumpStart Option #4: USBE Running Start Option #5: Proof of Equivalency *To begin, please sign up for the Basic Preparation, Knowledge, and Skills* course in MIDAS: https://usbe.midaseducation.com/professional-development/courses/course/60444 ▸ Part 2: Complete Associate Educator License (AEL) modules (Use the e-mail address of your CACTUS record for your log-in ID. https://usbe.instructure.com/register, using the "I'm a Student" option, and use the following join code: D9XGLB. Please note, the AEL modules are not required for anyone with a Utah Professional teaching license area of concentration in Elementary Education or Secondary Education.**

Task 4

*(Required for an Associate (AEL) in Special Education (K-12+) or Preschool Special Education pathways.)*
▸ Create MIDAS account and register for MIDAS 59403 (Use the e-mail address of your CACTUS record for your log-in ID.) ▸ Complete USBE SpEd Law Training at 80% or better (Use the e-mail address of your CACTUS record for your log-in ID.) NOTE: if you have a Special Education Law course with a C+ or better on your University transcript, you do not need the SpEd Law Training course.	Task 4 Audio:

Task 5

*(Required for APPEL-SpEd.)*
▸ Receive confirmation of provisional acceptance into USBE APPEL-SpEd program (generated by completing task 2). ▸ If you work as the teacher of record in a Special Education classroom, please verify LEA has posted teaching assignment for current academic year in CACTUS: https://cactus.schools.utah.gov (Note: the assignment may not be posted until after July 15th for the upcoming school year and paraprofessional positions are not be posted in CACTUS.) If you are working as a SpEd paraprofessional, you DO NOT need a SpEd teaching position to move forward nor do you need an Associate SpEd License (AEL). Please move forward to Task 6. ▸ Apply for and be awarded an Associate license matching your teaching assignment: Special Education (K-12+) with Mild/Moderate Disabilities OR Special Education (K-12+) with Severe Disabilities OR Preschool Special Education	Task 5 Audio:

Task 6

*(Required for APPEL-SpEd.)*
▸ Receive custom Professional Learning Plan (PLP) derived by the USBE APPEL-SpEd team from USBE APPEL-SpEd framework and begin coursework and clinical experiences, making adequate and regular progress toward completion, and continuing in a related special education teaching assignment. REMINDER: USBE APPEL-SpEd is a licensure-only program and not a degree-granting program.	Task 6 Audio:

USBE APPEL-SpEd Program Overview

APPEL-SpEd Program - Guidebook for LEAs

The APPEL-SpEd Program - Guidebook for LEAs provides an overview of the Alternate Path to Professional Educator Licensure for Special Education program as well as an outline of Local Education Agencies’ (LEAs) program responsibilities. It describes what the program is, how it works, who it is for, what is required to enroll and earn this license area of concentration, and the role of the LEA in ensuring program completion and up-to-date licensure for individuals in a special education teaching assignment in a district or charter school.

APPEL-SpEd More Information

The USBE APPEL-SpEd program helps a participant teacher holding an Associate special education license become a Professional Special Education license holder by providing a custom Professional Learning Plan (PLP) based on the USBE APPEL-SpEd framework.

- - - Example PLPs
      - Preschool Special Education Full PLP - Abbreviated PLP
      - Special Education (K-12+) License Area of Concentration with Mild/Moderate Endorsement Full PLP - Abbreviated PLP
      - Special Education (K-12+) License Area of Concentration with Severe Endorsement Full PLP - Abbreviated PLP

The USBE APPEL-SpEd PLP includes approved coursework from Universities here in Utah and in some cases, coursework from USBE, along with support from the Local Education Agency in clinical experiences , mentoring, and evaluation to help the candidate develop skills and understand the related responsibilities.

The culminating evaluation in the program is the Utah State Board of Education required pedagogical performance assessment.

Licensing information not included on this page may be found at https://schools.utah.gov/licensing/apply?mid=5257&tid=1 or USBE APPEL-SpEd clarification may be requested from appel-sped@schools.utah.gov

See also USBE APPEL-SpEd - Frequently Asked Questions.