General pathways to Special Education Licensure in Utah

Is USBE APPEL-SpEd the only path to licensure?

No. Someone can enroll in a Utah educator preparation program at one of the institutions of higher education approved to recommend for Utah licensure. For FY2022-2023 USBE distributed $1.55 million dollars to six Utah IHEs for tuition scholarships specifically for Special Education (K-12+) and Preschool Special Education licensure.

Utah Preparation Programs
LICENSE AREA OF CONCENTRATION	BYU	SUU	UofU	USU	UVU	WSU
Special Education (K-12+)	@	@	@@	@	@	@
Preschool Special Education			@	@

Grow Your Own Teacher Pipeline Program (for paraprofessionals)
Paraeducators to Teacher Scholarship Opportunity (PETTS)
Teacher Assistant Pathway to Teaching (TAPT)
- Note to those in APPEL-SpEd: Some courses required for an APPEL-SpEd participant's PLP taken from Utah Higher Education Preparation Programs may be eligible for partial tuition reimbursement while funds are available.

No. Someone can enroll in an out-of-state NASDTEC Level 2 educator preparation program and earn an educator license for that program's state. Then the educator can apply for a Utah Professional license through the license equivalence (out-of-state) process.

USBE APPEL-SpEd Enrollment Requirements

1. What is required as an APPEL-SpEd participant?
  1. Collaborate regularly with an approved Special Education mentor for guidance and support to complete clinical experiences.
  2. Have access to students receiving special education services for clinical experiences and demonstration competencies
  3. Complete the entire APPEL-SpEd Professional Learning Plan (PLP)
  4. Submit PLP completion documentation (e.g. official transcripts) at least annually.

Teaching Assignment Options

1. Once a candidate is accepted into the APPEL-SpEd program and is working as a SpEd teacher with an Associate Educator License, can they: Be the teacher of record? Be the SpEd teacher during IEP Meetings and sign IEPs as such? In effect be the SpEd teacher for his or her caseload?
  
  Yes. The Associate license allows the educator to be the teacher of record for his/her caseload, sign IEPs, etc.
  
  The mentor teacher (required to be assigned to the APPEL-SpEd participant) needs to be available for consultations with the Associate educator as needed.
  
  Also, the Special Education Director will be doing check-ins and the school principal will be doing in-class evaluations so the Associate educator can also consult with them as needed.
2. Must the USBE APPEL-SpEd participant have a special education assignment to be in the USBE APPEL-SpEd licensure program?
  
  No, but you must be sponsored by an LEA ensuring support throughout the APPEL-SpEd program.

Paraprofessional Questions

1. What if I'm a paraprofessional without a bachelor's degree?

You will need to receive a bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited institution before enrolling in APPEL-SpEd per IDEA rules.

2. What happens if I become the teacher of record in a Special Education classroom while I am working through this program?

Great! We will then have you complete any missing steps to obtain your Associate educator license (AEL) in Special Education (Preschool or K-12+). If you move into a teaching position, you will have 3 academic years on the AEL to complete any missing coursework and receive your Professional educator license.

3. What's my timeline as a paraprofessional to complete the program?

There is no deadline to complete the coursework needed for licensure as long as you stay in a para position. If you move into a teaching position, please see Question 2.

4. Am I guaranteed a teaching position once I complete this program?

No, you must apply for a position.

Postsecondary Transition Area for Clinical Experiences

1. Why do I have to do postsecondary transition requirements when I only want to teach elementary?

Professional licensure in special education is a K-12 license area that requires both elementary and secondary competencies in special education. Some participants who work in elementary schools may require additional planning in order to meet postsecondary transition competencies.

2. I can't get enough experience at my LEA, how do I meet the competencies/requirements?

If you are unable to obtain necessary clinical experience competency in postsecondary transition in your current assignment, you may be able to obtain necessary clinical experiences by partnering with another school within or outside of your LEA. Please work with your administrator and local HR to work out a solution for you to obtain the necessary clinical experiences. Once you have identified a supporting school or LEA where you can meet your clinical experience requirement, please keep in mind that you will need to ensure that you complete the following steps before accessing any individual student information:

- - - - Work with the supporting LEA to obtain advanced written, signed consent from the parent of the student with a disability (or an adult student with a disability) to access student files, attend any IEP or post-secondary transition planning meetings, and any other activities or review for which consent should be sought;
      - Once written, signed consent is obtained, work with the supporting LEA to ensure that you are included among the notice of meeting participants, that the purpose of the meeting is duly noted, and that all other IEP meeting and notice requirements are met; and
      - Sign your name to the Record of Access that should be available in every IEP file. If a Record of Access is not available, participants should ask for one to be included in the file and appropriately execute it.

Applying for the USBE Associate Educator License (AEL) area for Special Education (K-12+)

1. Does the USBE licensing have steps for applying for the Associate license?
  
  Yes. See the USBE licensing section's detailed document.

Praxis Option Accepted for Admission to USBE APPEL-SpEd

Besides other options, what Praxis tests are accepted to be admitted to the USBE APPEL-SpEd program?

**PRAXIS DECISION TREE for admittance into USBE APPEL-SpEd**
Associate License Area/Endorsement	Currently Accepted
SpEd (K-12+) M/M	5355 or 5543 or SpEd Basic Preparation, Knowledge, and Skills Options for AEL or 5001 (taken prior to 9/1/2022) or 5031 (taken prior to 9/1/2015 ) or 0542 (taken prior to 9/1/2010)
SpEd (K-12+) Severe	5355 or 5547 or SpEd Basic Preparation, Knowledge, and Skills Options for AEL or 5001 (taken prior to 9/1/2022) or 5031 (taken prior to 9/1/2015 ) or 0544 (taken prior to 9/1/2010)
Preschool SpEd	5692 or 5355 or SpEd Preschool Preparation Package

Big Picture of Initial Licensure in Special Education

Utah Special Education License Area of Concentration Pathways

The Utah State Board of Education's Portrait of a First Year Teacher

PortraitFirstYearTeacher.pdf

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