Utah Teaching License vs. Credential?

Question

I am a Master's student in English literature and I want to move back to Salt Lake City and teach. My questions: what will I need to do to teach at the high school or community college level? What is the difference between a teaching credential and license? Which is more beneficial for teaching high school? What should I expect for pay in Utah?

Also, any further information pertaining to private schools would be greatly appreciated as well. Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

A licence and a teaching credential are really the same thing.  If you want to teach at a private school, and there are a growing number of high quality private schools in SLC, you do not need a license, nor any education classes.  Private schools are not held to the same requirements in teachers as are the public schools.  (If salary is of particular interest, you might consider Park City -  they have the highest teacher salaries in the state, both public and private.  Still, keep in mind that Utah's salaries for teachers are way below the national average.  IF a district will hire someone with a Master's, the pay might be around $35,000)

I don't think that you need a license for community college, either.  With your Master's, that is probably a good choice.

If you are also interested in public schools, you will need an educator's license.  If you have already completed education classes and done student teaching, there would be just a little more school that you might need to do.  If not, you might be able to get a teaching position while you do classes to complete the licensure requirements.  All of the state universities offer education courses, and several private and online ones do, too.  Check out WGU and U of Phoenix for online work.)

Your first step is to look at the state education website --

http://www.usoe.k12.ut.us/       -- to find out what you need to do and whom you need to contact.

click on Educator Quality Services  for information on specific items.

Best wishes to you.  Hope that you will enjoy your return to Utah.