EARLY CHILDHOOD ELEMENTARY TEACHING LICENSE (GRADES K-3)

The UITE and Department of Family & Consumer Studies offer an early childhood K-3 interdisciplinary bachelor's degree program granted through the College of Social & Behavioral Science. Students may choose to complete a Bachelor's of Arts or Bachelor's of Science. Students will be declared as Family, Community, and Human Development majors but will have some of their major coursework completed through the College of Education. Students pursuing K-3 licensure must apply to the UITE Licensure Programs by February 1 of the year that they intend to complete their licensure year to gain acceptance to the UITE Licensure Programs to complete licensure coursework.

The University of Utah’s Early Childhood K-3 licensure program prepares teachers for grades K-3. Students who complete the FCS program with UITE Licensure, including licensure exams, have a cleared Utah State Board of Education (USBE) background check and all other licensure requirements will be recommended to the USBE for a Utah Professional Early Childhood teaching license. This license will only allow students to teach in grades K-3 in an elementary school.

To be recommended for your Professional teaching license, all Elementary, Early Childhood and Secondary licensure students must successfully complete the Praxis Performance Assessment for Teachers (PPAT). For more information about the PPAT, please see https://www.ets.org/ppa/test-takers/teachers/about as well as program handbooks for more information.

Teacher Candidates who anticipate being recommended for Elementary or Early Childhood licensure on or after September 1, 2022 are required to complete the Foundations of Reading assessment before they are awarded a professional license. Candidates are strongly encouraged to take the test during the fall semester, prior to beginning student teaching. There is not a required score to pass the test for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 academic years. The USBE will establish a cut score by 2024-2025, and all candidates will need to successfully pass the assessment to receive their professional teaching license.  More information can be found in the Student Handbook, your program summary or contact UITE Advising.

All students are reminded that Praxis II is required to meet program admission requirements. If you have questions regarding Praxis II please see UITE Advising.

Why Early Childhood Education (K-3)?

 

Investing in Early Childhood Teacher Education Pays Off

FCS Professor Cheryl Wright and Clinical Instructor Trish Saccamano along with Dale Smith, Associate Dean of Education, Family and Human Studies ast SLCC commented on the benefits of a strong early childhood development and education background for preschool and K-3 teachers.

K-3 Early Childhood Education with K-3 Licensure