Teacher Licensing at Lincoln Academy
At Lincoln Academy, we employ state-certified and qualified teachers to ensure high-quality education for our students. Utah offers three levels of educator licensing, each with different requirements and qualifications:
- Professional License – This is granted to educators who have met all state certification requirements.
- Associate License – Awarded to individuals who have completed a minimum set of requirements and/or demonstrated competency in key areas.
- Local Education Agency (LEA) Specific License – Issued under the direction of a local governing board for school districts or charter schools. This allows individuals with a four-year degree, relevant professional experience, and demonstrated teaching ability to become licensed educators.
How Does Lincoln Academy Utilize These License Levels?
At Lincoln Academy, we employ individuals with all three types of licenses. Educators who hold a four-year degree and are working toward full certification start as Associate Educators and typically earn their Professional License within two to three years. We also have several LEA-Specific Licensed Educators who bring valuable expertise to our school community.
Three Key Ways We Use LEA-Specific Licenses
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Supplementing Existing Licenses – The most common use of LEA-Specific licenses is for teachers who are fully certified in one subject but need authorization to teach an additional subject. For example, an English teacher who teaches six English classes may also be assigned one history class. An LEA-Specific License allows them to teach that additional subject.
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Bridging the Gap to an Associate License – The state requires educators to meet endorsement requirements to obtain an Associate License. In some cases, we issue an LEA-Specific License to allow a teacher to begin teaching while they complete the necessary endorsements.
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Leveraging Industry Professionals – We also use LEA-Specific Licenses to allow experienced professionals to teach specialized classes. For example, we have had licensed attorneys volunteer to teach debate. While they have the expertise, they would not be able to teach without a license. By issuing an LEA-Specific License, we enable qualified professionals to share their knowledge with students.
Lincoln Academy’s Teacher Licensing Breakdown
- 70% of our educators hold a Professional License
- 5% hold an Associate License
- 25% hold an LEA-Specific License
To learn more about specific teacher qualifications, visit the Utah Educator Licensing Database.