Categories of Membership

Who can be a UEA member?

Membership is open to professional educators and retirees, and to anyone preparing to be an educator in a Utah institution of higher education. Private school employees are not eligible to join. Here are the classes of membership available: 

Active

Active Membership is available to a professional possessing a bachelor degree or higher from an institution of higher education, holding the appropriate teaching license, and employed full- or part-time in a Utah public school.

Other eligibility requirements for Active membership are available for education professionals not meeting the above requirements. In addition to holding a bachelor degree or higher and employed full- or part-time in a Utah public school, Active members may meet one of the following criteria:

  • A licensed educator on paid Sabbatical leave; or

  • An educator actively engaged full- or part-time performing technical trade educational services in a secondary or post-secondary institution; or

  • A teaching professional employed under the provisions of the Alternative Routes to Licensure Program authorized by the Utah State Office of Education. 

UEA Active dues are 0.00735 percent of the statewide classroom teacher’s average salary and are typically paid through payroll deduction. Local dues vary from district to district, and also differ based full- or part-time employment. 

Reserve 

Reserve Membership is available to former members of the Association who no longer qualify for Active membership as follows:

  • A former Active member , currently on Leave of Absence; or
  • An educator serving as a teaching intern on a partial salary; or
  • A graduate student with a teaching certificate, not otherwise qualified for membership; or
  • A professional employed in educational work but is not otherwise qualified for membership

UEA Reserve dues are one-half the dues of Active Members; local dues vary from district to district. Dues are paid by payroll deduction or annually by check.

Reserve members have all of the privileges of Active members, but may not hold an office. 

Retired 

Retired Membership is available to former members, who meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • A former “Active” member;
  • At least forty-five years of age;
  • Employed at least five years in a position qualified for Active membership but no longer so employed
 There are three types of Retired membership:
  • Pre-Retired Lifetime - This type mirrors the NEA/UEA retired membership and allows you to seamlessly transition from Active to Retired for a one-time payment of $200.
  • Retired Annual - This type provides you with yearly NEA/UEA retired benefits that you renew every fall. The yearly retired membership dues are $40.
  • Retired Lifetime - This type provides you with a lifetime of NEA/UEA retired benefits for a one-time payment of $200.

UEA Retired members have all of the privileges of active members, but are not eligible to hold a UEA office; UEA Retired members are eligible to vote for all statewide UEA officers. 

Staff 

Staff Membership is available to any person employed by the Association or its affiliates in a professional staff position. There is a clear distinction between “Governance” and “Staff” in the Association. “Staff” members may be former members now employed.

Staff members are eligible for NEA and UEA special services and all other member benefits. They are not eligible to vote in elections or to hold Association office.

Dues of Staff members are one-half the dues of Active members. 

Professionals Providing ‘Related Services’

Licensed professionals assigned to provide related student services are eligible for Active Membership. Examples of “related services” include those providing psychological or counseling services, school nurses, home-and-hospital educators, social workers, vocational educators, curriculum specialists, teacher-mentors, teachers-on-special-assignment, special-education teachers, and similar positions. These members pay the same dues, enjoy the same benefits, and receive the same services as other K-12 Active members. 

Public School Administrators

In Utah, most Public School Administrators are eligible for Active Membership. Some local affiliates in Utah do not allow administrators as members. Examples of members span the full spectrum of administrative job categories from Superintendent to Assistant Principal and everything in between.

Administrator members pay the same dues and enjoy the same benefits as other K-12 Active members.

It is important to note that in cases where a disciplinary matter arises between an administrator and educator in the same work location, the subordinate will be represented by the Association, the administrator may be represented, depending on the circumstances. In all other matters, administrator members receive same level of advocacy and other services. 

Alternate Licensure Paths

Membership is open to many professionals desirous of teaching in a Utah public school. Private school employees are not eligible to belong.

Active Membershipis available to professionals who do not follow the typical path to licensure in teaching. Those teaching under the provisions of the Alternate Routes to Licensure Program (ARL) authorized by the Utah State Office of Education may belong. Professionals teaching in “technical trades” in public schools are also eligible.

Members following the Alternate Routes to Licensure path must hold a bachelor degree or higher and must be employed full- or part-time in a Utah public school. Members teaching in the “Technical trades” must be actively teaching full- or part-time in a secondary or post-secondary public school institution. 

Charter School Employees 

Educators in Utah public charter school may be eligible for Association membership. Contact your local UniServ office for information. 

Pre-Service / Student 

The UEA/NEA Student Membership Program is available to any student enrolled in a teacher preparation course in a Utah accredited public or private college or university and who does not have a teaching contract.

  • NEA/UEA Student Member dues are just $25 per year; the UEA portion of Student dues is $10 annually; the NEA portion of Student dues is $15 annually.
  • During the first year of teaching and regular Association membership, Student members are eligible to receive a $20 dues rebate from the NEA for each year of Student membership. Download the NEA rebate form.
  • Student members are eligible for a 20% reduction of dues from the UEA during the first year of teaching and regular Association membership.
  • In addition to receiving UEA and NEA publications, Student members receive many of the benefits of Active members, including the NEA sponsored Educators Employment Liability Insurance (ELL Insurance) while Student Teaching. 

Education Support Professionals 

School employees working as education support professionals (ESP), sometimes referred to as “classified employees,” in a Utah public school are not eligible for membership in the Utah Education Association. These employees are eligible for membership in the Utah School Employees Association, an affiliate of the National Education Association.

Education support professionals eligible for membership with USEA include paraprofessionals/classroom aides, clerical staff, bus drivers, maintenance and cafeteria workers, and similar job categories. Contact the USEA for more information.