Title: High School Physical Education Credit for UHSAA Approved Sports
Date: October 9, 2026
To: High School Administrators
From: Katie Eskelson-Ieremia, District Academic Records Specialist
Dr. Tiffany Hall, Executive Director
Subject: Physical Education Credit for UHSAA Approved Sports
Purpose
Students who participate in Utah High School Activities Association (UHSAA) sanctioned sports, excluding esports, may earn Physical Education (PE) credit through their athletic participation. This includes participation in UHSAA Unified sports, such as Unified soccer and Unified basketball.
Eligible athletic participation may fulfill requirements for Participation Skills and Fitness and/or Lifetime Activities, depending on the student's remaining graduation requirements. Athletic participation does not replace the required Fitness for Life course.
The purpose of this memo is to clarify credit eligibility and establish a consistent process to ensure that all eligible students have equitable access to PE credit earned through athletic participation.
Credit Eligibility
Students may earn PE credit for completing full seasons of eligible UHSAA sports according to the following guidelines:
| Athletic Participation | PE Credit |
| One complete season of an eligible sport | 0.25 |
| Two complete seasons of the same sport | 0.50 |
| Two complete seasons of a second, different sport | Additional 0.50 |
| Maximum credit through athletic participation | 1.00 |
- Students may earn a maximum of 0.50 credit for participation in any one sport.
- Students must participate in at least two different sports to earn the full 1.00 credit
- Credit may be applied to Participation Skills and Fitness (PSF) and/or Lifetime Activities (LA), as determined by the student's graduation needs.
- All students must complete Fitness for Life independently of any athletic participation credit.
Process for Awarding Credit
Traditionally, coaches or athletic directors provide team participation records to school counselors so that eligible PE credit can be added to student transcripts. However, students may not always receive credit when participation records are not submitted or school personnel are unfamiliar with the process.
To ensure equitable access, students may also initiate the credit-awarding process using the Application for Demonstrated Proficiency for Physical Education Credit, available on the district's Physical Education and Health webpage.
Students whose participation has already been verified and credited through the school's established process do not need to submit an additional application.
Step 1: Student Application
The student completes the application, documents the eligible sports seasons, and obtains verification from the coach and/or athletic director.
The completed form must be submitted to the school counselor no later than April 30 of the student's senior year (grade 12). Students are encouraged to request credit as they complete eligible seasons rather than waiting until graduation.
Step 2: Counselor Review
The school counselor will:
- Review the student's transcript and verified athletic participation.
- Confirm the amount of eligible credit, ensuring that duplicate or excess credit is not awarded.
- Determine whether credit should be applied to Participation Skills and Fitness and/or Lifetime Activities.
- Approve the appropriate credit for the registrar to record.
Step 3: Registrar Documentation
The school registrar will:
- Record the approved credit on the student's transcript at 0.25 credit per eligible season, using the district's designated course and grade-entry procedures.
- Maintain a scanned copy of the completed, signed application as part of the student's academic records.
State Rule and District Procedures
Utah Administrative Code R277-700-6(15)(b) permits local education agencies (LEAs) to award up to 1.0 PE credit for team sport or athletic participation, with LEA approval, to replace Participation Skills and Lifetime Activities requirements. The rule limits credit to 0.50 per sport.
SLCSD implements this provision by awarding 0.25 credit per completed season, up to the established maximums described above.
Athletic participation credit does not fulfill the Fitness for Life requirement.
Expectations for Implementation
To ensure consistent implementation across high schools:
- School Administrators: Share this memorandum with counselors, athletic directors, coaches, and other appropriate staff.
- District Athletic Activities Program Supervisor: Review the process and application with school athletic directors.
- School Athletic Directors: Communicate the process to coaches and student-athletes and support verification of athletic participation.
- District Counseling Team: Review the process during a monthly counselors' meeting and include the application and instructions in counselor resources.
- District Teaching and Learning: Maintain the application on the district's Physical Education and Health webpage.
District Collaboration: Nomani Satuala, District Athletic Activities Program Supervisor
Keywords: Physical Education, PE Credit, UHSAA Sports, Unified Sports, Lifetime Activities, Participation Skills and Fitness, Demonstrated Proficiency
