Requirements to Become a Teacher in Indiana

Indiana's Office of Educator Licensing and Development provides teacher certification requirements.

The Office of Educator Licensing and Development provides the requirements for teachers in Indiana. The requirements for certification differ slightly for in-state and out-of-state candidates, and alternative routes to certification are also available. Teachers who meet the requirements for multiple areas of certification can apply for more than one license.

Education

To receive an Indiana teaching license, candidates must complete an Indiana state-approved teacher preparation program or hold a bachelor's degree or higher in education from an accredited university in another state. All candidates should have completed a successful student teaching experience or show evidence of valid out-of-state certification and successful out-of-state teaching experience.

Testing

Those seeking an initial license are required to pass the Praxis I basic skills exams. Candidates must earn at least a 176 on the reading exam, 172 on the writing exam, and 175 on the mathematics exam to be considered for certification. Prospective teachers must also pass Praxis II exams related to their desired area(s) of certification. The Office of Educator Licensing and Development provides a list of required exams and minimum passing scores.

CPR-Heimlich Maneuver Certification

All applicants for certification must be CPR-certified and able to perform the Heimlich Maneuver. The Office of Educator Licensing provides a list of approved training organizations. CPR training can take place anywhere in the United States, but applicants must provide evidence of that training when applying for certification.

Application and Fees

A completed application for licensure can be downloaded from the Office of Educator Licensing and must be submitted along with official college transcripts and copies of Praxis test scores. Applicants must submit a $35 license fee along with a completed application. Out-of-state applicants must submit an additional $35 evaluation fee. Fees should be paid by money order or cashier's check made payable to the State of Indiana.

Alternative Route to Certification

Those seeking alternative licensure must hold at least a bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA or both a bachelor's degree with a minimum 2.5 GPA and at least five years of professional experience in the degree field. Candidates must also complete a transition to teaching program through a local Indiana university. Those seeking alternative licensure must meet the same testing requirements as all traditional applicants.

References

• IDOE: Prospective Educators
• IDOE: Transition to Teaching Programs
• IDOE: Testing Requirements

Resources

• CPR-Heimlich Maneuver Certification Options