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Indiana Teacher Certification and Career Guide

The certification process for Indiana teachers is overseen by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). The main steps for the traditional path to teacher certification in Indiana are:

  1. Complete a bachelor’s degree with a state-approved teacher preparation component.
  2. Complete a student teaching placement.
  3. Pass the required teacher certification exams.
  4. Apply for a teaching certificate or license.
  5. Upgrade your license.

Continue reading to learn more about the traditional certification pathway in Indiana.

Table of Contents


How to Become a Teacher in Indiana

The steps below outline the traditional pathway to earn a Professional Educator License (PEL) in Indiana. Indiana uses a tiered system with three levels of teaching licensure:

  • Initial Practitioner (IP) License (2-year): For new teachers while they complete the Indiana Mentoring and Assessment Program (IMAP) or a Professional Growth Plan (PGP). Can be renewed two times to complete the IMAP.
  • Proficient Practitioner (PP) License (5-year): For teachers who have completed the IMAP or PGP.
  • Accomplished Practitioner (AP) License (10-year): For teachers with at least two years of experience and a master’s degree in the content area or National Board Certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS).

If you have a bachelor’s degree but haven’t completed a teacher preparation program, check out our guide to alternative teacher certification in Indiana.

1. Earn a bachelor’s degree that includes an approved teacher preparation program.

Indiana teacher certification guidelines require candidates to complete a teacher preparation program at an approved and accredited university, either while earning a bachelor’s degree or after. The bachelor’s degree major should correspond to the grade level and subject area you wish to teach. You can find a list of approved educator preparation programs (EPPs) on the IDOE website. The IDOE also offers a list of approved online and distance learning EPPs.

You can compare key metrics for state-approved teacher preparation programs on our Indiana schools page. You can also read about two important accreditations to consider, institutional accreditation and programmatic accreditation, on our teaching schools guide.

2. Complete a student teaching placement.

As part of your EPP, you will complete at least one internship or student teaching placement. Indiana EPPs require a minimum of 10 weeks of full-time student teaching during the later stage of your program with an experienced teacher mentor. The student teaching placement should be in the subject area and grade level of your desired license.

3. Pass the required Indiana teacher exams.

Indiana State SealAfter completing an approved Indiana teacher preparation program, candidates must take the Praxis exams by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). All prospective teachers in the state must take the Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) exam in their grade level and the content area assessment corresponding to their licensure area. You can find a list of the tests required for each license content area on the IDOE website or the ETS website.

4. Apply for Indiana teacher certification.

Once applicants have completed all of the requirements as stipulated by the IDOE, the application for a teaching certificate must be completed via the online Licensing Verification and Information System (LVIS). Required supporting documents include:

  • Valid CPR card from an IDOE-approved provider
  • Suicide Prevention Certificate
  • Documentation of 4,000 hours of related non-teaching experience (for Career and Technical Education (CTE) content areas only)
  • Fingerprint based background check
  • Payment of non-refundable licensure fee

5. Upgrade your license.

To convert an IP to a five-year PP License, teachers with an IP License must complete the two-year IMAP (a two-year mentored internship) or a PGP (which records your growth and development over two years) of 40 points. Once the IMAP or PGP has been completed, teachers can convert their IP License to a PP License. To professionalize to a 10-year AP license, teachers need NBPTS certification, six semester hours of coursework, or a PGP of 90 points. For more information, review the IDOE’s Current Educators page.

Guide to Other Teaching Pathways

Indiana Teacher Certification Renewal

To renew an IP License, you will need proof of a valid CPR card. You can renew a PP or AP License by completing:

  • Six hours of college coursework
  • 90-point PGP

More information about renewing a license can be found on the Current Indiana Educator to Renew a License page.

Adding Subjects or Grades to a Certificate

Once you receive your teaching certificate, you will only be eligible to work as a teacher in the grade levels and certification areas listed on your certificate, though occasional, temporary exceptions are made. Indiana teachers who want to add a content area to an existing license can do so with a combination of coursework and testing or testing alone, depending on the content area. Content areas such as Early Childhood Education, Elementary Generalist, English as a New Language, Exceptional Needs, Fine Arts, or High Ability require coursework through an approved program and the corresponding Indiana Praxis Assessment content exam. You can read more about adding a content area on the IDOE website.

Indiana Teaching License Reciprocity

Teachers from other states who completed an out-of-state accredited or state-approved teacher preparation program and would like to teach in Indiana can apply by reciprocity. Applicants must pass a content licensure test in every content area that will appear on their license. Certain content areas require the completion of an approved program of coursework in the content area in addition to testing. A one-year temporary reciprocal permit is available to out-of-state teachers who do not yet qualify for an Indiana license. Additionally, all applicants must complete training in CPR/Heimlich/AED. To apply, you will need to submit:

  • Valid CPR certification from an IDOE-approved provider
  • Suicide prevention training certificate
  • Valid out-of-state license or certificate
  • Signed educational experience verification letters
  • Official transcripts
  • Official test score reports
  • Documentation of industry work experience (for CTE content areas only)

For more information, review the IDOE website.

In addition to teaching credentials, Indiana also offers a variety of administrative and support licenses for people interested in an education career.

  • Director of Curriculum and Instruction License: An administrative license that requires a master’s degree, an approved preparation program, a valid teaching license, and at least two years of teaching experience.
  • School Services Employee: For School Counselors, School Nurses, School Psychologists, and School Social Workers. All except the School Nurse License require a master’s degree or higher, and the School Counselor License requires the associated Praxis test.
  • Superintendent License: Requires passing the District Level Administrator content licensure exam, an Educational Specialist (EdS) degree or above, completion of an approved district administrator: superintendent program, a current teaching credential, and at least two years of teaching experience.

Credentials are also available for Building Level Administrators, Director of Exceptional Needs, and Director of Career and Technical Education, among others. Most advanced licenses require a master’s degree or above. For more information on related education licenses in Indiana, read the Administrative Licenses page and the School Services Employee page.

Indiana Teacher Outlook, Salary, and Jobs

Projected Job Growth

2.4%

Growth in Teaching Jobs in IN through 20322*

According to the most recent data available from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Indiana has a student-to-teacher ratio of 17:1.3 During the 2017-2018 school year, there were over 61,000 teachers and over 1 million students at Indiana’s 1,920 public K-12 schools.3

Job prospects for Indiana teachers through 2032 are stronger than the projected national averages, with job growth for elementary school teachers at 2.2% compared to 0.7% nationally; 2.3% for middle school teachers compared to 0.8% nationally; and 2.6% for secondary school teachers compared to 1% nationally.2 The table below provides a detailed comparison of job growth prospects and salary levels for Indiana teachers.

TypeNumber Employed in IN4Average Annual Openings in IN2IN Proj. Job Growth 2022-20322Average Annual Salary in IN425th Percentile Wages in IN575th Percentile Wages in IN5
Preschool Teachers6,6008605%$32,220$27,920$36,430
Preschool Teachers, Special Education200105%$46,900$33,040$58,040
Kindergarten Teachers2,1002202.4%$53,340$44,710$60,520
Elementary School Teachers27,8301,8902.2%$54,200$45,670$61,380
Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, Special Education3,4702301.5%$59,410$46,310$68,440
Middle School Teachers12,2008302.3%$58,330$47,000$63,690
Middle School Teachers, Special Education1,040——$54,970$44,790$63,690
Middle School Teachers, Career/Technical Education7000%$64,740$50,060$78,550
Secondary School Teachers20,2001,2802.6%$58,690$47,330$64,390
Secondary School Teachers, Special Education2,030——$59,090$46,220$70,230
Secondary School Teachers, Career/Technical Education560401.8%$62,800$48,500$73,550

*The estimated job growth average is based on projections for mainstream kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high school teachers. Projections for other categories, such as special education and career and technical education, may be higher or lower than the average.

Teacher Shortages in Indiana

According to the US Department of Education Teacher Shortage Area Report for 2023-2024, Indiana has identified the following shortage areas:

Indiana had over 1,675 teacher vacancies during the 2022-2023 school year.7 A further 6,206 teachers were considered underqualified for their positions, which includes teachers assigned to classrooms outside their certification field on a temporary or emergency basis.7

Indiana School District Requirements

Additional Resources

Indiana Teacher Interview

Related Articles

Teacher Quote “Don’t let anyone tell you it’s an easy job because I can promise you, it isn’t. I’ve yet to have one of those magnificent ‘summers off’ I keep hearing about. And honestly, the pay isn’t great but the rewards of teaching more than make up for it.” -Christi Fultz, Indiana Third Grade Teacher

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: How do you become a substitute teacher in Indiana?

Answer: Substitute teachers in Indiana must have a high school diploma or equivalent and be at least 18 years old. If you meet these requirements, you can apply to the IDOE for a substitute teacher permit, and then look for work in individual districts. As part of the application process, each school employer will recommend teachers for a Substitute Permit. Substitute Permits are valid for three years and are not renewable.

Question: How many private school teachers are there in Indiana?

Answer: There were 869 private schools in the state of Indiana during the 2019-2020 school year.8 In those schools, there were 9,580 teachers and 115,421 students.8 Teachers at non-accredited private schools in Indiana are not required to be licensed. Accredited private schools require teachers to be licensed by the state. Each school has its own requirements, so it is best to check with schools of interest for more information.

References:
1. Indiana Department of Education: https://www.in.gov/doe/educators/educator-licensing/
2. Projections Central, Long Term Occupational Projections: https://projectionscentral.org/Projections/LongTerm
3. National Center for Education Statistics, State Nonfiscal Public Elementary/Secondary Education Survey Data, 2017-2018: https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/stnfis.asp
4. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Indiana: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_in.htm
5. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm
6. US Department of Education, Teacher Shortage Areas: https://tsa.ed.gov/#/reports
7. Teacher Shortages in the United States, Tuan D. Nguyen et al.: https://teachershortages.com/
8. National Center for Education Statistics, Private School Universe Survey, 2019-20: https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/tables/TABLE15fl1920.asp