Indiana Highlights
Important Note: Education licensure requirements, statistics and other information are subject to change. CertificationMap.com makes its best effort to keep content accurate; however, the official sources are the state education departments. Please confirm licensing requirements with your state before applying for licensure or renewal. Last updated: 08/10/2018
This page is sponsored by our partner Rossier Online, a master level teaching degree program delivered online that enables you to earn a Master’s degree and teaching credential. Learn more about how the University of Southern California can help you become a transformative teacher in Indiana.
To become a certified teacher in Indiana, you will need to fulfill these requirements:
- Step One: Complete a bachelor's degree and other prerequisite coursework required.
- Step Two: Complete a state-approved teacher preparation program
- Step Three: Pass required exams.
- Step Four: Submit an Indiana teaching credential application.
Our goal is to make this process as easy as possible, and we are dedicated to updating CertificationMap.com with new information on a regular basis.
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Step One: Indiana Prerequisite Coursework
All states require that certified teachers at a minimum have a Bachelor’s degree. Additionally, some states have undergraduate credit hour requirements for certification in specialty areas. Indiana, however, does not have any undergraduate credit hour requirements.
Master’s Requirements
Many schools of education now offer online MAT programs that provide increased flexibility by allowing aspiring or working teachers to attend class and complete coursework from any location that has an Internet connection. Online MAT programs are a practical option for students who have professional and personal commitments that make it difficult to obtain teaching certification through a full-time program.
The best online programs offer the same curriculum as the school’s on-campus program and apply the same admission requirements. Providing students with the ability to communicate with instructors and classmates in a face-to-face online environment is another hallmark of a good online program. In addition, candidates in online MAT programs should be provided with the opportunity to complete student teaching fieldwork in the local community.
Click to learn more about getting your MAT online with our partner USC Rossier School of Education.
Step Two: Indiana Teacher Preparation
The Indiana Department of Education requires prospective teachers to complete a state-approved teacher preparation program. Teacher preparation programs in Indiana vary widely, and some offer the Transition to Teaching program, which allows career professionals with a Bachelor’s to teach middle and high school classes while working on their Indiana teaching credential.
Typically teacher education programs consist of a combination of curricula and fieldwork. The curricula often include instruction on foundational knowledge and skills, pedagogy (the art and science of teaching), and preparing students to research, design and implement learning experiences in their field of study. The fieldwork component can include field observations, student teaching, and an internship.
While the involvement in an education program may seem financially daunting, a number of financial resources specifically for teachers exist around the country. For more information on this, visit our page on scholarships for teachers. For more scholarships for teachers exclusive to the state of Indiana, visit our Indiana Teacher Scholarship page.
Alternative Certification
Graduates of accredited colleges or universities whose Bachelor’s degree was not in education, and who have not yet earned a traditional teaching certificate, can still receive an alternative teaching certificate by satisfying certain requirements. Information about alternative certification can be found on the Indiana Department of Education Alternative Licensure page. Please click here for more information on Alternative Teacher Certification in Indiana.
Step Three: Indiana Required Tests
Teacher candidates in Indiana must pass the Core Academic Skills Assessment (CASA), which tests reading, mathematics, and writing. In addition, he or she must pass Development (Pedagogy) Area Assessment(s) according to the desired grade and/or subject area.
For more information visit the Indiana Department of Education Educator Testing page.
Step Four: Indiana Application Requirements
To earn an initial teaching certification in the state of Indiana, teaching candidates must meet the following requirements:
- Completion of Bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an accredited college/university.
- Completion of a state-approved teacher preparation program.
- All candidates, regarding of area of licensure, must complete special education coursework.
- Valid certification in CPR/Heimlich maneuver training, issued by either the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association.
- Training in suicide recognition and prevention. For more information, visit the Indiana Board of Education Suicide Prevention Training page.
- The Indiana CORE Assessments for Educator Licensure Program requires teaching candidates to pass tests in Basic Skills (Core Academic Skills Assessment) and Content Area(s) (Developmental Area Assessments).
Indiana School Personnel Job Bank
Put forth by IDOE, the Indiana School Personnel Job Bank is a database that allows potential teaching candidates to search online and apply for school positions within the Indiana Public School System.
Indiana Certification Reciprocity
Indiana will accept some teaching credentials from some states. Contact the Indiana Department of Education to inquire about your specific situation. Please see our interstate reciprocity disclaimer for more information.
Indiana Teacher Salary
- Incentives to teach in high-needs schools or shortage subject areas: Indiana provides no support for teachers teaching in high-needs schools or teachers teaching in shortage subject areas
- Policies in place that articulate elements of effective induction: Indiana has strong induction policies in place
- Average Elementary Teacher Salary: $50,310
- Average Secondary Teacher Salary: $52,670
- Average Number of Vacation Weeks Per Year: 15
Teacher salaries were provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: May 2017 Occupational Employment Statistics report.
Indiana Certification Resources & Links
115 West Washington Street
South Tower, Suite 600
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
(317) 232-6610
- Indiana Educator Preparation Program
- Troops to Teachers Indiana: In Indiana, Troops to Teachers is managed by the Indiana and Illinois Region Office
- Indiana School Personnel Job Bank
- Indiana Substitute Teacher Requirements