Become a Teacher in Indiana
Indiana Department of Education
http://www.doe.in.gov/151 West Ohio Street Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
317.232.6610
Indiana highlights
Become a teacher in Indiana
Indiana Teacher Shortage areas
Earn Your Indiana Teaching Credential
To earn your Indiana teaching credential you will have to complete the appropriate amount of undergraduate coursework and standardized tests, as well as an accredited certification program. Indiana has two levels of licensure: Initial Practitioner and Proficient Practitioner. Learn more here about getting your Teaching Credential in Indiana.
Learn more about getting your teaching credential.
Return to the topPrerequisite Coursework in Indiana
A Bachelor’s degree is required in every state. Indiana has no specific credit hour requirements, but does require a minor in a content area along with the relevant major. Indiana requires a supervised field experience in the classroom with responsibility for direct student instruction in order to qualify for an Initial Practitioners certificate. Check with the Department of Education or your teacher preparation program for more information.
Return to the topRequired Tests for Indiana
Indiana has both a Basic Skills and a Subject Area Competence testing requirement. The Basic Skills area can be filled by the Praxis I: Pre-Professional Skills Tests (PPST) or by an approved alternative method and the Subject Area Competence area can be filled by the Praxis II: Subject Tests in your specialty area.
Read more about teacher certification tests.
Return to the topIndiana Teacher Certification Programs
To earn your teaching credential you will have to complete the appropriate amount of undergraduate coursework and standardized tests, as well as an accredited certification program. A list of accredited teacher preparation programs in Indiana can be found here.
Return to the topAlternate Teacher Certification in Indiana
All accredited teacher preparation programs in Indiana are required to offer Transition to Teaching, a program that helps professionals with the appropriate content knowledge join the teaching profession. Indiana also offers the Indianapolis Teaching Fellows program which offers training, support, and the opportunity to earn a Master of Arts in Teaching for teachers of math, science, Spanish and special education. For more alternative certification options, click here.
Indiana Troops to Teachers program Return to the topCertification Reciprocity in Indiana
Interstate reciprocity is a program that allows teachers certified in one state to teach in another state. To find out which other state teaching licenses can be used in Indiana, visit the Teach.com reciprocity page. Or, for more specific questions about your situation, contact the Indiana Department of Education.
Return to the topBenefits of a Master's in Education in Indiana
It is no longer enough to just have years of experience for teaching. After No Child Left Behind and other academic quantification measures, the careers of teachers increasingly depend on their results in the classroom. A Master's in Teaching will give you more educational theory and classroom skills, as well as more hands-on student teaching experience with a mentor. After a Master's program, you will be able to achieve better results in the classroom and have more job security and higher pay.
A teacher starting out with a Master’s degree in the Indianapolis Public Schools in the 2009-10 school year could expect to earn about $1,500 than one without an advanced degree; however, the differential increased with more years of experience – with 20 years of experience, a teacher with a Masters could expect to earn $7,000 more than one without.
Learn more about the Benefits of a Master's in Education.
Return to the topMaster's in Education Financial Aid
Indiana residents are eligible for the Applegate/Jackson/Parks Future Teacher Scholarship as well as the TEACH Grant, a grant which gives financial aid to students in return for an agreement to teach in a high-need school.
Learn more about how to finance your Master's degree.
Return to the topIndiana Teacher Salary and Incentives
The average teacher in Indiana makes $47,590 per year, which is 140% of the state average income. Teacher salaries in Indiana are up to the discretion of the school district. A list of beginning teacher’s salaries from 2012 can be found here.
Learn more about teacher salaries.
Return to the topIndiana Teacher Benefits and Retirement
Teachers in Indiana are vested in the retirement system after 10 years of service. Contact the Teachers Retirement Fund (TRF) for information on age limits and other questions. Indiana offers additional benefits for teachers, including health and dental benefits according to the county or school district.
Learn more about benefits for teachers.
Return to the topProfessional Development for Teachers in Indiana
Indiana offers a Professional Growth Plan, where teachers attend conferences and workshops to gain Professional Growth Points (PGPs). Teachers must gain at least 90 PGPs, 6 credit hours of coursework or complete the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards Certification program to renew their teaching license.
Beginning teachers will join the Indiana Mentorship and Assessment Program (IMAP) through which they receive two years of intensive mentorship to integrate them into the school.
Return to the topIndiana Teaching Jobs
The Indiana Department of Education Job Site assists teachers in finding job opportunities. Aspiring teachers can use the new job search engine to find job openings throughout the state. Teacher shortages have made Indiana a popular state for highly qualified beginning teachers.
Learn more about finding a teaching job.
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